SPRINGBOKS WIN FOURTH TEST

Chronicle (Levin), 19 September 1949, Page 7

SPRINGBOKS WIN FOURTH TEST

Received Sunday; 7 p.m. * PORT ELIZABETH, September 17. By defeating the All Blaeks today by 11 points to 8, South Africa made a clean sweep of .the Rugby Tests and set a record j for both. eountries whieh will take a great deal of surpassing. . , . . The first spell was drab but the second half at times proyided ! some of the most exciting- Rugby seen.on this* tour. , The All Blaeks » j made a desperate : Mort! when eight points behind and narrowed j this margin to three points. * . ■ ■ « . They had e.very chance. .All that can be said is that the; side whieh made the most of its opportunities, as in previons Tests, emerged vietor. , ■ "With the exception of the Second Test whieh the Springboks . won convincingly, there has been little between both sides and a fo.ur to nil defeat in the Tests is perhaps a more convincing result on paper than on actnal play. Bnt the facts remain that the Springboks turned to advantage most of the opportunities that came their way and with that they deservedly take pride of place . among the Rugby playing nations of the world.

In at least two of the Tests the All Blaeks were nettled at penalties awarded against them hut today, had one of the world 's most immaculate positional and touch finding fullhaqks, Boh Scott, heen in anything like usual form with his goal-kicking, the All Blaeks could have heen as many points up in the first six minutes as the Springhoks were in the Durhan Test. Actually today, for the first time on the tour, he was presented with easy opportunities to goal almost at the outset of the match. Two penalties were awarded in handy positions • hut he could not goal. TiiprA wn.s crfimiim reuret amonsr +he

vast asseihblage as tliese shots went outside the post-s as Scott has, in other respects, proved a magnifient foo1 • baller. In fact, the early stages of this match saw the spotlight almost continually centred on Scott. He moved up to assist back movements. He had three snap pots at goal. He was everywere in atta"k and defence. One pot ' was a beautiful effort from wide out but was destined to the same fate as so many other attempts. Thus a three to nil lead a half time could casily have been a margin of nine to twelve points. On the other hand, the Springboks' goalkiekers were invariably right on the mark. Geffin had only three shots at goal. .He missed one penalty shot but kicked another and also converted n try. Brewis kicked one out of two attempts at field goals and van der SchyfiE hit the posts with a long penalty kick, the ball bouncing back infield. Thus territoriallv, the All Blaeks may claim to have had the better of Ihe match but the only result that matters is points registered. In the four games the Springboks have scored three tries (one converted), 10 penalty goals and two field goals to four tries (two converted), two penalty goals and two field goals — a total of 47 points to 28. be said to be a matter of snapped opportunities and South African Kugby is on top for this season. Today the All Blaeks' seore sheet read better as it consisted of two tries to one but Rugby football offers more scoring chances than just tries., These may represent the ultimate in Rugby achievement and on this angle the All Blaeks may justly claim that their record shows better team work. But in all-round proficiency, South Africa has emerged superior. Today 's mateh reflected a most interesting aspect of this tour, namely, that as the Tests progressed, the All Blaeks forwards improved but the backs failed to advance to a comparable high standard. On the other hand, the Springbok forwards proved patchy but the backs, particularly today, revealed real ciass. Scrum Mastery Some compensation for the four to nil defeat in the Tests may be gained by the All Blaeks by the suceess of the pack. Eor the first time in the history of the Tests between these two countries, the All Blaeks have mastered the Springboks in the scruins and line-outs. Catley, in what may prove to be his laht international Rugby matehes, outhooked Jordaan in ^ three of the four Tests and the All Blaeks 1 more than held their own in the lineouts. The 1928 side never outhooked the Springboks yet managed to square the Test' rubber. Accurate goal-kick-ing had inuch to do with this but the present side can look back with pride on having outscrummed their opponents. Springboks Can Tackle However, the backs laeked two essential quailties, speed among the inside men and finisli to movements. Sight must not be lost of the superb tackling of the Springboks. This played a big part in halting many dangerous All Blaqk rushes. It can well be said that the tackling of the Springbok backs and forwards is of a particularly high standard. , Great Chance Missed Never theless, the All Blaeks still had great chances. In the second spell, a glorious movement in whieh Scott took part, saw Goddard break away. He sent the ball to Henderson and this wonderfully improved young football er made his only mistake of the day when he delayed his infield pass as he approached van der Schyfl: and Goddard cculid not hold the ball, with the South African defence completely beaten. This was one of the most thrilling rushes of the match. But the Springbok backs generally were mueh Smarter into action and also handled better. They found the All Blaeks' defenc6 solid as it has been throughout the tour but the ball actually went out to the Springbok wings in this match on more occasions than to Henderson and Meates. The Flying Winger Twice, in fact, Moss was able to slip past Henderson but the Wanganui flier repeated the performance of Phillips, the Maori winger in the 'Seeond Test at Christchurch in 1937, when he turned and caught Williams

from behind. Today Henderson twice turned and caught Moss from behind. He also saved an almost certain try when Muller raced away aftei Brewis had made a fine opening in the first spell. Muller is a particularly fast forward but Henderson came back with a tremendous burst of speed to catcli Muller on the line and such was the foree of his dive tackle that Muller lost the ball as he went over the line. But in general, today 's game may be summed up as a grand performance by the All Blaeks forwards, lack of finisli by the backs,' lost goal-kicking opportunities and an improved display in attack by the Springbok backs.

Johnstone was one of the finest forwards on the ground. Though one of the lightest forwards, he was right on the ball throughout and on today 's display shpuld always find a place in the All Black pack as a flank' forward. Harvey, Crowley and Willocks were prominent in the line-outs in wliich the All Blaeks had almost a two to one advantage in possession. Simpson proved an ideal pack leader. Skinner, one of the most improved forwards in the side, gave his usual competent display and Christian was a constant worker as a back row forward. With the Backs But though Savage did a tremendous amount of useful work and whipped the ball out smartly, the back line never appeared happy. Delamore was likely and varied his play well but Elvidge did not handle well and his powerful fend could. not hold off the terrific tackling of van Schoor who is really in the top World class as a tackler. Elvidge was unable to shake him off except when he made his do or die run whieh carried him over under the posts . after Delamore had made a useful opening. Goddard 's chances we.re limited. Ile was always looking. for them but the ball did not comq^ tq him quickly enough nor did it# Jpoymce favourably. ^ iWkQt the day .on the defence. His. qppqnent Geraghty, is a speedy young r wipg and twice eluded Meates. It was a good Test debut for him. On attack, the stars of the Hpringbok back line were Dutoit, Brewis and Lategan while van der Schyff was little .behind Scott in his positional play and touch kickjng. Dutoit badly beat the New Zealan^d defep.ee when he slipped over under ytlm posts following a scrum.