COMING FIFTEEN

Southland Times, Issue 19230, 21 May 1921, Page 6

COMING FIFTEEN

SPRINGBOK v. ALL BLACK. (By E. E. Booth, N.Z. 1905-6-7, N.S.W. 1908-9.) The commg invasion of the South .African team is one .’of the most important and interesting events in the history of colonial | football. It forges another strong link in the international chain of rugby. The meeting of Springbok and All Black at full representative strength has been the oft expressed wish and desire of thousands of rugbyites, not only in New Zealand, but throughout the world, and especially in England. Now that wish has become a real:ty, so far as we are concerned, already a simmer of excitement and anticipation is noticeable among even the general public as well as the players. Springbok and All Blacks. The clashing of the two colonial giants, that demonstrated to Old Mother England the state her rugby was in, is in a sense a combat for the world’s championship. How often has the long list of wins of each of these two combinations been laid side by side and compared, and the usual long-winded arguments re the respective merits would follow. The African supporters would say, “Oh! We beat Wales (where you failed),” also they contend they met stiffer and better organised oppositions, etc. In connection with these discussions I would like to make this observation that had we met Wales on the 17th match of our tour, the same as the Africans did, the result would not have depended on “The try that was not allowed.” This last cW scription of Deans’s try I have direct from the Welsh themselves. The All Blacks met Wales on the 26th match of their tour with practically little option re the appointment of referee. Africa also caught Wales on her “off” day, such is the luck of Rugby. I will quote Hamish Stuart, one of the most caustic critics we met. Comparing Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks he says:—“The New Zealanders were unquestionably the cleverest side, the greatest tacticians, and contained the larger number of really great individual players.” Then as usual he proceeds to refer to our guile, debased- ethical ideas of winning at all costs, beating referees, etc. However, we will soon have the Test applied here, and it is the most spicy morsel of the season. The coming visit has already been productive of much good, acting as an incentive to play-, ers to set their best foot forward.

This season should certainly see the New Zealand play fully restored to its pre-war standard. In tackling Maoriland on her own heath Africa is taking on a big contract, and well she knows it. They have already had some very valuable experience of New Zealand prowess when combating the magnificent N.Z. Military team in 1919-20. From these “Diggers” they have acquired a considerable amount of knowledge of New Zealand methods. The South Africans’ style of play is absolutely the same as the British, the old sterotyped and conservative methods, but polished up by being played with vim and skill. It lacks the variety, subtlety and finesse of best New Zealand or Welsh styles, and really resembles the Australian more than any other and is equally virile. “How are they going to succeed?” is an oft repeated question. Some guide to answering this is obtained by comparing, first, the South Africans Inter-Services team, that played so well against New Zealand at Twickenham and Australia as Newport, Wales. Some of that team are included in our visitors, notably Townsend, Morkel, Mellish, Meyers, De Villiers and Walker. The New Zealand Army team's tour in Africa affords a splendid comparison. They were distinctly above inter-pro-J vincial form, and their record; 11 won; 3 lost; 1 drawn; points for 70; against 69, is most meri.orious. In fact their signal defeat of the Western provinces can well be classed as a Test. Thus despite staleness, lavish hospitality, very long train journeys, hard grounds and sore feet they beat South Africa’s best. Of course their football had not yet recovered from the war blank when orly schools played. I saw much of the Africans play in England and also at Cape and Durban, and have played with many individual South Africa men in teams, notably Van Heerden’s cousin in Sydney where he was studying wool. Their play is very open and bright, and they throw the ball about among the backs. They are good men in tight rucks and usually pack their scrum three-two-three, occasionally varied by four and four. As yet they have not specialised in hooking, and first up first down has been their rule. The Springboks in England did not get the ball, losing it three out- of four scrums, while in one match against the “Diggers” they only got the ball twice. Still they are solid hard pushers, relying on weight, sudden heaves, screwing and close dribbling rucks. They excel in all line-out play, and are great adepts at knocking back from the throw-ins. High marking is also a feature of play, as well as such short high punting and cross kicking. The forwards do not short pass as much as New Zealanders, nor do they break up or away from the scrum so quickly, although similar to the Aussijes they use their two side back men as breakaways. One thing they do very quickly, that is to get down into the scrum, they never wait for a man to come up. They are adepts at working the “loose head” in the front row, and have never been accused of “blinding,” jolting, jor other unfair resorts of front rankers, j nor do they try raising the ball between < legs in scrums. Their pack although heavy :is fast in the open. As rush stoppers they j are mediocre and the same applies to their backs. Quite a number of these forwards I are versatile enough to take a back’s position.

