A BRILLIANT SIDE

Southland Times, Issue 23389, 22 December 1937, Page 14

A BRILLIANT SIDE

WHAT SOUTH AFRICA SAID OF SPRINGBOKS

GREATER THAN SUM OF ITS PARTS

It is always pleasant when a landfall is made that justifies the high hopes of a departure, says The Cape Times in a leading article, written on the day of the Springboks’ arrival, and the return to South Africa of the triumphant Springbok Rugby team from Australia and New Zealand sends a thrill of pride and satisfaction throughout the land. When the Nestor steams into Durban harbour her twenty-nine Springbok passengers will find awaiting them the welcome of a proud South Africa. This team has surpassed all that was expected of it, even by the most optimistic. It left South Africa a good side, well equipped in all departments, with weight allied to speed, with experience tempering the dash of youth.

It returns a brilliant side, greater than the sum of its parts, with a record of fine play that its opponents have been the first to acclaim. It has been the most successful of all teams that have taken the Springbok emblem on to the fields of the Wallabies and the All Blacks.

It played 28 games, won 26 and lost two, scoring 855 points against 180. The two defeats, each against a better side on the day’s play, merely emphasized the Springboks’ otherwise irresistible way. South Africa expected that this team would be strong in defence, but what was perhaps unexpected was the brilliance it developed in attack. Against the Wallabies, it is true, the traditional methods of a tank-like scrum and. a closed game were largely responsible for victory. ALL BLACKS OUTPLAYED But in New Zealand the men went from strength to strength and the All Blacks were outplayed at their own fast, open game, one side emerging, for the first time, from the series of Tests with a superiority that left no room for doubt. Not only our forwards, but our wings and inside men, too, had the measure of their opponents. This tour has seen established reputations enhanced and new ones created. Some of the younger stars are good for years to come, and the future of Rugby has rarely been brighter, from the point of view both of personnel and the tradition of the very best type of spectacular play. Skipper Nel, it has been reported, has thrown his boots into 'the Indian Ocean as a gesture that his Rugby days are over. No better pair of boots has found a more unusual end, and no Rugby veteran has retired with better cause for quiet satisfaction. The Western Province has ample reason to be proud of its men in this triumphant side. Gerry Brand has lost little, if anything, of his sure-footed-ness, and none of his imperturbability. Williams on the wing was one of the outstanding men of the team, while Babrow at centre showed a frequent genius. These are but three of the local boys who have made good, as the Americans say. Yet another happy feature of this Antipodean tour was the general good feeling that prevailed. In some matches there were hard words and a little roughness, but by and large there was much less to grumble at than has been the case with some other tours. Today’s welcome at Durban is not only for 29 good players and true, but for 29 sportsmen, who have brought honour to their country, and who have met and defeated men of their own sound calibre. We who have followed their fortunes from afar salute them.