RUGBY.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17384, 21 April 1928, Page 20 (Supplement)

RUGBY.

N.Z. RUGBY TOURISTS.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR. THE COMPLETE ITINERARY. In fulfilling all engagements on the tour, the New Zealand team will cover about 6200 miles by rail in South Africa. The itinerary is as follows: MAY. Monday, 21st. arrive Durban per Euripides. .Tuesday. 22nd, leave Durban per Euripides. Saturday. 26th, arrive Capetown. Wednesday. 30th, play at Capetown. JUNE. Saturday, 2nd, plav at Capetown. Monday. 4th, 4.15 p.m.. leave Capetown. Tuesday, sth, 7.30 p.m., arrive Kimberley. Wednesday, 6th, play at. Kimberley. Thursday. 7th, 7.30 p.m., leave Kimberley. Friday. Bth, 7.30 p.m., arrive Johannesburg. Saturday. 9th, play at Johannesburg:. Tuesday, 12th, 11 a.m.. leave Johannesb«rg\ « . A Tuesday, 12th, 5 p.m.. arrive Kroonstad. Wednesday, 13th. play at Kroonstad. Thursday. 14th, 12.37 p.m.. leave Kroonstad. , . Thursdav. 14th. 6.15 pjn., arrive Johannesburg:. Saturday, 16th, play at Johannesburg. Tuesday, 19th. 10.10 a.m.. leave Johannesburg. ,_ . Tuesday, 19th. 2.40 p.m., arrive Potchefstroom, Wednesday, 20th, play at Potchefstroom. Thursday, 21st, 2.20 a.m.. leave Potchefstroom. Thursday, 21st, ft.ls a.m.. arrive Johannesburg-. . . Thursday, 2 J st. 2.15 p.m.. leave Johannesburg. . Friday. i2nd, 6.52 a.m., arrive Mantzbur?. Saturday, 23, play at Marltzburg. Monday, 25th, 8.35 a.m.. leave Maritzburg. .Monday. 25th. 12.16 p.m.. arrive Durban. Saturday, 30th. First Test, Durban. JULY. Tuesday. 3rd, 9.56 p.m.. leave Durban. Thursday. sth. i. 13 a.m.. arrive Bloemfontein. Fridav. 6th. 9 a.m., leave Rloemfoniein. Friday. 6th, 1.28 p.m.. arrive. Kimberley. Saturday. 7th. play a*. Kimberley. Sunday. 8.35 p.m., leave Kimberley. Tuesdav, 10th, 8.40 a.m.. arrive Buiawayo. Tuesday, 10th. 6 p.m., leave Buiawayo. Wednesday. 11th, 10.1? a.m.. arrive Victoria Falls. „, . , Fridav. 13th, 12.30 p.m.. leave Victoria Falls. Saturday. 14th, 7.30 a.m.. arrive Buiawayo. Saturday. 14 th, plav at Buiawayo. Mondav. 16th, 5 p.m.. leave Buiawayo. Wednesday. 18th. 4.34 a.m.. arrive Johannesburg-. Saturday, 21st Second Test, Johannesburg. Monday! 23rd, 5.10 p.m., leave Johannesburg". Monday, 23rd, 6.25 p.m., arrive Pretoria. Wednesday, 25th, play at Pretoria. Thursday, 26th, 6.30 p.m., leave Pretoria. Friday 27th. 7 a.m., arrive Bloemfonteln. Saturday, 28th,'play 'at Bloeml'ontefn. Monday, 30th. 7.15 a.m., leave Bloemfonteln. Monday, 30th. 3.7 P.m.. arrive Burghersdorp. AUGUST. Wednesday. Ist. play at Rurghcrsdorp. Thursday, 2nd. 3.7 p.m., leave Burghersdorp. , . Fridav 3rd, 6.30 a.m.. arrive East London. Saturday. 4th, play at East London. Tuesday, 7th, 11.5 a.m., leave Hast London. Tuesday, 7th, 1.53 p.m., arrive King Williamstown. , „, _.., Thursday, 9th, 2.14 p.m., leave King Wuliamstown. , Friday. 10th, 6.0 a.m.. arrive Port ElizaSaturday.' 11th, Play at Port Elizabeth. Saturday, 18th, Third Test, Port Elizabeth. Sunday.' 19th, 3.45 p.m.. leave Port Elizabeth. , . ~ Monday. 20th. 7.20 a.m.. arrive Oudtshoorn. n ~ , Wednesday. 22nd, play at Oudtshoorn. Thursday, 23rd, 7.35 a.m.. leave Oudtshoorn. Friday 24th, 7.51 a.m., arrive Capetown. Saturday, 25th. play at Capetown. SEPTEMBER. Saturday, Ist, Fourth Test, Capetown. Tuesday. 4th. sail from Capetown per Ceramic.

