THROUGH AFRICAN EYES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 246, 16 October 1937, Page 4

THROUGH AFRICAN EYES

THE SPRINGBOKS ON TOUR JOTTINGS FROM ACCOMPANYING ’ WRITER THE RIVAL CAPTAINS QUARREL Looking back on the tour o£ the South African Rugby team through New Zealand it is interesting to study the comments of a writer from the staff of the Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg (Mr. J. Sacks, sports editor of that journal), who accompanied the team on tour. Below appear the more interesting items culled from the paper in order of date. Included in the comment is a reference to the All Blacks’ and Springboks’ captains quarreling, and to the Church objecting to the Rugby mania which had gripped the Dominion.

August 18. The Springbok victory against combined Marlborough, Nelson, Golden Bay and Motueka looks better on paper than in actual fact. The tourists were suffering from reaction after the strain of the Test and played ragged football, mostly under form, despite warm sunshine and firm ground similar to South African conditions. It was no wonder that a local “wag” shouted: “You’ll have to play better Rugby in order to win the second Test. The home team played hard country Rugby. Incidentally the team included

four Maoris, all of whom were outstanding. They were McDonald and Hippolito (forwards) and Mellish and Kotua (half backs). From the full-back to the forwards the Springboks couldn't do right for % long time, while the referee was

over-finicky in his interpretation of the forward pass, checking many apparently legitimate movements. August 22. After an X-ray examination of Du Toil’s back a specialist declared that Du Toil was fortunate that he did not incur serious after-effects by participating in the Blenheim game. The fracture of the vertebrae had not properly mended and he might have been maimed for life, or possibly paralysed if he had been heavily thrown on the affected part. Du Toit was lucky to have such a narrow escape. He was advised to completely rest and it was largely his own keenness to play that led to his inclusion in the team this week. He informed Nel that he was well before the match. He has been dropped from to-morrow’s game, Bastard replacing him against Canterbury. To-day’s X-ray examination was regarded as a mere formality, du Toit having declared that there was nothing wrong with him. August 24. The Springbok tour is proving the biggest “golden egg’’ in the history of New Zealand Rugby. The Christchurch figures are not available, though it is anticipated that they will bring the total New Zealand takings to date up to £21.000, which equals the total of the gates of the 1921 Springbok tour. Home centres keep 33 per cent, of the takings for provincial matches and 25 per cent, for Tests and they provide local hospitality. The New Zealand Union, which is responsible for the expenses of the tour, pockets the balance. Already the New Zealand Union share, amounting to roughly £15,000, covers the estimated cost of the complete tour, hence the Union’s share for

the remaining nine matches, including two Tests, which are practically “gold mines,” is all profit. I asked Stan Dean, the New Zealand Rugby Executive chairman, what the likely total profit would be. Dean playfully replied: “I would willingly

pay £20,000 for the Union portion oi the takings." The gate for the recent Wellington Test smashed the previous record in 1930 by over £lOOO. Takings to date in round figures (Christchurch omitted) are: Auckland, £4000; Hamilton, £1750; New Plymouth, £2300; Pall merston North, £2100; Wellington, £3800; Wellington Test, £8200; Blenheim, £7OO.

Pierre de Villiers has decided to retire from all Rugby and “Boy" Louw from representative Rugby after the present tour. With Nel that means three veterans dropping out. August 25. The Springbok and All Black captains were involved in a heated argument during line-outs in to-days match. The Springboks were well on top, leading by a big margin, when an incident occurred which brought to a climax the series of differences lirst between Ron King, the All Black captain, and “Boy" Louw and later Philip I Nel. i Nel was annoyed when he was headI locked while he reckoned he was I without the ball. i The referee intervened, calling upon I the pair to shake hands, which they j immediately did. | Apart from this incident, the game | was not- rough. I West Coast and Buller offered a [stout opposition, fighting back gamely I to the bitter end. I They were outclassed by a heavier pack and faster backs with better combination. The weather held, but the ground [was exceptionally heavy, handicap[ping real speed. Nevertheless, the ■visitors won by the large margin of '3l to 6. °

i August 27. Second Test prospects are devouring I public interest like a prairie lire. The I New Zealand manager of the SpringIboks, Frank Glasgow, declares that if I the South Africans win the second Test the authorities could have sold £20,000 worth of advance tickets for | the final Test but for lack of suffiI cient covered accommodation, thousands would have to be turned away from the final Test. The existing football mania is alarming the church authorities of New Zealand. The Methodist Timos

declares “the present Rugby obsession is disquieting. Isn't there a topheaviness about the intensity of the interest in the Springbok. We submit [there is a lamentable lack of a sense [of proportion." | A noteworthy commentator in the I recent Test film described Williams [scoring a try as a “national disaster,” but later declared the result as a “national triumph.” August 30. The psychological factor—a big force in international football—favours the Springboks for the coming [Test. They are unlikely to enter the [ Held with the same disastrous over- | confidence as they did at Wellington, ■while they have been telling themI selves since then that they will be | afraid to show their faces in South Africa if they are beaten at Christ--1 church.

Indeed, from their viewpoint the bottom will fall out of the tour of they lose the rubber on Saturday.

There is every likelihood of their stepping on to the field at Christchurch with the same rugged determination which proved a prelude to the magnificent first Test victory in Australia after the New South Wales debacle.

rngUsh Rowers. Because of the enthusiasm of the chairman of the Empire Games Committee, Sir James Leigh Wood, there is every hope of a representative English eight rowing at the Empire Games regatta in Sydney (states an ex-