STRENUOUS TRIALS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEST TEAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27080, 14 May 1949, Page 7

STRENUOUS TRIALS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEST TEAM

From C. L. King, NZPA Representative with the All Blacks PRETORIA, May 12. ' The first impressions gained of the South African Rugby --trials by the New Zealand party now in Pretoria were that they were much more strenuous than any comparable trials in New Zealand. Beginning last Saturday, two matches are being played each day, with the exception of Friday, which represents a heavy task for footballers at this period of the season. As a result, there are several on the injured list, and the strain of continuous play imposed on the others led to a decline in the standard of Rugby as the week progressed. Friday’s spell is being welcomed by all, and the finals on Saturday should see much better football.

South African press comment on the trials has been mixed, due largely to the fluctuating standard. New Zealanders Present

The New Zealand party arrived in time to see the fifth day’s trials and were given a tremendous welcome. Before the beginning of to-day’s trials Mr A. McDonald (assistant manager) and Mr R. A. Dalton (vice-captain) were introduced to the crowd, a public address system being used. This was followed by a great outburst of cheering. To-day’s main match saw some solid scrummaging by two powerful packs. The ball was invariably hooked fast, and the halves were able to set the backs going with a minimum of interference.

An interesting feature of the scrummaging was that the side middle row forwards assisted the hooker by swinging a foot after the ball had been put into the scrum. This was apparently with the idea of preventing the ball from comnig out the same channel. In New Zealand the side front-row forwards adopt this practice, but in Africa the work of the side middle-row forwards on this phase of scrummaging was very effective. Heavy Forwards

Some of the big forwards in this match impressed by their mobility, but the handling was not always good. Nevertheless, it is clear that South Africa possesses potentially great forward talent. Geffin (front row. 15.5), Du Plessis (lock, 16.10) and Danhauzer (lock, 16.1) being the most impressive. Wahl, half-back, fed his backs with long accurate passes, and appears the best man for the position, but was inclined to run a great deal from the scrum and was caught at times. Ochse. one of the “ finds ” as centre in the trials, showed plenty of speed and resource. The South Africans are very pleased at his form, as the inside back talent, is not regarded as up to expectations. In addition, some leading players, notably Denis Fry, stand-off half, is on the injured list. Fry was looked on as sure to fill the position in the Springbok back line. The final trials on Saturday are expected to reach a high standard, and a more accurate summary of the standard of South African Rugbv should be possible.