Vital Match Of Tour, South Africans Say.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18544, 18 August 1928, Page 2

Vital Match Of Tour, South Africans Say.

BOTH SIDES WILL STRAIN EVERY NERVE TO GAIN VICTORY IN CRITICAL THIP’ > TEST.

(Special to the New Zealand Press Association.) (Received August 18, 9 a.m.) PORT ELIZABETH, August 17. INTERESTING COMMENT is made by South African critics oh the prospects for the Third Test.

H. B. Keartland, -writing in the “Johannesburg Star,” said: “ Tlie tendency of modern test match cricket to play for safety appears to have spread to the Rugby game. How else can one account for the omission of clover Mark Nicholls from the All Blacks side for Johnson, whose worth is confined to his solidity. The tourists, in their choice.of players, have undoubtedly pinned their faith in their impregnable defence. It remains to be seen whether the brilliant individualism of Bennie Osier behind what is likely to prove a great scrummaging pack can find an opening. Both countries have fielded greater sides, but none imbued with a keener resolve to carry off the honours of Ihe critical game.”

PI. • Dup Ste3’-tler, writing in “ Die Burger/’ said: “Through Slater being dropped, the optimism which prevailed that South Africa would win the third test has somewhat waned. This, in mv opinion, is solely due to the fact that De Jongh, his substitute, is little known. Playing for the Currie Cup in 1925, De Jongh struck brilliant form, but since then he has disappeared from the public eye, and has only lately come bark to form. As one who has played with De Jongh, however, I consider that if there is a majeh winning back on the field it will be the South Africans’ new wing. With a remarkable turn of speed, a quick side-step and a very accurate cross-kick, De Jongh is a determined winger, and a corner will have to be very narrow indeed where he will not crash over. “It is amongst the forwards, however, that the match will be lost and won, and here I consider that the Springboks will predominate, because their shoving power is superior to that of the All Blacks. “ Elizabeth is considered South Africa's unlucky ground. Just as everybody thought that a Springbok side could not lose at Johannesburg, Saturday will see another tradition shattered.” F. M. Howard, in the “ Cape Times,” says:— “ This is undoubtedly the most criti-

cal and vital match of the whole tour. Defeat for either of the contestants will mean that that country’s chance of winning the rubber outright has finally gone by. A draw would still leave the position all square, and the ultimate decision would rest on the match, at Cape Town, but victory in the rubber by two wins to one, and one drawn game, would not look half as convincing as a Clear-cut three to one triumph.

“ Each side, therefore, will strain every nerve and sinew to-morrow to make certain of victory at Port Elizabeth.

“ To my mind. New Zealand, in deliberately discarding a Mark Nicholls, who has at last found his best form, for a Johnson, who is undoubtedly stale, and who has but little experience at second five-eighths, has thrown away her last chance of success, for I still think that South Africa will predominate to a very considerable extent forward, and that only by superior thrust and attacking power outside can the All Blacks really hope to win. Neither Johnson nor Carleton can possibly be regarded as even a really good attacking player, and to Lilbume alone will be left the entire brunt of. breaking through and making any real thrust. Mark Nichdtls’s omission probably means just' the difference between victory and defeat for his side.”