SPRINGBOKS V. SOUTHLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16496, 5 August 1921, Page 6

SPRINGBOKS V. SOUTHLAND.

SOME ANTICIPATIONS. INVERCARGILL RECEPTION. HARD CAME EXPECTED. (By ERNEST E. BOOTH, N.Z. 190-5-6-7,. N.S.W. 1908-9-10.) Invercargill made quite a name for ; itself by the reception of the AustraI lian cricket team when pipe bands I skirled a greeting and crowds cheered. One of the team, Lampard, assured me this night’s reception was quaint and stirring. The Springboks received an even greater welcome, hundreds turning out to greet them. Invercargill is a steady town, but it has got the football fever very badly this season. The bulk of the new arrivals is puzzling everyone. They arc taking their Canterbury defeat like good sportsmen. Down here in Southland everyone feels sorry that Southland was not permit- | ted the opportunity of being the first ! interprovincial team to lower the Afri- • can colours (if possible). The visitors i are not taking Southland cheaply and | tried to arrange for a full week’s rest 1 before tackling the proud holders of j the Ranfurly Shield. To-morrow’s ; match from the African standpoint will j b© played as a best of their own side ‘ in view of the first JNew r Zealand test J match on August 13. j Ido not wish to dilate muc£ on the • chances of the game. Probably the bal- ; ance of odds is in favour of the visitors, i At the same time it is very questionj able if their much greater weight both i fore and aft will be any material ad- | vantage unless backed by extra stamina j and vim. The grounds of Southland are proverbially sodden and the local players are adepts at the “ floor game.” The Southland team in maroon will- stand and fight like Sir Colin Campbell’s “ The Thin Red L.ne” in the Crimea—not too much thin either, as the pack are a healthy crowd, averaging 13st i 41b. In sporting phraseology they j should give the visitors “ a good run for their money.” As a forecast of the game and especially with a view to the likelihood of rain, I am anticipating a grim duel of vanguards. In fact, with rain falling, the order of play may be reminiscent of the hard forward rucking game of twenty-five years ago. If the AfriI cans have been practising and playing New Zealand tactics as reported, South- ; land have already some knowledge of , the African methods. With a dry ball and a decent turf, however, a fast, i open game should result.

| Southland has certainly experienced hard luck of late by having several prominent good players incapacitated by injuries in club and trial matches. Alost notably is this so in the case of M*Donald, whom I had the highest hopes of bringing out as “ a real discovery ” this season. Southland will probably offer some new modes of play to the Africans, different from any yet met in New Zealand. The general public are keen on the game. They have all read of the “ gentle ” Michau as he steps over opponents, the manhurdling Flying Dutchman Van Keer- ! den, the fleet goal-potting fiend Strauss, “the Heavenly Twins” from Stellenbosch, Michau and De Koek. They know De Vilhers the brilliant “ kickist ” who wears the straight boot, and the powerful Gerhard Morkel with his record long kicks. African papers thought him the best kick iii the world, until they saw Jock Stohr, of the military team, performing. The whole countryside is aroused, and special ( trains are coming in even from the farhack Lakes District. One local councillor anticipates with great satisfaction that the attendance here in Invercargill will beat that of "Wanganui. Another stli city argument! “ Kapai !” All attendance records of the past promise to he eclipsed. The visitors are enjoying their tour immensely, but feel the cold down hero. They seem to have a predominant feeling of unity with New Zealand, and this viewed from both a political as well as a sporting standpoint 13 most desirable. We wish them to remember well our “ Kia Ora ” good luck and greeting “ Haeremai ” (welcome). The black question in Africa is growing in importance and intensity every year, and if Africa ever calls for New Zealand’s aid she can depend on a good strong team of “ All Khakis” to help. Report's have given the Africans’ war cry in various ways, one especially causing some concern Nvati. Hee-hee-hee!” Its meaning has been interpreted most as “ what kind of cattle are you? Big Bucks?” I hope Southland players to-day will demonstrate in tangible style that they are “some Stud Flock” and tile Springboks will understand. The Southland AA*ar-cry was kindly given me by the Hon John Topi, i M.L.C., who is greatly interested in

Rugby football. It is framed in a- greet ing of welcome, distinctly approjtriat and different ‘from many hakas of dc fiance. The words are:

“ HAEREMAT, HAEREMAI.” AU MIHI-E. AU MIHI-E KT MUBIHIKU E. WHAKEKAHA MAI TE HAERE. NAU MAI NAU MAI. The English translation is: Come Forward (i.e. Welcome), Everybody Greets you To Southland. Come strongly. Come bravely. A happy welcome to all. The African war-cry is disappointing and it seems passing strange that South Africa, the land of war-loving nations such as the great Lulu Napoleon Chaka and his swarming impis, cannot produce a more warlike production. 1 suppose construction is everything. At the Springboks reception in Sydnew recently Sir Henry Braddon (an ex-Southland representative) recited a short story about the famous Maori footballer Jack Taiaroa. In 1884 Taiaroa was with the New Zealand team in Newcastle (N.S.W.). The mayor of the city insisted on Taiaroa making a speech in Maori. Only two others present understood what Taiaroa was saying and their suppressed laughter was ominous. Later it was discovered that the Maori’s supposed speech was the Lord’s Prayer in his own tongue. While on war-cries : The old-time institution of every team having its cry needs resuscitating, as it certainly adds materially to the variety and show portion of the performance and programme. If any New Zealand team went to Australia without a Maori warcry they would resemble and be treated similarly to a commercial traveller without some of his best selling lines. A good gag at the public Box Room lately: “Have you heard of that box being smashed in Christchurch ?” No, what box?” Answer: “Springboks.” A point which I think should be brought up for discussion at the next Australasian Conference is the appointment of line umpires simtTar to methods employed in other games. These umpires, especially for big matches, should be referees and have power to stop the game by flag-raising and by drawing the referee’s attention to any illegal praetices, discrepancy, rough or foul play, pointing out the players concerned, noticing the various negligences that. especially occur near the touchline and which so often escape the referee’s notice. Many of these gentle-

men make an island of the middle ot 1 the field and keep on it to the detriment of the game. The continued success of the Spring* boks has got the Rugby brains of New Zealand thinking hard. Possibly the clever footwork of some of the southern teams may yet offer them som< solutions. “ It’s up to Southland am Otago. ’ 9