RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 242, 13 October 1931, Page 4

RUGBY

TOUR OF THE SPRINGBOKS DISAPPOINTMENT OF CRITICS NO “RECKLESS AUDACITY” LONDON, Oet. 11. The Springboks continue to puzzle and disappoint critics with their colourless displays, despite the favourable conditions. Tho forwards are dominating the games. Tho opinion is expressed that they have not developed the. speed, carefully laid plans and intensive backing up which made the All Blacks so dangerous, nor are they as fast, as the Waratahs, though they are challenging tho Australians as successful exponents of the cross-kick. They lack the almost reckless audacity that made the Maoris so attractive. SPRINGBOKS AT HOME. LIST OF FIXTURES. For the first time since the 1912-13 season a South African Rugby football representative team is visiting the Home countries this season. According to the itinerary the team is not faced with such an arduous tour as that undertaken by the New Zealand team in 1924-25, when the touring side won its twenty-eight games played in England. Ireland, and Wales. The Springboks this season have twenty-six matches, many of which are against combined teams. It is worthy of note that four of the games are to be played in Scotland, where the 1924-25 New Zealand team did not have an engagement. Another point of interest regarding the fixture list is that the Springboks will have only five games during December. Excellent records were put up by the two previous Springbok teams in the

Home countries, but in tho matter of results they are not up to thoM established by the 1905 and 1925 New Zealand teams. Tho first Springboks (1906-7) played 29 games in the Home countries, winning 26, losing two, the other being drawn. The record of the 1912-13 Springboks was: Played 27, won 24, lost 3. Tho present team has now fulfilled three of its match engagements, with the following results:— October 3.—v. Gloucester and Somerset, at Bristol; won 14—3. October B.—v. Newport; won 15—3. October 10.—v. Swansea; won 10—3. The remaining fixtures are;— October 14.—v. Cross Keys and Abertill cry, at, Abertillery. October 17.—v. London, at, Twickenham. October 21.—v. Midland Counties, at Birmingham. October 24.—v. Durham and Northumberland, at Sunderland. October 28.—v. Glasgow, at Glasgow. October 31. —v. South of England, at Melrose. November 4.—v. Cambridge University. at Cambridge. November 7.—v. Combined Services, at Twickenham. November 12.—v. Oxford University, at Oxford. November 14. —v. Midland Counties, at Leicester. November 18.—v. Cornwall and D.'von, at Devonport. November 21. —v. Cardiff. November 24.—v. Llanelly. 4 November 28.—v. Neath and Abcravon, at Neath. December s.—v. Wales, at Swansea. December 9.—v. Lancashire and Cheshire, at Blundcllsn.w'?x December 12.—v. Ulster, at Berrast. December 19.—v. Ireland, at Dublin. December 26.—v. London, at Twickenham. January 2.—v. England, at Twickenham. January 6.—v. Cumberland and Yorkshire, at Workington. January 9.—v. North of Scotland, at Aberdeen. January 16.—v. Scotland, at Edinburgh.