ROBUST RUGBY AT SYDNEY

Southland Times, Issue 23255, 19 July 1937, Page 8

ROBUST RUGBY AT SYDNEY

Springbok Victory In Second Test MARKED SUPERIORITY IN FORWARDS STIFFER OPPOSITION FROM ALL BLACKS EXPECTED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received July 18, 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 18. The Springboks won the second Rugby Test against Australia by 26 points to 17. The margin does not reflect their convincing superiority in nearly every phase; they had victory in hand at half-time, having scored six tries to nil to lead by 26 points to 6, and afterwards they took passing risks but were never in danger, though their line was crossed three times in the second half. The Sunday newspapers refer to the fierceness of the encounter. E. N. Greatorex in The Sunday Sun says: “To describe it as a fierce encounter is to be mild. Punches were exchanged on numerous occasions, and more than one player was stretched on the ground by tactics not recognized in the rules. Australia’s defeat was caused by faulty tackling.” Greatorex adds: “The Springboks will have something to worry about on their New Zealand tour. They will not be able to run up big scores in the first half against All Black teams, and if they fade at the end, as they did yesterday; they will not be in it.”

The Springboks were without S. C. (“Fanie”) Louw in the front row. Nevertheless his absence made little difference to their clearly superior packing. M. M. (“Boy”) Louw went into the front row and D. Craven packed in the last line. Their seven stalwarts were quite able to cope with Australia’s pack, which consisted of six pushers and two breakaways—A. Hodgson and K. Windon. A scrum analysis showed that the Springboks won 19 and Australia 15. Even more marked was South Africa’s superiority in the line-outs. Whether the ball was thrown back, or rucked through the Springboks invariably gained the greater advantage and were better supported by their backs, whose knowledge of positional play was a feature of the victory. AUSTRALIA IMPROVES Halfway through the second half C. H. Towers, the Australian captain, retired with an injured forehead. The Australians’ form thereafter definitely improved, the forwards rising to heights quite lacking in the first half. The Springboks early perceived that the Australian strategy was built on getting the ball to Towers. The Australian captain was closely marked, and the inside backs utterly failed to check the Springboks’ attacks down the middle of the field. The first act in a dramatic first half was the domination of close rucking by the Springbok forwards. Within two minutes W. F. Bergh forced his way over the line after a five-yards scrum. The next try was similar, the Australian forwards being helpless against the close passing of L. C. Strachan and G. L. van Reenan after an in-pass from D. O. Williams, the wing three-quar-ter. The next two tries were entirely the result of weak defence by Towers and F. O’Brien. From P. de Villiers’s rapid service L. Babrow was cutting holes in the Australian defence. The only chance the Wallabies had of stemming the tide was the Springboks’ impetuousity. This was indicated in the tally of penalties through the game—lB to Australia and four to South Africa. From two of these R. Rankin kicked goals. Meanwhile the Springbok threequarters had added two more tries. In the second half the Springboks generally endeavoured to give the ball air, although G. H. Brand was occasionally barracked for finding the line.

Windon, who was pulled from the pack to replace Towers, was responsible for three Australian tries. It would be invidious to single out the Springbok forwards, but “Boy” Louw, J. W. Lotz, Bergh and van Reenan (who was limping in the second half) were superb. Babrow, a sparkling centre three-quarter, was outstanding in an exceptionally sound back division; Brand was always cool. The teams were:—

SOUTH AFRICA Full-back.—G. H. Brand. Three-quarters.—F. G. Turner, J. White, L. Babrow, D. O. Williams. Five-eighth.—D. F. van de Vyver. Half-back.—P. de Villiers. Forwards.—J. W. Lotz, H J. Martin, L. C. Strachan, W. F. Bergh, P. J. Nel, G. L. van Reenen, M. M. (“Boy”) Louw, D. Craven. AUSTRALIA Full-back.—Rankin. Three-quarters.—Kelaher, Towers, Hammon, F. O’Brien. Five-eighth.—P. Collins. Half-back.—McShane. Forwards.—Malone, Cerutti, Wilson, Hutchinson, Hodgson, Kelly, Windon, Bermingham. DIFFERENT STYLES OF PLAY SPRINGBOKS LACK OF FIT FORWARDS (Received July 19, 12.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 18. Speaking at an informal farewell to the Springboks after the game, P. J. Nel, the captain, commenting on the different styles of football, said it was clear that the Australians favoured a game that appealed to the spectators and the South Africans played the game, for the game’s sake. Assuming that W. E. Bastard is fit the Springboks will have only eight forwards fit for the first game in New Zealand.