THE SPRINGBOKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22788, 25 January 1936, Page 8

THE SPRINGBOKS

DOMINION VISIT PROSPECTS FOR TOUR The view that ..the Springboks, who will visit New Zealand next year, will comprise a number of young players with little experience of big match play, and that the All Blacks will probably meet their match in the South African forwards, was expressed recently by Mr A. M. Williams, news editor of the Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg, who is at present on a visit to Auckland. Mr Williams is a New Zealander who went to South Africa over 10 years ago. " With over a year to go before the Springboks meet the All Blacks in New Zealand, the. only advantage that one can seo that-the All Blacks enjoy at the moment is the experience gained by the young players in the Dominion's team that has just concluded its tour of Great Britain," said Mr Williains. " The past year in Rugby in South Africa has not produced any outstanding new material, and the game there at present is still in the hands of the old brigade. Judging by, the interprovincial matches last season, the Springboks will be able to field as good a pack as any in the past, but the back division might be on the scratchy side, as the backs last year were not particularly brilliant, except in Western Province.

"Last season great disorganieation occurred through the exodus of several of the leading backs of the Western Province and Griqualand (Kimberley) to the Transvaal to take up positions, mainly in the mining industry, but despite the help of the ' big guns,' Transvaal failed against Western Province. Probably the brightest Rugby of the season came from Western Province and the border. "TOO MANY OLD HANDS." " The back division of the provincialteams throughout the country are still cluttered up with too many old hands, and the selectors, according to the public viewpoint, do not appear to be giving new material a chance. They will not take any risks with young players, and this might prove to be" an expensive policy in the near future, because it is Certain that many of the older players will be unable to come to New Zealand next year. Therefore, many of the men who will fill the gaps will lack big match experience. " The issue of the tests in New Zealand will probably be decided by tha two schools of young players—on the one side the New Zealanders possessing more experience than the others by reason of the All Blacks' tour of Great Britain, but New Zealand will probably meet its match forward. Waring, Gage and Turner are three outstanding backs who are playing in the Transvaal, and were formerly in the southern provinces. They have passed their heyday, and it is doubtful if they will see the tour next year. Western Province is bound to provide the pick of the backs. " Dannie Craven is still one of the most dangerous scrum halves in the country, due to his fleetness and strength," said Mr Williams. "He is quite an unusual type of half-back. He is a heavy, powerfully-built man, not tall, but stocky and nippy. He is 'an exceedingly difficult man to stop. Floris Venter, one of the fastest wingers that the country has produced, is still in the game, though unfortunately a troublesome knee has put him on the unreliable list.

".Gerry Brand is the star turn as a full-back to-day, and he is regarded as the best since the great Gerhard Morkel. As a place-kick he has no equal in South Africa.

" Of all the teams that have toured in South Africa in recent years, unquestionably the most popular was that of the Wallabies in 1932," added Mr Williams. " They played a carefree type of open Rugby, which made an immense appeal to the public, and most people said that their play was more delightful to watch than that of the 1928 All Blacks. ASSOCIATION POPULAR.

" Except in Capetown, where there is always an enormous interest in club Rugby, the afternoon crowds are exceedingly" meagre for club matches, whereas Association produces considerably bigger gates in most parts of the country. There is an enormous interest in Association in South Africa, although the majority of New Zealanders do not seem to realise this fact. Until recently few of the high schools in the Transvaal, except the Dutch institutions, played Rugby, but a switch over has recently been made from Association to Rugbv in certain of the schools. If the authorities will only cultivate this young material the game in the Union will bi placed in a much mora favourable posi tion than it occupies to-day, but the fear of dropping older men in interprovincial matches has first to be killed. " Bennie Osier has now dropped out of active Rugby," continued Sir Williams!, " but his brother is still quite a considerable force in the game. Bennie, however, does a tremendous amount of work in coaching the young players, and his influence is still a big factor in South African Rugby. As * match winner there is no one his equal in the Union to-day. "After the All Blacks' tour of 192 S there were efforts made to copy the New Zealand style of play, and the movement seemed to be quite promising. Now, however, Rugby lias lapsed into its old orthodoxy. One has to depend practically solely on the Western Province players to provide any great variation in three-quarter movements and hack play generally. They are the only men who serve up anything in the way of spectacular play."