THE SPRINGBOKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16495, 4 August 1921, Page 4

THE SPRINGBOKS.

MATCH AGAINST SOUTH CANTERBURY* VISITORS WIN BY 34 POINTS TO 3, [Per Peess Association.] TIMARU, August 3. Faultless weather and a fast, dry i ground favoured the South Canterbury- ; Springboks’ match played here to-day before an ottendqnce of ten thousand, including Lord Jellicoe and suite. Tho teams were as follow: South Canterbury—P. Grinnitch, T>. Clark, P. W. Storey. H. A. Scott, J, F. Cooke. G. P. Lawton, M. Angland, A. "R. Scott. TL Ward. R. Stewart, M. Flynn. T. Clark, D. Stewart, F. C. Ward. J. M’Bride. Springboks—-G. Morke’J. ran Heerden, Zeller, Weepener, Clarkson, Sendin, Townsend, “ Boy ” Morkel, Kruger, Olivier, Mostert. Harry Morkel, Schlcwß* du Pleiss, Ellis. THE PLAY. The visitors had a big advantage in weight irt the forwards, the hacks being more even. At the opening of the game th© local men went off with a rush and in a few minutes were awarded a penalty kick clone in., A, Scott just missing the goal. Tn tho following twenty minutes the Springboks crossed the mid-way line thrice only. South Canterbury pressed hard but met with stubborn resi&tanee. The visitors gradually shook off the attack and Wore first to score, after twentythree. minutes’ play. G. Morkei, from n, free kick ten yards over the middle line, sending the ball over the bar. South Canterbury continued to have a big soy in the gam© till the South Africans again broke through, Harry Morkel crossing the line after a fine run, while Woeponer and G. Morkel scored shortly afterwards. The. home team pressed hard and were rewarded for ihre»C efforts, a goal being registered by A. Scott from a tre© kick. The South Africans gradually took a bigger hold of the game and th© backs commenced to show rare combination. Van. Heerden was prominent in all attacking movements, though Sen din. Townsend and Clarkson also shone before the interval, when the scores were:— Springboks , . . lfi South Canterbury . . 3 In the second spell the. visitors gave a great exhibition of.dean, open Rugby, outplaying their opponents in every department. Tries were scored hy Harry Morkel Send in (2), van Heerden. Zeller and Clarkson. G. Morkel kicked fire goals. Final score : Springboks . . . 34 South Canterbury . . 3 Tho local men gave a good account of themselves in the loose and on several occasions their intercepting was nippy and clever, but the visitors excelled in handling the ball and their scrum work was particularly good. The home team lack cohesion. NOTES ON THE GAME POOR TACKLING BY HOME TEAM. [From Our Cojulesfondb-st.J TTMARU, August 3. Poor tackling hy the bom© team allowed the Springboks to rattle up a big score to-day. Ju addition, South Canterbury had virtually no combination, and their aggressive movements were confined to a; small bunch of forwards or an unsupported back. Jlic gtound v. as hard and the weather line. With these conditions, Christchurch visitors expected to sc© the South African back machinery raike up for the opportunities lost in last Saturday's match. Very little was witnessed that could possibly cause anxious thought to a New Zealand team of average quality. The majority of the tries were made by the speed of Senclin and van Heerden on the occasions when they did not fnmble or knock on. Attempts at ruuning straight by the inside, backs were few. Tricky vnoveß round tho blind side were neglected. Even cross-punts were surprisingly out of fashion with the South Africans.

Sendin, Dst 71b. is the light-weight of tho train, and he can run 100 yards in 10 2-5 seconds. In the first spell, playing stand-off half, be was often at sea. passing short and getting out of position. For the second spell he was given a place in th© middle of the three-quarter line. Then his play improved. Nan Heerden*s pace was a big as*et. but lie relied a great deal on lifting his leg high when tackled .and giving a sudden wrench. Two other hacks, who stood down for the Christchurch match, were "Weepener and Townsend. Townsend, first half, was particularly solid on defence. He was tho only one of the South Africans who w ent down regularly to rushes and who worked t he short punt to the line with success. In his own class, Townsend

is a champion amateur boxer. That may explain his pluck in thp face of dribbling forwards. To many followers of tho game. Zeller appeared tb© best wing threequarter. He was always sure and a better man off the mark than %an Heerden when carrying the hall. G. Morkel was again full-back. He fielded cleanly enough, but there iver© times w'hen his slow running prior to kicking forced him to punt close in for safety. Against what fast followingup there was, he did not inspire confidence. Clarkson, in the threequarter line, was valuable in all de.partments, and clever at improving an opening.

in the forwards, the South Africans had a pack averaging in weight 13st 131 b, while South Canterburv averaged about J2s t 101 b. “Baby” Morkel and Royle Morkel were absent, along with Pienaar and Mellish. The ‘‘ new ” men were Kruger, Oliver, Mostert, Scholz, and du Plessis, with AY. 11. Morkel as captain. On the day's play, if was not as good a vanguard as that which battled against Canterbury on Lancaster Park. The same bullocking tactics were employed, but there was little dash alvout them. A man got the ball, put his head down, and battled along for a few' yards, with others shoving behind. It was football on all fours with that played in certain American colleges, a kind of

li pushball.” The line-out w’erk was also more ragged than that seen, in Christchurch, but tbo scrums iri the second half were far more compact. In the opening stages, the South Africans often had two 11 loose." forward® and two halves, ill searching for the ball behind ihe scrum and generally getting in ©ach other’s ro;d. During the game, three free-kicks •were given against South Canterbury and sixteen against the South Africans. Tli© principal offences of the visiting team wer© charging in the line-out and handling in th© ter urn. A Rugby enthusiast who bars seen several important games this sea.sou says that he expects th© Springboks to lose at least two tests. He is doubtful about the result of the first test, because m his opinion the New- Zealand team for the match on August 33 includes too many of th© •‘waiting” type of forward, and not enough of tho fast. tall. hardworking dribbler. In addition there is distinct weakness behind the scrum. There was special i icier eat in to-da.v ”

match because of th© appearance of Storev, who has been picked tor the All Blacks. Storey was captain ol •South Canterbury, playing centre threequarter. Making allowance tor * of support. Storey certainly showed form good enough for the best interprovincial teams. Most of the time lie tackled and stopped rushes as well as H. Mullins, he kicked accurately, and li© ran with determination. A\hcn he did slacken off now' and again, South Canterbury looked a weak country side. The other backs were rather young for big football, but lull ol promise. FT. Scott, on the left wing, is sure To develop. Crannitch, the full-back, was not. strong enough in tackling, though he made a bid every time. Another season should £’ re Angland, Cooke and Lawson more confidence. Six out of the seven were not dependable on defence. Th© doughty South Canterbury forwards of past years wer© not there. A. Scott, winger, was easily tho leader, and none of the others combined staying qualities with vim and Speed. I'. Clark and R. Stewart were conspicuous in the line-out. South Canterbury’s best forward, Shea, 14st, was un- | able to play, owing to ail injury.