N.Z. Backs Were Not Equal To First-Class Varsity Team.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18406, 7 March 1928, Page 12

N.Z. Backs Were Not Equal To First-Class Varsity Team.

SUPPORTERS OF ALL BLACKS GOT A SHOCK WHEN SPRINGBOKS SHOWED QUALITY IN FIRST TEST.

BELOW' is file second of a series of articles written for the “Star” by “Jock” Richardson, the well-known Rugby player, who reviews South African football, with special reference to the displays given by the Springboks on tlieir 1921 tour. In view of the visit of the All Rlack team to South Africa this season, the opinions of such an experienced player are of special interest.

(Specially written for the "Star” by "Jock" Richardson).

Let us begin with the first test, which was played under the old conditions, that is, the long punting of each side's backs was the gainer of more territory than even the magnificent work of each mighty pack of forwards. It is not the intention of the writer to express an opinion regarding the comparatively poor showing of New Zealand, and no mature judge of the Rugby game will be prepared to deny that behind the secrum out men were not of a standard up to good Otago University form. This statement will be elaborated in another article.

Springboks 5, All Blacks 0. The home vanguard gave the Spring boks a taste of their mettle, but the Beilis variety of kick and dash suited Gerald Morkel, and a scrum came at half-way, the tremendous weight of the visitors making them masters of the favourite of the non-New Zealand means of setting backs going. Townsend was the man that made our inside backs run across the field or kick for a line which permitted the Boks to exploit their Graeco-Roman methods. The real passing was all with the backs behind these giants who kept the All Blacks practically guessing with their attacks, the result being that Africa were favourites up to just before half-time. Their forwards became struggling masses of brawn and their backs kicked like clockwork. Candidly, the first spell was well in the control of the visitors, and the 25,000 spectators were aghast that AH Blacks could be so closely held by any opponents, breaks bv New Zealand being generally of the hard kick variety, when the forwards managed a break, or of the beat-a-man and get grassed silly tactic so often seen on Carisbrook in years gone by. Better Fed.

Behind the Black scrum things were at sixes and sevens, and so far as styles were in question, the old-fash-ioned three-quarter line was better fed than were the piercing Dominion fiveeighths. The general impression was that New Zealand could do better, or should do better, in the second half. But just before lemon-time, centre Clarkson found the New Zealand backs inferior, and the Boks’ forwards, especially Harry Morkel, seemed to be up to the back thrusts, the huge “Baby” Michau taking several forwards to stop his leviathan efforts; a tiring showed, and from a referee's scrum Mellish broke away and gave the Olympic hurdler. Van Heerden, his chance on the shorter side, his full fall getting him first blood. The one and only Gerald Morkel made the score: South Africa 5, New Zealand 0. Spectators Dumbfounded.

There was a roar of applause, but the lion’s cublets were licking their lips dry for_ the blood of their dominating opponents. The Blacks had been play in S —they were compelled to—the game that the Greens had planned. The New Zealand wing-threes had to kick, and neither Storey nor Steel was a better man in the first fortv-five than was Henry Morkel or Van Heerden. The Springboks’ forwards were distinctly ahead in line-outs, and packs following them. In short dashes the home forwards were good to a point, and that point was when they met the solid three-quarters of the visitors and had to kick to that great full-back, Gerald Morkel. Just behind the scrum the Black backs were held comfortably by Townsend and J. P. Michau, ' H. Nicholls and M. Nicholls not pleasing themselves or anybody else except their markers. It is only a fair criticism to write that the South Africans were more than five points better in the first spell. Old “hands” gave the real opening of Van Heerden’s try to J. P. Michau, who had rattled the home backs and made the forwards so tense that they lost command of the ball without filling the blind side gap. The genius of Mellish in doing the unexpected had made all the difference, and "V an Heerden’s pace carried him over untouched until the try could not be prevented. A shame, indeed, would it have been that the great combination of these giants of the veldt and the plateaus should not have been rewarded for their herculean endeavours.

