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RUGBY TEST

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

SPRINGBOK FIFTEEN SELECTED SOUTH AFRICAN CRITICS CONFIDENT GREAT FAITH IN FORWARDS (Special to Press Association.) Durban, June 27. After practice to-day the South African selectors decided on the following Springbok side for the first test at Durban on Saturday:— BACKS. J. C. Tindall, J. Prinsloo, Duffy, S. Osler, Brand, B. Osler, De Villiers. FORWARDS.

P. J. Mostert, T. L. Kruger, Dr. J. Van Druten, G. Daneel, Van Wyk, G. Pretorious, Nel, Potgieter. If Slater is fit on Saturday he will be wing in place of Brand. The newspapers throughout the country are emphatic that the South' Africans will win. Three African pressmen travelling with the team give the following opinions:

Mr F. M. Howard, late of the London Times, and now of the Cape Times, says:— “Everything depends on the- South African forwards’ ability to get a real stranglehold on the New Zealand pack and call the tune. I think they can do it. The All Black forwards, unlike their backs, have not yet found their true form. They are note the equals of their rivals at scrummaging, therefore, I think the odds are two to one on the South Africans, because the New Zealand backs will see little of the ball. They will be very closely marked in any case. Winning this test is vitally important to the New Zealanders as I can see little hope of their being able to win the next at Johannesburg.”

. Mr. E. T. Steytler, representative of a ; chain of Dutch papers says: “South Africa : will win the test match, I presume, because they are sure to have superiority in the tight scrums. Two cannot hook against three with eight men in the pack with an average weight of 195 pounds. I expect them to get possession of the ball for quite 75 per cent, of the game. As possession is really all that matters South Africa, with their advantage in the set scrums, will be able to be continually attacking, hammering away at the New Zealand defence which will not be able to stand the onslaughts on the back division. • South Africa is fielding on Saturday a i great team. Our backs are a finished seven ' equally good in attack and defence. In the I latter department of the game one cannot honestly say that the All Blacks have thus far excelled, except perhaps Carleton and Johnson, who have shown themselves tacklers of a high standard. I expect South Africa will find a leakage in the New Zealand line at second five-eighths, whether McGregor or Strang fills the position. Except for the game against the Free State neither of these players has greatly impressed. They seem incapable of varying their play which in any international game is fatal.”

Mr J. B. Kortland, of the Johannesburg Star, says: “All who have seen the All Blacks’ recent matches will agree that there is combination and thrust in the New Zea land backs, particularly the inside players, which gives the impression that the tourists’ rear lines are superior to the best available to represent South Africa next Saturday. The Springboks’ hopes mainly rest in their powerful pack of scrummaging forwards. In the Rugby game strength in the vanguard is the main essential. The task of the South African forwards will be to keep the ball tight in an endeavour to wear down the All Blacks’ pack. Only if these tactics are successful will South Africa carry off the honours. We can glean comfort from the fact that a team containing a pack of forwards such as South Africa possesses to-day will take a power of beating.” The public and Press in South Africa are greatly surprised at Nicholls’ omission from the All Blacks chosen specially to train for the first test. Most papers have turned out big headlines saying it is hard to understand why Nicholls is left out. A writer in the Natal Mercury says: “The most noteworthy item about the All Blacks’ selection is the omission from the list of names of Mark Nicholls. Nicholls, very naturally, is not quite the player to-day that he was four years ago, for, though still only 26, he began his first-class career very young. This is his eighth season in international football. Even so, he has already demonstrated on this tour that he still possesses that touch of genius which stamps him as a footballer above the ordinary international level. The All Blacks next Saturday may have cause to regret that they have deliberately omitted him from the side. I can think of no other national fifteen that would do so>”

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19280629.2.56

Bibliographic details

Southland Times, Issue 20525, 29 June 1928, Page 7

Word Count
769

RUGBY TEST Southland Times, Issue 20525, 29 June 1928, Page 7

RUGBY TEST Southland Times, Issue 20525, 29 June 1928, Page 7