] Coming to the back division they adopt the Welsh four three-quarters, and are in- , dined to play too “shallow” or dose up I They don’t encourage rovers; in their i movements each man keeps a set position. They have not learned the Welsh reverse passing, but pass straight out fast and low and rely, a good deal on their pace, intercepting passing and generally scoring off their opponents’ mistakes in fielding and passing. The individual brilliancy of some I of their centres in this department will be 1 one of the outs - anding features of their ' play. All the backs are splendid line kicks, j in fact, there is none better. Morkel is a ‘ marvel in long place kicks from nasi fifty line. Van Heerden and de Villiers arc i prone to “pot” goals a la Percy Bush, j Much of their passing is long and sin; handed. Used to a hard ground that had . to be ploughed and watered the morning of a match, these greyhound backs will find a great difference when they step on to the green sward in New Zealand. They will appreciate it very much, although it may affect their pace and side stepping. The backs are all versatile, interchangable, and individually tricky. In successful winning games their cohesion will be wonderful, whilst in defence their weakness in rush stopping may enable the Black forwards to penetrate their lines. Some of their wings are supposed to be faster than either Ford and Storie of the military team. Van Heerden was one of the South African athletes at the Antwerp games as a runner and hurdler, and he often simply hurdles an opponent in his dashes. Altogether the backs are an “all star” caste, and only the best of tackling will hold them. The backs are inclined to travel laterally and bore their wings, and then they resort to their high centreing punts with the forwards in waiting in midfield. Their back play has not the tactical resources of our best players in their deeper formation of both attack and defence. Comparatively they possess no new or original ideas, but hang tenaciously to the old ideals. None will ever question their fairness. In all games in Britain they were always “the gentlemen players.” Their play will not prove as educational as the visit of Bedell Sievright’s team; still they will be a truly great side and will have to be taken very seriously if New Zealand is to retain her pride of place in the rugby world. The Africans are making this tour a great national effort, and this team represents two years’ selecting, training ana ■ coaching, and judging from the personnel is

j a rare blending of experience with the fleetj ness and initiative of youth. j The Dutch element is represented in I the Morkels (5), Van Heerden, Pienaar, j Scholtz, du Plessis, Michau, Strauss, Zeller, i etc.; these are mostly all young. It will I be very perplexing as well as amusing to ' hear all the “call” words of the team in i broad Dutch. Strangely enough amongst ’ these dour Boer people, rugger is held in i the very highest estimation, and a great player is looked up to with true “hero” , worship. ■ Very little information is to hand re the j personnel of the team, many of whom are ' debutants as late as this last year. Gerhard i Morthel, Somerset West, the full-back, is a ; wonderfully long place-kick with a powerful i punt and solid tackle. A great defensive , player and leader. He was a member of the second team Springboks 1912-13. D. J. Villiers plays wing or centre, great kick, plays for ’Varsity and Stellenbosch teams, Capetown. Brilliant attacking man. Represents S.W. Districts. C. Myers, Eastern Provinces, is a tall, fast scoring man, good defence, very versatile; played well in Army teams. Van Heerden, University and Steelenbosch, a fast dashing scorer. Good all round back; exceptional line-kick. Townsend is a nippy little half, solid defensive, passes well. Was one of the best in the Army team. Hails from Durban, Natal. Included in the team are five Morkels, a name famous in South African rep. teams. Two of the family are backs, Gerhard and S. Morkel, a younger brother who is extra fast as a wing three-quarter. W. H. Morkel (vice captain) was a prominent member of the South African Inter-Services team, acting as captain mostly. An aged player, very heavy, excelling in heavy rucks and scrummages. Another brother, Royle, is 16st 101 b weight, at which weight he can move with pace. One of the best scrummagers. The other brothers in the team are of similar type. One Morkel was in Ist Springbok team 1907-8, two were in the second 1912-3. Two marie the supreme sacrifice during the war. In sport in Africa their name is a household word.

Most of the Morkels are Western provinces, in fact it is singular that the whole team is almost wholly West Provinces, Natal, and Capetown players. Griqualand, famous for hard ground and fast backs, is poorly represented, the explanation being that many or most of the best players were lost or invalided in the British Eastern campaign. Olivier is, I think, from Port Elizabeth, and a new young player. Pienaar (Stellenbosch, Capetown), is both a half and forward and has been very prominent in Transvaal football. A young and capable player. He has been elected captain of the team. Ellis, full powerful forward from Johannesburg, played well against N.Z. Army team rep. Transvaal Province. Zeller, Natal, is very fast and dodgy runner, who side-steps adroitly, prolific scorer, defence mediocre. Clarkson, Natal, plays in Durban, a centre who has played actively for years. Cool, reliable, solid type, thick set with plenty of pace. Siedle, a young, fast, heavy forward; showed up well in 1919 against N.Z., and in last season’s trials and club matches; he also comes from Natal. Kruger has been prominent in Transvaal football; one of the youngest forwards. Michan and de Koch are a rare combination together, and come from the Stellenbosch Club, which is probably the best club team in Africa. They are a lovely pair. Mostert and Van Rooyen have both big reputations in chib games. Represent Western Provinces. Tindall is a University Club half, brilliant at openings, good defence, heady. Mellish, another of the best forwards Transvaal has produced. Tall, fast, an aggressive tackler, was prominent in InterServices football in England, and was chosen for England last season. Quite a number of South Africa’s best backs are yet over in England, notably Krige, studying medicine—a brother of the famous “Jappy.” Only those in “the know” can realise the incalculable amount of trouble, worry, opposition and heavy expense the N.Z.R.U. have had arranging and practically financing, i.e., “underwriting” this huge undertaking. No other Rugby Union in the world would have attempted it, especially Scotland. The South Africans’ uniform in the past was dark green jerseys with the ‘Springbok’s” head embossed on the left breast. With white pants on they look well n the field. The referees of South Africa have several rulings which they interpret much different from our New Zealand fashion. Still they are not vital and only require a mutual agreement and understanding. From private letters from Capetown I understand there has been a lot of dissatisfaction about the selection, especially that players like Harris, Sielly, Strasheim and Riordan were not included. The other Sprinkbok teams had a war cry —a weird long single sentence, practically an old Kaffir-Zulu greeting. It is a greeting and phonetically it ran “Schee-cum-a-lie-loo,” repeated Jhree times and ending with “Woh.” In fact a way of saying “Well you’re a good fellow and so am I. Hurrah.”