FORM NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE

Southland Times, Issue 23309, 20 September 1937, Page 8

FORM NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE

SIGNS OF TRAVEL WEARINESS SPIRITED FOOTBALL BY MAORI FORWARDS By J. G. McLEAN (REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTHLAND TIMES WITH THE SPRINGBOKS) GISBORNE, September 18. Despite their big win the Springboks were not particularly impressive, showing signs of staleness and travel weariness which are unpropitious on the eve of the third Test, though a week’s rest may improve matters. Once again the local forwards showed great vitality and spirit and had an equal share of the game. Had the local backs equalled the forwards’ standard the team might have made an excellent showing. The Springboks had chosen a strong pack, but made a last-minute substitution of Jennings for du Toit, whose thigh was troublesome. Watt was the only other non-Test forward. His liveliness by comparison with the others suggested that several of the star forwards, especially Nel and M. M. Louw, had possibly been played too much. The East Coast pack was among the heaviest the Springboks have encountered and included several big Maoris, with Ririnui, 15st 81b, a superb specimen, whose grand physique, plus fiery all-round play, suggested All Black potentialities. Tuhoro was another Maori forward who matched the big Springboks in size. The Maoris played characteristic, spirited football, resulting in keen exchanges between . the packs, but there was no untoward incidents. The Springboks forwards, however, were often penalized by the referee. In one instance he gave a free kick when the scrum would not move back to the point of the infringement before the ball was put in. The Springboks forwards, as in the Hawke’s Bay game, were often outplayed in the loose. They failed to hunt together, relying on individualism. The opposition forwards, on the contrary, frequently played havoc among the Springboks backs with devastating combined rushes. Only Brand’s unfaltering steadiness extricated the South Africans from several awkward situations.

HARRIS SEVERELY HANDLED Harris, the fly-half, was severely handled by the local forwards, hence he occasionally showed a lack of confidence, but his speed and liveliness yielded three tries. Babrow frequently penetrated through the feeble defence of the local five-eighth line, where Reedy, a 1935 Maori representative, proved the weakest defender seen on the tour. Babrow made several spectacular runs and was the Springboks’ outstanding three-quarter. He was knocked out towards the close when heavily tackled and resumed groggily. Lockwood, the local forward, was also injured, being knocked out when he tackled M. M. Louw. Lockwood retired for a time, resuming in the second half.

The Combined team had at least one distinction. It was the best turned-out side yet seen against the Springboks, making a brave and colourful show in its bright scarlet jerseys, white pants and scarlet stockings. Unfortunately where football is concerned fine feathers do not always make fine birds. Certainly it is difficult to imagine a less impressive trio than Swinburne, the half-back, and Wirepa and Reedy, the five-eighths. Babrow ran past Reedy almost at will, while Wirepa persistently hung on too long and Swinburne rarely got the ball away cleanly. The local three-quarters were not specially convincing, Broodrijk and Bester often beating Grant and MeAneny, but Davies, the full-back, a former Auckland representative, showed that despite a long sojourn in the country as a school teacher, he is still a good performer. His coolness, steadiness and magnificent tackling prevented several Springbok tries. In addition he kicked a splendid penalty goal from near halfway. . . . Among the forwards Ririnui was outstanding. He made several glorious breaks which should have yielded tries, but was unsupported. Frequently he bowled over the Springboks back.: by sheer weight and determination. Matheson, Phillips and Rogers were other good forwards. The last-named, a tall, fair forward, doing excellent work in the line-outs and loose. Among the Springboks forwards van den Berg, Strachan and Watt were a fine trio. Watt’s excellent covering work in defence relieved several tense situations. He backed up well on attack, resulting in a spectacular try when he received a pass from Babrow.

SPECTACULAR TRY Strachan’s try, the last of the match, was also spectacular, this, too, being initiated by Babrow, who raced through the defence from halfway, drawing Davies cleverly before sending a long pass to Strachan, who completed the movement in great style by touching down under the bar. Generally speaking, however, the South African tries were from individual efforts rather than combined movements. Today, by contrast with earlier matches, only one try was scored by a three-quarter, this being Bester’s. Even in this instance the try did not come from set formation, but from a pass to Bester after mistakes by the local backs had allowed the Springboks to sweep through. The Springboks obviously missed Lotz, their hooking being not nearly as clean as usual. Martin played a useful and energetic game, but Nel and M. M. Louw were rarely prominent. De Villiers, behind the scrum, seemed obviously upset by the opposition’s bustling tactics as did Harris who, in the second half, rarely attempted to penetrate, often contenting himself with kicking for the line. White made one glorious run which should have yielded a try, but his pass went astray. Otherwise he was content to be a steady and orthodox link. Considering that the Springboks had their Test stand-off and centres, Harris, White and Babrow, in action today their form generally, like that of the forwards, was not over-impressive, nor were Broodrjik and Bester on the wings in the same class as Turner and Williams. Broodrijk was a hard straight runner; no more. Brand, as usual, kicked exceedingly well, but was once or twice in difficulties when an avalanche of scarlet-clad forwards descended on him It remains to be seen whether a week’s rest will allow the Springboks to regain their earlier polish. In the meantime it can safely be said that their form today gives some cause for optimism about New Zealand’s chances next Saturday. RECORD OF TOUR The Springboks have played 14 matches of their New Zealand tour, and have won 13 and lost one. The visitors’ records is as follows:—

REMAINING FIXTURES The remaining matches of the New Ze f and tour are as follows:— September 25.—v. NEW ZEALAND (third Test), at Auckland. September 29.—v. North Auckland, at Whangarei.

Opponents Auckland Result For Agst. Won 19 5 Combined Team Won 6 3 Taranaki Won 17 3 Manawatu Won 39 3 Wellington NEW ZEALAND Won 29 0 (First Test) Lost 7 13 Combined Won 22 0 Canterbury Won 23 8

West Coast-Buller Won 31 6 South Canterbury Won 43 6 NEW ZEALAND (Second Test) Won 13 6 Southland Won 30 17 Otago Won 47 7 Hawke’s Bay Won 21 12 East Coast Won 33 3 Totals 380 92