SPRINGBOKS' TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18349, 13 September 1921, Page 5

SPRINGBOKS' TOUR

NEW ZEALANDERS IN TRAINING, ' PREPARING FOR SATURDAYS •' BATTLE. (From Ode Own Coeeespondent.), 1 \ > WELLINGTON, September- 12.’ Day’s Bay, where the New Zealand footballers who are to meet the South African* • on Saturday are training, is an ideal spot for such a purpose. To see the men at work there is to realise that the authorities of the New Zealand Rugby Union have airslast done the right thing, though they have been too lato in doing it—that is, as regards past matches. To-day it was a treat to see tne New Zealanders in practice, dashing along at full speed, and sending the ball from one to another with" almost unerring precision. v v * Mr Leslie,’ who has been placed hr''Charge of their physical training, is the custodian of the Wellington Town Halt, Be waa some years ago a well-known, athlete, and, as he is a disciplinarian as well aa a resourceful trainer, the effect of his efforts.are already noticeable. The South Africane are also preparing for Saturday’s battle. They are somewhat nondicapped by their Nelson experience, coming eo close to the final test match, and by the inability of several of their beet players to take the field in consequence of injuries received in the course of a strenuous tour. Nevertheless, they will put .a strong team in the field in the effort: to wrest the honours of the Rugby champion- ■ ship from New Zealand. ■ Tickets already issued for seats in the stand for the day of the match are now being resold at £1 each, and possibly they will be selling at double that before Saturday next. THE NELSON INCIDENTS. MR BENNETT’S COMPLAINTS. NEW ZEALAND HERALD’3 COMMENTS. (Feom Ode Own Cobbxspondxnt.) AUCKLAND, September 12. / In reference to Mr Bennett’s,,complaint of lack of consideration to the Springbdkfi, the Herald says: “The Nelson incidents have been the climax of a succession of such instances, displaying • incompetence and bungling similar to the failure to reservo steamer and hotel accommodation, for this journey. Whether the explanatian is that too many or too few officials have been entrusted with, the conduct of the .tour, the result has been that the 0.-ganiaatiom of the travelling arrangements, of hotel.aoocurimodation, and of entertainments for. the visi- ' tors has, with few exceptions, been ao , inefficient that. the visitors would .ffa’yp'.bcjen ' fully justified long ago in 'p^pleisjahg.. Viewed as a whole, their treatment by the New Zealand Rugby Union, has been such that were it paralleled in private life the visitor could only conclude that suoh indifferent hospitality had a deliberate purpose of informing him he had outstayed his welcome. The New Zealand Rugby Union-can be acquitted of intentional discourtesy, but it does seem, that- its preoccupation -.with Vtlie business aspect of the tour has provontedit from extending to the visitors] v'tho .!cbnsideration to which thev were entitled.*’

NEW SOUTH WELSHMEN'S' TOUR. ft WELLINGTON GAME CRITICISED; ALLEGATIONS OF ROUGH PLAT. ' . MOUNTAIN Ot3t”op A MOLEHILL. *- ~ jr.;,.Press Association—By Telegraph-^CopyrighV. SYDNEY, September. T2.'(Received Sept. 12,. at 9.20 p.m.). *■ ’' The New South Wales Rugby Union, foot-' bailers wore passengers by the Uliniaroa, which arrived to-day. Mr Bosward, manager, referring to the allegations of rough play by the New South Wales team in the Wellington match, said that the Wellington papers made a mountain out of a, molehill. There was only the slightest friction during the game, which was confined iki. tljp frontrow forwards in both teams. Such 'friction was likely to occur in any hard-fopght match. During a stoppage-in the^game'he asked the players in a fatherly. .manner to maintain their sporting reputation; There had ■ been a couple of swings, and he wanted to prevent serious ill-feeling. Roberts (half back) was not a victim of foul play. Tno_ truth was that all Wellington was worrying lest he should be hurt and prevented from playing against the Spring, boks in the ensuing test. Mr Bosward added that there had not been a .decline in the standard of Rugby Union fobtbair in New Zealand. The fact that New South Wales won all their matches with the exception of one he attributed to wonderful tepm work. The loss of the Wollingtdnmatdh was duo to some players, becoming stale owing to lameness.