TWO GREAT RUGBY NATIONS. It will bo universally agreed that the Rugby supremacy of ihe world is to be decided in South Africa this season. While the New Zealanders are speeding to the convincing grounds, it, will be interesting to review the relative strength of the Rugby nations as disclosed by past history. The following table should be illuminating on this head:— Dominion Tours of United Kingdom and France.

If. is interesting to recall that the 1905 All Blacks beat Scotland by 12 ■points to 7, Ireland by 15 to nil, England by 15 to nil. were beaten by Wales by 3 to nil, and beat France by 38 to S. The. 1906 Springboks lost (o Scotland by 6 to nil. beat Ireland by to to 12, beat Wales by 11 to nil. drew with England (3 all), and beat France by 55 to 6. The South Africans on their 1912 tour, however, had a triumphal march in the international games, beating Scotland by 16 to nil. Ireland by 38 to nil, Wales' by 3 to nil, England by 9 to 3. and France by 38 to 5. , The New Zealand team in 1924 equalled this brilliant reeord. with the exception that no match was played against Scotland. Wales was beaten bv 19 to nil, Ireland by 6 to nil. England by 17 to 11, and France, by 37 to S and 30 to 6. Having thus decisively demonstrated their superiority over the Rugby players Of the Old Land, New Zealand and South Africa must now fight out the issue this season in South Africa It. was a great performance that the South Africans put up in 1921 when they toured this country, and left with honours easy in the test matches. This proved what a great side they were. On that tour, they were only beaten by New Zealand in the first test at Dunedin and by Canterbury.

There has been a good deal of talk about the decadance of Rugby in South Africa within recent years, but this can be largely discounted. Enthusiasts are apt to bask in the light dT other days, and consider that no modern players can compare with the heroes of old. Nearly everyone is aware, however, of the fact that South Africa is an important nation, which is fast developing Empire status. As is the case in New Zealand, Rugby football is almost a religion in that country, from such populous cities as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Pretoria, Kingwilliamston, Oudtshoorn, Ladysraith, Maritzburg, Port Elizabeth, and Burghersdorp, to say nothing of the dozens of other smaller centres, South Africa should be able to assemble a Rugby side fit to compare in stature, pace, and stamina with the best in the world, and the coming clashes with the men from this Dominion should be about the greatest struggles for supremacy which the Rugby world has ever seen.

Confidence in New Zealand. While fully recognising South Africa's strength, New Zealanders can place quiet confidence in their own men to return with a majority of wins in the four Test matches, which are to be plaved at Durban on June 30, at Johannesburg on July 21, at Port Elizabeth on August 18, and at Cape Town on September 1. It is very gratifying to remember that New Zealand Rugby players have never yet. failed in an important tour overseas. In two tours to Great Britain they have only lost one international match, which speaks volumes alike for their ability on attack and defence.

As has before been remarked in these columns (writes "Five-eighths" in the Dominion) the people of New Zealand have, never yet. had an opportunity of seeing their Rugby representatives playing the game as they can play it. In this country no opportunity is ever given the national team of acquiring that machinelike combination which a side attains on tour.

For the next few months the New Zealand learn will have nothing to do but to think, talk and play Rugby foothall. They will have pleyed eight matches in South Africa before having to take the field in the first Test, and by that time condition and combination should he at their best.

On the night that the New Zealand team was picked last year, W. J. Wallace, the veteran member of the 1905 All Blacks, took a bet of a new hat that the New Zealand team would not lose a single match in South Africa. This shows the confidence which such an experienced player has in the present team. Though it may be too much to expect that they will repeat the wonderful 1024 record in Britain, they can confidently be backed to win the majority of the Test matches, and thus ensure for New Zealand the undisputed Rugby supremacy of the world.

p w. L. D. F. A. 1 888-89 N.Z. Natives 74 49 20 5 394 188 1905-6 All Blacks . .7 8 32 1 0 868 47 1906-7 Springboks . 29 2 k 2 1 608 37 1 9ng-o Wallabies .. 31 2 5 5 1 4 38 146 191?-13 Springboks 97 24 3 0 44 1 101 192 1-25 All Blacks 30 30 0 0 720 1 1 2