SPRINGBOK BACKS WILL BE BRIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue CXXIII, 10 April 1937, Page 15

SPRINGBOK BACKS WILL BE BRIGHT

SOME STARS BEHIND A GREAT PACK

(Written for "The Post" by Syd. Malcolm, Vice-Captain 1933 '■ Wallabies.) 7- ~.:""

' We Wallabies in Africa In 1933 had a taste of the football which, made the Springboks famous in the Homeland but six months earlier. The forwards were a magnificent band of athletes. If they can improve' on the strength of the 1933 South African vanguard then there's a torrid time awaiting the New Zealand "'labourers" in the. forward division.

With Bennie Osier, out of the back's it is possible that more attention wil be given to attack by the whole back line in preference to advancement bj the use,of,the touchline. If so, then will be" some brilliant play, for wher they gave'the ball the air against us v 1933 they did it in "tip-top" style. Ever Osier showed genius in attack and hf had great support,' from "Frankie' Waring and "Jimmie" White in the centres. They are sturdy chaps witt plenty of pace, good handlers anc strong runners. With the Westerr Province wingers outside this pah there will be some dashing bursts foj the goal line. GO FLAT OUT. A. D. ("Dendy") Lawton plays or the left wing and D. O. Williams or the right. They are both heroes ai Newlands (Cape Town), where thej have scored x many spectacular tries Lawton goes flat out for the cornel flag, just like a,bull at a gate. '"fi« doesn't worry about finesse. His ob; jectiveis the-goal line andvhe crashes through all opposition to get there ir his full-blooded charges. Williams is quite the opposite in hi= methods, which are all refined artistry He prefers to swerve daintily past an opponent or to side-step adroitly tc achieve his mission. A ten-second track athlete, he is fast and has all the ■ technique of the champion, for, if cornered, he will reverse the play to a partner or cross-kick with judgment to the following forwards. Watch this pair in action; they are sure to thrill and please. "Jimmie" White and "Frankie" Waring played together as centres in international games in England and again in South Africa against the Wallabies. They have ; a good understanding, White is a big lump of a chap, just on six feet tall and weighing about fourteen stone. He is fast, runs strongly, lifts his knees high and takes some stopping. Waring, who will strip at about 11J stone, is a more subtle type. He and White will serve up some good Hugger. SKILFUL AND TRICKY. But the most spectacular play will come from a pair of youngsters, who play centre for Western. Proyince, in Lucien Babr'ow <^age '22) 't and S. ("Hoffie") iHctfmeyer (age 24)jj-, These two have worked up a great, combination and iiyofi a, rtepytation £or skill and trickiriess. V.,,? .-..J.,,,''-.,... . Hofmeyer is a genius of the elusive type, delightful to watch and possessing a great dummy. His partner, Babrow, has a flair for finding a gap in the opposition when .in top speed. He will interchange passes with his partner, Hofmeyer—and they work a wonderful scissors movement which cuts holes in the defence. They should make a great second string to the more experienced/ pair, White and Waring. >;■ il 'i ■'.'■ ' -■-: Place the great artist "Gerry" Brand behind those mentioned and Dania - Craven—the best half-back, in the world—in front of them and you have a complete picture of the Springbok resources: a big virile pack—each man a six-footer and weighing at least 2001b—with a galaxy of stars in the back division capable of turning on high-class football against the greatest opposition. '•!■;. ... HARDIEST FOR MAM A DAY; From my experiences in South' Africa and New Zealand, together with my observations and knowledge of recent form, I can only prophesy that New Zealand will be up against the toughest proposition they have had for many a day. / k '■ The Springbok forwards are great in the art of securing possession and, once gained,, the backs do not give this valuable asset away. No, they exploit the advantage to the utmost and keep opponents confined as much as possible to defensive operations. New Zealand forwards will have to be .flatftrat'jlo; beat these expert scrumniagers.. ; If; they can do so then the conflict will ;be more eVen and the All Blacks; may be able to -iunfold back play which will find holes, in the usually stout defence of the Springboks. The heavy^grounds.".will not unduly handicap -the visitors, whose records; in Britain ■ prove -rthai they-were .not greatly at a'disadvahtage in the heavy, going. One thing is certain from my knowledge of the South Africans; it is that the games will reveal them to New Zealand football followers as a fine body of good sports. : j GREAT FORWARDS. The South Africans should field a powerful scrummaging machine, whether 3-3-2 (the most powerful) or 3-4-1. Here are some notes on.forwards likely to be seen to advantage on the coming tour: ' M. M. "Boy" Louw, age 30, , t height 6ft lin, weight .Ijsst<-31bj 'has' been )in big football since ?1924."f He will probably be vice-captain, of'the team and leader of the vanguard. A bank clerk by profession.; ;"-; " ; ■ S. C. ("FanJel') touw, age 28, height 6ft, weight r 'i4jst; .•a farmer. '■- Shares with his more famous, brother .the- honour of ranking as-orie.df Africa's greatest forwards. '-..■■■>-.',7.': ."'■':'■':, .':"; '■'. : •», George Van Reenan, a .Western Province forward, age 25, * height; 6ft ■gin, weight over 14st. Formerly, of Maritzburg, he played.for. Natal.against.the Wallabies; great line-gut man; alsq a noted track athlete and •shot-putter. M. Vanden Berg is another of the Cape Town' (Western Province) giants. He, George Van Reenari,-fand "Boy" Louw are known as 'the.. '"Terrible Three" at Newlands, since:'they hunt so much together. Aged 2ff,;Vanden Berg played splendidly ■ against: the Wallabies in 1933. ;■'. Ferdie Bergh, otherwise the "Human Tank," is probably the finest physical specimen the game has. produced. He stands 6ft 3Jin in bare feet and is built on athletic lines..'. I saw him on a weighing machine in Durban" when the machine registered'• 16st 21b. A tecent letter from Craven stated that the "flying he-man" had never played better than in the Currie Cup anfl trial games last September. "Ferdie" is a splendid,-swimmer.-;.: .' ' ' ;• J. Van Nickcrk (Western Transvaal) went to^Qr.eat Britain- in 1931-32 as a wing-th'r.ee-quarter; he was injured in the firs!;'game; and replaced. Since his recovery/lie j. has gone into the forwards ■where;his- great''pace has been' used-tot-.advantage, . ■■'••■

