THE SPRINGBOKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 10

THE SPRINGBOKS

AUSTRALIAN TOUR OPENED AN EASY WIN IN PERTH FLASHES OF BRILLIANCE (United Press Association) (By Electric I’eiesrupl;- Couvneht) PERTH, May 31. (Received June 1, at 0.15 a.m.) The subordinate position of Rugby in Western Australia, combined with the late landing of the Springboks, intensified the debut of the visitors as a practice exhibition game. There was sufficient opposition to show the visitors’ belief in fast, open play, and giving the backs the ball instead of seeking touch and trusting to massive forward work. With the players obviously ship stiff, it was difficult to judge their real sl.ength, but they are undoubtedly fast on attack and strong on defence. Several flashes of brilliance revealed plenty of quality at the back of the scrum. The full-back (Turner) drew applause for the first score by the visitors after a pretty oiece of three-quarter play. The impression left was that it is a good solid team, well combined, with briliant possibilities among the backs. The visitors had 36 points to their credit before the local side scored, though Western Australia at one period kept the visitors on the defensive for 10 minutes. The Springboks won by 47 to 8. The captain said the team would play under South African rules and conditions only. The tour was not a struggle for the world’s championship, but just a friendly visit to another country to play a friendly game of Rugby. The whole team is particularly interested in the New Zealand visit to test their strength and compare the standards. If they did not win they would undoubtedly learn. The team re-embarked tonight.