LIKE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20784, 20 July 1937, Page 12

LIKE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR

SPRINGBOK FORWARDS VIEWS OF AUSTRALIAN PLAYER Advice to New Zealand Rugby players concerning the Springboks is contained in a letter from Tom Pauling, the New South Wales, and Australian representative player, to his cousin, Mr H. G. Pauling. Patea. “Of course you want the good oil ?n the Springboks.” he writes. “Here it is: They are a fairly good type of fellow, and very determined on football matters. They are not quite the easy-go-lucky type of Australian that toured last year, but reflect more a solid type resembling a mixture of Enlish and Dutch, with variations. They speak somewhat ‘Dutchified.’ but generally quite distinctly, occasionally bursting into Dutch for a change. They should get a good reception wherever they go, but they will not get in with the ‘boys’ like the Wallabies. Still, that would be better for football, as too many parties spoil the condition.” After describing the play in the matches against New South Wales and Australia at Sydney, Mr Pauling said that the Springboks took charge in the forwards in the Test match and the Australians had no chance of beating them. There was superior weight and experience on the South African side, and they reverted to the old Springbok tradition of getting the ball and booting for the line until the forwards could barge through. Their tactics certainly won, but their type of play would not last two months in Sydney. Great Pack of Forwards

"My summary uf the team, having seen them twice,” continues Mr Pauling, “is that they have the best pack of forwards I have ever seen for the close, hard-rucking type of football. When they keep the game close I think nobody could beat them. Give the ball the air and you can beat them by speed, as the Nev; South Wales team proved. Their scrum work is superb. Their 3-4-1 pack is like the Rock of Gibraltar. Nothing we have here can shift them when set. On a wet day. by getting down low and in early, you can keep them at bay. In the line-outs they’ are hard to beat, but not impossible.

“In the backs they have good material. but it is wasted, as they think only in terms of forward play. Turner, WTiite, Williams, Craven and Brand present a good basis. Their weakness seems to be in thfe centre. White is a severe defender, but that is all. They know little of attack, because they feel the ball will go out. Get past White, and your centre, Mitchell, or even Killeen, on his game, or Le Quesne, should be able to cause them no end of bother. Even with their best outside centre playing, a bit of pace by the opposition should run the winger into a good position. Their wingers are all right, but if the outside centre lets the attacking winger get that extra yard, it is too late to stop a dangerous attack. Stiff Problem for AH Blacks “From my impression of the teams over there last year and the Test team,” Mr Pauling continues. “I would say that you will have to put not only a good pack in, but the best eight—hard as nails; tight, rucking forwards, with just a bit on them m th? toe. They are not fast in the forwards, but they know’ how to hold the ball and, correspondingly, slow the game down. Tori Reid, Jock Wells and Co. have never struck anything yet, as far as hard work goes, in the forwards. I cannot see you getting superiority by just hard, tight work, but In the rucks your big chance will come by quick heeling. You should get a fair share In the line-outs, and may do well in the scrums, on the understanding that there can be no holding in the second row, or any delay in getting the ball back to the half. They will push you off, best pack or no best pack.

New Zealand Mast Rely on Backs “In the backs lies your chance. Devise a method of overcoming the close standing back with the stab-kick, and you have them in a lot of bother before long. In the Test the inside centre for the Springboks got the ball once, and that was the issue of the game as far as attack was concerned. They may amend their ways later. “Any optimism as to beating them

will be well and truly lacking if your pack does not crack 40 per cent, of the ball from all sources. Given that, you have a good chance. V’e got about 20 per cent., and held them to 9-5.

“Cheers to all your folk,” the letter concludes, “and advertise for some of the toughest forwards New Zealand has ever produced.”