South African critics agree that the Rugby football team now being chosen to visit Australia and New Zealand during lhe.:coming winter should be greater1 than the third Springbok teanv 6 which defeated the four Home countries in 1931-32. *The forwards will be more formidable, while the backs, in every position but five-eighth —where Osier has not been adequately replaced—will be a greater force than on the British tour.

L. C. ("JacK") Apsey (Western Province) •is another forward over 6 feet (6ft 2in).. ; He weighs 14$ st and possesses great pace; he:'went.to the Argentine with^the Junior Springboks in 1932 .and was chosen; against. the Wallabies to offset the speed. of the Australian .flank^forwards, Hodgson, Loudon, Mackney, and.Bridle..-";

3. Lotz (Transvaal) will probably be one of the hookers. He is beautifully b.mlt and a great worker in the open—^a typical •> Spriagbok forward, who goes flat out from start to finish.

Vernort ("Manic") Geere (Eastern Province), age 27, 6ft lin, 14st 101b, was one of the second'row (with Philip Nel) in the Test series, 1933. He is a. rugged , "head-down-tail-up" - type, the kind of player that is encouraged in South Africa.

: 'Philip.Neti'"(^atal),' a :• veteran..'a|ed 33, 6ft 2inV arid-.'over;: lSst'^captahted; South Africa against" the Wallabies iri 1933. A second-row forward, a splendid leader, and a great trier; he played against Great Britain in 1924 while at Maritzburg College..