RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21530, 30 December 1931, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTH AFRICA AT OXFORD ■ ____ REFERENCE TO 1924 ALL BLACKS. (Fkom Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 18. The South Africans beat Oxford University at Oxford on November 12 by 24 points to 3 (two goals, two dropped goals, a goal from a mark, and a try to one penalty goal) before one of the biggest crowds ever seen on the Ififley ground. P. C. Minns and W. E. Henley were on the University side, as also was the Australian, N. K. Lamport. Of the match Mr Howard Marshall writes in the Daily Telegraph: Lamport is a .great little player, who has improved out of all recognition since last year. Then he was slow; now he is fast, both in whipping the ball away and smothering the opposing scrum-half, . Courageous, alert, and wiry, time after time he checked Springbok rushes, and himself emerged with the ball to recover the lost ground. On his form this afternoon, it is easy to understand that he has a big reputation in Australia. The Oxford backs had scarcely any opportunities in attack, and they were by the loss of Osier and Hart. All we could expect of them, therefore, was that they should put their men down hard, and this they did with real determination. Adamson played particularly well in various positions; his kicking was unhurried and accurate, and even better was the initiative which caused him frequently to turn defence into profitable attack. PUZZLING SPRINGBOKS. Now we come to the Springboks, and here I am a little puzzled. If we admit that Oxford fought a losing battle most valiantly, we do not escape the fact that the Springboks’ victory should have been more convincing. Let me say right away that the Springbok forwards were superb. I have never seen better scrummaging, and I think the Oxford pack would admit that they have never experienced anything more demoralising than the concerted shove which the Springboks pro'•du6cd on the ball coming in. Packing 34 —1, they held Oxford steadily, and then, at exactly the right moment, all stepped forward together, and the ball was theirs. That was fine work, and their strength, in the loose and line-out was apparent. Boy Louw at last showed us why South Africans think so highly of him; he has played well before, but to-day he was tremendous. These Springbok forwards controlled the game, and made victory certain. But here is the-point which puzzles me—why, when they had the ball so often, did the Springbok outsides fail to drive home more passing attacks? De Villiers shot the ball out fast enough, and in the first half, at least, Osier gave his centres plenty of opportunities. The truth is that the Springbok attack broke down in the centre, and neither Waring nor Gray looked like class players. Given as many opportunities, against a similarly weakened team, I believe the 1924 All Blacks would have scored twice as many points by straight running and clever mid-field combination. TRIBUTE TO LOSERS’ DEFENCE. In the second half Osier began kicking, and this was, of .course, partly a tribute to the keenness of the Oxford defence. His diagonal kicking was clever, and he played particularly on Russell-Iloberts, who w r as put out on the wing. Osier was good enough, and by their strong scrummaging and their astute working on the touchline the Springboks have become desperately hard to beat. For all that, I cannot yet believe that against resolute tackling they should be really dangerous. It will be interesting to see what happens if 'ever their pack is held. ' As usual, they were lucky with their weather. A stiff wind had dried the ground, and the sun came out to greet them. Their forward superiority was at, once evident, and five minutes after the kick-off Osier received the ball from a loose scrum, and quickly dropped a goal. He had another shot two minutes later, but then Hovde relieved the pressure with a gigantic kick which made at least 50 yards. Oxford went at it with a will, and for seven minutes they held the upper hand, but it was while they were attacking that Roberts delayed a pass just too long for Gray to intercept and send Van der Westhuizen in for a simple try, which Brand converted. Oxford were thus nine points down in a quarter of an hour, but they stuck to their guns, and twice Roberts encouraged them with individual dashes down the centre. Lamport also was prominent, one break-away in particular causing the crowd to cheer wildly, but tlien Stanley Osier crashed into Tindall, and his knee gave out. This was unlucky, indeed; he bad proved his quality already, but now it is very doubtful whether he will be fit to play in the University match. TEAM RE-ARRANGED, Oxford brought Adamson into the centre, and put Russell-Roberts at full-back, and before half time they nearly scored a try after a fine bout of passing among the forwards, and actually kicked a penalty goal, so the Springboks led by only six points. That in itself was an achievement for Oxford, and they started the second half with plenty of vigour. Hovde had been moved into the centre, with Russell-Roberts on the wing, and Osier began • his policy of diagonal kicking. This led to a scrum on the Oxford line, and the Springboks gained possession, and pushed straight over for Louw to touch down. Then, after 15 tninutes, followed an Oxford tragedy, for Roberts kicked up the field when he was over his own line, Van der Westhuizen made a mark, and proceeded to drop a goal. Next came Hart’s injury, and soon afterwards Osier side-stepped Roberts neatly, and dropped another goal, , Oxford by that time were very tired, and we. can hardly blame them for allowing Gray to run straight through the defence to score a fine try. They even managed to come back in the last few minutes and attack the Springboks’ line, but that was no more than a fitting gesture to end a fast and interesting game.