ALL-BACKS OR SPRINGBOKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11937, 26 March 1914, Page 7

ALL-BACKS OR SPRINGBOKS.

SOI'TH AFRICAN 'S VIKWS.

Messrs W. Hutchison and YV. Allen, two New Zealanders settled in South Africa, were in Christchurch last week ou a holiday tour, and an interviewer asked them what they thought of the respective merits of Springboks and AliBlacks on the Rugby field .

" 'Off-side' Mclvenzie asked me the same thing in Sydney,'' said Mr Hutchison "I think we have got a very good Rugby side in South Africa, but iio outstanding men at present. I do not think South Africa to-day is as strong as the team of Springboks that visited England. They reckoned in South Africa that that team was as

good as the All-Blacks, but of course, we New Zealanders didn't think so, and when it came, down to saying Tvhi di was' the best the critics usually said the All-Bia.ekw."

Mr Hutchison said that a visit from a Xe\v Zealand team would arouse great enthusiasm iv South Africa, where the merits of these two teams were frequently discussed lie added that, assuming New Zealand Kuii-by had gone back, a bit since tho All'-Blacks•' tour, South Africa could give the visitors a, good game. Mr Allen concurred in this view, but expressed the opinion that the NewZealand forwards would be found superior, as the. South African Rugbyite, bi" man as he is, trained more for back play. Mr Hutchison said he was sorry to think that the amateur game was being challenged in any degree by the professional game There was no such trouble iv South Africa, where, he said, the New Zealanders would find a lot of good sports playing the, game for its own sake.