Second Spell. Again did it appear as if the punting of the backs was to be the outstanding “game” of each side to get attack position, G. P. Morkel almost putting his opponent, Kingston, in the position of a spectator by his marvellous accuracy in position kicking. A bit of good fortune came to the All Blacks when they were defending, for Steel made a huge punt to the other end of the field. A great effort it was with the run of play in favour of the kicker. Then the home backs clearly demonstrated their lack of quality; their passing was that of novices; the marking Afrikanders bustled them readily; the other New Zealand wing three-quarter even used the speculating foot in his anxiety to avoid a bump from Kruger and Scholtz The standoff half, J. P. Michau. lined with beautiful accuracy, and with the line power of the Springboks still unabated, the All Blacks were compelled to force down for welcome relief. Desultory play at long range gave each pack time to breathe. A change came over the game when Ces. Badeley made a high punt, the ball bouncing away from Gerald Morkel, Meyer and Henry Morkel. and the home rover, “Moke” Beilis, hurling himself to the ground with the ball under him. It was all in the bounce, and the “break” proved to be a wrong ’un for the visitors. Mark Nicholls had a non-rush kick at goal through Kruger’s impetuosity, and the scores were: Springboks—All Blacks, 5 all. We’ve Scored! The crowd was in a happy frame cf mind. What a relief! And hardly 15 minutes of second spell play. However, things looked awkward for the home side when half Michau raced full-back Kingston for the ball in the New Zealand fn-goal and the thing went into dead-bail line. A good chance had been

lost to the Springboks by over-kicking A deal of mid-field play of poor quality on each side ended in full Morkel’s making an excellent punt into the New Zealanders' twenty-five. Steel’s Try. At this stage the ball was crossed to Steel with plenty of height and he ran between centre and wing to take the bounce at about half-way. Meyer raced with him for a while but failed to connect* and Gerald Morkel could not get across in time to prevent the West Coast i three-quarter's running over and behind the posts. The goal was a sitter for Mark Nicholls and New Zealand 10 South Africa 5 was acclaimed with a wave of flying hats and handkerchiefs and tossing heads. The Springboks’ luck appeared to be dead out. Gerald Morkel missed an easy shot at a penalty goal. Van Heerden went too far after bundling up the home backs: Townsend was all but over when he knocked on; a pass between M. Nicholls and Aitken was pulled up pronto and the visiting forwards gave Badeley a strenuous time in stopping their rushes. Forward White led a fine dribbling rush to G. P. Morkel, whom he caught in possession ; the Springboks were forced twice and things were bad for them. - Another try was to come to New Zealand. An All Black forward, White, got over the Springboks’ line, but a five 3'ards’ scrum was ordered. The ball came to Badeley, who was held up, and a hard kick sent the chance to Aitken, centre and captain, and he passed to Donald, Storey being fed with room to go across near the corner flag. The goal kick was very wide. New Zealand 13—South Africa 5. H. Morkel's Run.

The closing incident of the play was Henry Morkel’s hard run down the side line to be stopped by Steel. Beilis's try, the first one of the game, did not satisfy the Springboks, who maintained that both Meyer and Harry Morkel had played the ball that had bounced away from the full-back. There was much difference of opinion, but of questions of fact the referee is the sole judge in Rugby. The try is given to the first opponent putting his hand on the ball not forced over the line. The moral effect on the visitors may be imagined; and the “try” was awarded at the beginning of the second half.

Individually the Springboks’ backs were better than those of the All Blacks. In territorial advantage honours were easy in the second spell. It looked as though the South Africans could not finish regular passing attacks. The English four three-quarter formation had let Steel in. White and Duncan, of the New Zealand smaller men, had been more outstanding than the corresponding South Africans in the last quarter of the second spell. The feeling was that the home side was not lucky to win, but that the visitors were up against the “run of the balls.” Eight to five would have been a fair index of second-half play.

Confusion at Headquarters. Among the big chiefs of All Black football there was an uneasy feeling that something was wrong, but they decided that they could change their forwards. Beilis was considered to be only a smasher of backs and not an extra half. White, the only man with a dribbling toe, had to stay out on the score of expense—he lived at the end of the South Island, about a thousand miles from Auckland. The half-back was replaced by Wellington Roberts (purchased a dummy at the cost of a try against Wellington). There was a feeling throughout the provinces that the Springboks might have something up their sleeves, for remember that at this stage of the tour the South Africans had won 10 to 6 against Wanganui, drawn nil all with Taranaki, and defeated Wairarapa eighteen to three, met and down the team of the Capital Province, windy Wellington, the Pressmen of which (as before and since) had about picked the New Zealand team; they had overrun Jack Steel’s golden West by thirty-three points to three without making any very great effort, but had gone down to Canterbur v by 4 to 6 and then had demolished what was considered to be a Rugby stronghold, namely South Canterburv. home of wing-three Storey, by 34 points to 3. The end of New Zealand had been visited and a big Southland side had been held in its native mud with four tries to nil against their records. Otago, home of dour and strenuous football, saw the Springboks for a week after Dunedin’s blues had been trounced in a gruelling game by eleven points to three. The spell before the First Test was used bv the New Zealand selectors in thinking out how manv points the first big struggle would give their invincible fern-wearers and the fact that the Springboks were so very hard to score against did not seem to worry them, although these Afrikanders had but 27 points registered against their 121—four times as good. Well, on to the next struggle let us go! (To be continued).