THE SPRINGBOKS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 251, 18 July 1921, Page 6

THE SPRINGBOKS

DRAW WITH TARANAKI BEFORE A RECORD CROWD NO SCORE ON EITHER SIDE By Telegraph—Special Correepandent. New Plymouth, July 16. Helped by points picked up at Wanganui by experts sent down to study the methods of the Springboks, Taranaki were able to make a draw against tho South Africans to-day. Possibly tho visiting centres were a little stronger today than in Wednesday’s match, but on the other hand van Heerden did not shape nearly so well as the right wing three-quarter, while the sodden state of the ground appeared to handicap the visitors a great deal. Tho Taranaki forwards quite held their own in the scrum, getting a fair share of the ball, and thus giving their backs more opportunities than those of Wanganui had against the Springboks. In line-out play, also, Taranaki were equal to the visitors, who missed van Roogen greatly, the latter having been the best of their vanguard. Taranaki had more weight in the forwards than Wanganui, and this made all the difference, as had been predicted. Superiority in the local footwork upset the visitors many times, Inking the play from defence to attack. The Springboks repeatedly failed to take advantage of openings by picking up instead of using their feet. The Springboks also failed to reproduce their dangerous short passing rushes, a fact that is accounted for, probably, by altered personnel and the preparedness of Taranaki, whose extra weight also told. A fact which counted against the visitors was that on several occasions when an opponent misfielded the ball a. Springbok waited for the whistle for "knock on,’’ as the slightest breach is penalised in South Africa. The handling by the visitors on the line-out to-day was not as clean as at Wanganui. They were obviously surprised by marks lacing taken from knocks on. On the line-out they keenly missed the length of van Roogen. who proved such a thorn in this department on Wednesday. It was noticeable that the visiting forwards heeled out from the scrum moro cleanly to-dav than in the first game.

J. Michau (half) being in splendid form, fed his centres consistently and cleverly, occasionally using tho blind side, running strongly before passing on, and kicking with fine judgment. Had Tindall and Weepner (who stood where the fiveeighths would be in a New Zealand team) beaten their men, a very different tale might easily have been told. B. Roberts and Coatis certainly defended well, but their opponents generally parted with the ball before getting up to them, leaving Clarkson, the only other back, to run straight, and make openings. This he certainly did on many occasions. Three times in quick succession he let Henry Morkel away with plenty of sea room, and it was only a brilliant tackle by Kingston that saved at least three tries in about ten minutes. The first of these efforts was thought to be . successful by many who were in a position to judge, but the referee’s view being obstructed, he gave the benefit of the doubt to the defending side. Again, at tho call of time, Clarkson beat all opposition except Kingston, and as he had van Heerden just outside him, an easy try appeared to 1» in the visitors’ grasp, when, to Taranaki’s relief and the visitors’ chagrin, ho slipped, and tho chance was lost.

Gn the day’s piny, Clarkson was the most brilliant attacking back on the ground. New Zealand being short of centre three-quarters of class, it is hard to say with whom he can compare, but ho would certainly be knocking at the door of tho Dominion team if a New Zealander.

Weepner was weak and undependable, and half-way through the second spell Meyer, who had done excellent work, at full, was brought up, Weepner dropping back.

Van Heerden, the much boomed, was an absolute failure to-day on the wing. He repeatedly got out of position, and failed to show anything approaching his Wanganui form. His tackling was his redeeming feature.

Henry Morkel. on ihe other wing, gave a very favourable impression, though his reputation of being the most dangerous wing three-quarter in South Africa was hardly played up to. He appeared to hesitate when ho got to his vis-a-vis, and did not dash off the murk in the convincing style we look for in a champion three-quarter. He would suffer in comparison with either 'Storey or Steele on his exhibition to-day, hut he is not to be held lightly on that, account. On a dry ground he would probably be a very much harder proposition. Of tho forwards who appeared for the first time. “Baby” Michau stood out right through. The way he kept going till "no side” surprised the spectators. Mosterdt did some excellent line-kick-ing, which appears to be a feature of the visiting forwards. Contrary to expectations, it was the Taranaki pack which shewed first signs of distress, and the last ten minutes found them fighting for time. The game demonstrated to those who doubted Kingston’s defensive abilities that he is not lackintr in this respect. Tho way he tackled Morkel proved that he is a very hard man to get past, and given anything like a chance, ho is quite capable of dealing with any of the Springboks so far seen in action. . His running and kicking were also right up to All Black form.

Taking tho whole game. South Africa probably looked moro like winning than Taranaki did, but the draw under the circumstances was a very fair indication of how the game went. On form so far shown on tour, the prestige of New Zealand Rugby is not likely to bo lost this season.

THE MATCH DESCRIBED

By Telegraph.—Press Association. New Plymouth, July 16.

