RULINGS OF SOUTH AFRICAN REFEREES CONFUSED TOURISTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27212, 15 October 1949, Page 8

RULINGS OF SOUTH AFRICAN REFEREES CONFUSED TOURISTS

From Claude King, NZPA Representative with the All Blacks WELLINGTON, Oct. 14. Criticism of referees is never a pleasing practice. Every country has different interpretations and all touring sides experience some difficulties. The All Blacks found the South African referees thoroughly well versed in the laws, but their interpretations varied and nonplussed our players and had a big influence on their play.

Consisting of footballers who had already had experience in international Rugby under English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, French and Australian referees, they toured South Africa only to find that they ranked as very bad infringers. Rucking and loose scrummaging, which is a vital part of New Zealand - Rugby, was at a premium also, as the home referees invariably blew these up quickly into set scrums. The tour is long likely to be remembered as a tour of penalties. No fewer than 49 goals were kicked in 24 games, an average of two a game. The South African teams kicked 34 goals and the All Blacks 15. and this latter figure might have been up to 10 greater. It might prove beneficial to Rugby in all countries if a leading referee were to accompany each touring side, not necessarily to control games, but to act as observer, to confer with home referees, and to report back to his own country. This may lead to greater uniformity in the interpretation of the laws of the game. One of the greatest lessons of the tour was the need for any touring side to have match practice. It is suggested that in the event of a touring party being selected on the previous season’s form—and it is difficult to imagine any other method which would be fair to all players—then provision must be made for matches before the tour begins. This might be achieved by an early short tour of Australia, provided air travel was available to and across Australia, and by reducing the number of matches in South Africa unless air travel also facilitated matters in that country. The 1949 All Blacks travelled more than 13,000 miles in South Africa, compared with 9000 miles by the 1928 side. In spite of its attractive' nature, and South Africa is a most fascinating country, the tour was most arduous. It is difficult to picture any team emerging unbeaten, no matter how strong, in a country where Rugby is consistently good and the travelling involved' amounts to encompassing more 'than half the earth’s surface.