SPORTS Playing the Springboks

Te Ao Hou, July 1956, Page 46

SPORTS Playing the Springboks by Paul Potiki By the time this is published the Springboks will have completed their tour of Australia and will have begun their tour of New Zealand. As I write they are in Australia, on the eve of their first game, but already New Zealand is seething with interest and speculation about our prospects. Every province has planned its programme and is developing its tactics with a view to meeting the visitors. On paper South Africa seems to have the typically formidable side we have come to expect from them. After all they have been the premier Rugby nation for a long time and they are never likely to field anything but a strong team. Although we Maoris will have more than a small interest in the provincial fixtures, our main interest naturally will centre on the four tests and the Maori game. Most of us are hoping to see a number of Maoris in the Test teams. Last year several Maoris made the team against Australia—Pat Walsh of Ardmore Teachers' College at second five-eighth and later at fullback, Bill Gray of Rotorua at centre, Keith Davis of Auckland at half-back, Stan Hill of Canterbury on the side of the scerum, Tom Katene of Wellington on the wing and Doug Hemi of Waikato as hooker (although we are in some doubt about whether Hemi is a Maori, most of us like to think he is one of us and hope he will be available for the Maori All Blacks). It is too early to speculate on how many of these will play for New Zealand this year. As things stand I would count no one a Test certainty, except of course the incomparable Ron Jarden. We can be safe in assuming that form in the trial matches, including the North v. South Island game will do more to influence the selectors than will reputation alone. The race will be to the swift and the fit. Mr Morrison has already let it be known that only the very fittest will be considered. As far as the Maori Team is concerned one thing seems certain and I am afraid that it does not augur too well for our hopes of victory. There will be a surplus of very competent backs but a dearth of forwards capable of holding the power- Scene from the match between New Zealand XV and Maoris, in Eden Park, 1954. T. Goldsmith is carrying the ball. ful visiting pack. The pattern of play in Maori football of recent years, has tended more and more towards orthodoxy. This is probably occasioned by the increased number of Maoris playing in city football. Such a pattern requires big, heavy, fit forwards who can pack tight but still move fast in the loose. Too many of our contemporary Maori representatives are too small and far too loose. If we are to beat the Springboks we desperately need three or four men of the Lance Hohaia type—hard, rugged, fit and exceptionally strong men. If we can unearth two locks and two props who can match the visitors in the tight our talented loose forwards and backs may turn the scales in our favour. Despite this apparent weakness in the forwards we can be sure, however, that the team to play in the big game at Auckland on 25th August will have been more adequately prepared than any previous Maori side to play a visiting team in New Zealand. A series of Maori trials will be played. The selectors will also have the advantage of seeing aspirants play in provincial fixtures and in the month before the big game a Maori team will tour in the South Island. The following programme has been arranged:— 19th May: Prince of Wales Cup—Taitokerau v. Tairawhiti at Whakatane. 12th June: Taihauauru v. Te Waipounamu at Wanganui. 20th June: Final trial at Hamilton. At this stage the touring side will be chosen. This team will fly South and play:— 23rd June: West Coast at Westport. 27th June: Buller-West Coast at Greymouth.

30th June: Nelson-Golden Bay-Motueka-Marlborough at Nelson. 4th July: Sth Canterbury-Mid Canterbury-North Otago at Timaru. The team will then disperse and re-assemble to play:— 22nd August: Counties (Sth Auckland) at Waiuku. 25th August: South Africa at Auckland, the spirit of true football will prevail. Our hope of victory lies in speed, backing up and attack. There will be thousands of Maoris at Eden Park and I am sure we will all want to be proud of our representatives—whether in victory or defeat. Let us have hard, fast, intelligent football.