A crowd estimated to number between 14,000 and 15,000 gaw’ Taranaki draw with the Springboks bore to-day, neither side scoring in a hard-fought, fast game, which will rate among tno finest exhibitions of Rugby witnessed here. The crowd 1 was a record for the province. The weather was fine, but the ground soft. When the teams took the field, it appeared as though the Springbok forwards, with their extra weight, would overcome Taranaki, but. while the visiting vanguard at once set up a dashing game, handling the ball in fine style, it was soon evident that the Taranaki combination was a strong one, and that the Springboks would be fully extended. The Taranaki forwaru.; infused splendid dash into the work, used then feet with effect, and with determined tackling held their own. Early in the game it was seen that the Springbok forwards were out. to feed the backs, but the smothering tactics of Taranaki, coupled with deadly tackling, kept the ball in. Occasionally the leather came out to the Springbok backs, and it was then that the game was marked by Hashes of pretty passing, the ball sweeping along the advancing line of backs with clockwork precision. The way the ball shot out from the ruck was the essence of neatness, nippy handling and swift passing, coupled with splendid co-operation putting the backs in action, and several times sweeping the game right down to Taranaki’s line. Here the defence of Taranaki was sound, mid by dashing piny and footwork the forwards always cleared. Though Taranaki appeared content to keep the ball amongst the forwards, much useful work was done by the linekicking of the backs, v hile hero again sure tackling nullified the Springboks’ at-

tacks. Altogether, there was little between the teams in the first spell. Each had its share of attacking to find its opponent's defence sound, and apart from fine passing by the Springbok backs— Morkel on a couple of occasions being collared right on the corner—and good linekicking by Taranaki—Kingston particularly being sound, and just failing to land a goal from the field—play resolved itself into a tussle between tho opposing vanguards.

The opening stages of the second half were marked by a great attack by Taranaki. an attack which really amounted to an assault, for over a period of some twenty minutes Taranaki hammered at tho Springboks’ goal line. Timo and again Taranaki were nearly over, but tho Springboks’ forwards were determined to keep the ball in, and again play became a. tussle between the vanguards, while if tho ball did come out, sure tackling, which was a feature of the play of both sides, brought about a change to loose play again. Then, as the spell progressed, tho Springboks attacked, and the success which often followed the forwards’ efforts to get tho bull out produced some more glimpses of pretty passing bouts. Several times the Springboks crowded on. Taranaki’s line. Fine work by Kingston, Taranaki’s full-back, saved time and again, while tho whistle for infringements by tho Springboks often brought much-needed relief to Taranaki. The Springboks lost no opportunity of throwing the ball out, and. many fine passing attacks just failed to achieve success. Just on the call of time Clarkson. wirn played a great game for tho ■Springboks, slipped and fell when the way across the line appeared open. Tho Springbok team comprised:—Fullback, Meyer; three-quarters, van Heer den, Weepner, Clarkson, and Henry Morkel; halveq, Tind>N and J. P. Michau; forwards, VV. 11. Morkel, J. M. Michau. Royal Morkel, M. Ellis, Harry Morkel, J. Mosterdt. Tho Taranaki team was composed of the players whose names have already been telegraphed. FOOTBALL CHARGES AT WANGANUI Sir, —My attention has been directed to a statement under tho heading ‘'High Cost of Football,” appearing in your Friday’s issue anent the charges levied upon tho public for the Springboks’ opening match at Wanganui on Wednes. day last. Your informant must surely have made a mistake. Tho price of reserved scats was 7s. 6d., including tho 2s, admission to the ground, which did not make the total charge 9s. 6d., n» your informant complains. Then again, tho reserved seats on the terrace .presented a fine view of the game, with seating accommodation for six hundred spectators outside of those that were reserved. The 3s. admission to the terrace stand enclosure was the price fixed by the N.Z.R.U. As for the children of the primary and secondary schools, special and elaborate arrangements were made for them at half-price, and they were ensconced on the track surrounding tho playing field, close to the players, under the direction of an organiser appointed specially for tho occasion. In fairness to the N.Z.R.U. and the Wanganui Rugby Union, and to prevent a wrong impression being circulated among your readers, I trust you will give this statement full publicity—l am, etc., A. TRONSON, Sec., Wanganui Rugby Union. Wanganui, July 16. [Wo have received two other letters written in the same strain.] A SUGGESTION Sir,—l should like to suggest to the New Zealand Rugby Union that before July 23 they should have added to the new scoring board a panel on which should be placed from time to time the card number of the player who made tho last score. In successful close work on the goal line, in particular, it is usually impossible for spectators to know who actually secured tho points. Tho extortionate charge made for the official programmes on a recent occasion has been justly criticised, and the reply that "printing and distribution cost 6d." is singularly bald and unconvincing, for there must be a handsome return on the advertisements.—l am, etc., ANGLO-AFRICAN.