SPRINGBOKS NEXT YEAR

Evening Star, Issue 22454, 26 September 1936, Page 8

SPRINGBOKS NEXT YEAR

SELECTORS' SEARCH FOR TALENT FORWARDS OF DREADNOUGHT TYPE “ One thing is a certainty, and that is that South Africa will be able to field a better balanced side than she did in 1931 in England and 1933 against the Wallabies.” comments an Australian resident in Durban, on the, tour of the Springboks to New Zealand next season. “ The forwards will be of the dreadnought type, but mobile, and with a surprising turn of speed. In the tight they will be solidity itself, while in the loose they can act and handle like first-class three-quarters. If the foundation of success depends on the forwards Soutli Africa will b© xhcre, and very much there. This Australian correspondent names some “ certainties ” for the team in the following article, and says that South Africa will field a better balanced side than in 1931 or 1933. Her forwards will be heavy, but surprisingly fast for their weight. They will play hard in the tight and like three-quar-ters in the loose. The backs do not look so promising . “ In South Africa the Rugby Union is preparing for the 1937 tour of Australia and New Zealand, and the interprovincial tournament (the Currie Cup) is in full swing,” he writes, under date at the end of July. The other dav Western Province defeated Iransvaal in a titanic struggle for supremacy_l3 to 8. These two teams of 30 players contain at least 18 Springboks, so that the bulk, as usual, will, be selected from the Western _ Province and Transvaal. The certainties appear to be as follow: — FULL-BACKS. Gerhard Brand (Western Province), Jlgo 30; 1928, v. All Blacks; 1931, British tour; 1933, v. Wallabies. James Vlok (Western Province), 25; 1934, Argentina tour. WING THREE-QUARTERS. A. D. Lawton (Western Province), yK Turner (Transvaal), 23; 1933, v. Widlabies. _ . D. 0. Williams (Western Province), 34; 1931, British tour. CENTRE THREE-QUARTERS. L. Babrow (Western Province), 22; IU S. Hofmeyr (Western Province), 24; 1Ul (L. Babrow and S. Hofmeyr are a great pair.) Frank Waring (Transvaal— probable cuptain), 28; 1931, British tour; 1933, v„ Wallabies. * James White (Border), 27; 1931, British tour; 1933, v. Wallabies. FIVE-EIGHTHS. Wo certainties; no five-eighths of informational class in sight at present, althq ugh Turner and Babrow could play adequately if called upon. Turner can plnjy a good game in any position behhl d the scrum. SCRUM HALVES. ]])aniel Craven (Eastern Province), 26; 1931, British tour; 1933, v. Wallabies. (The only one of international das;; and form in view at present.) FORWARDS. M l , M. Louw (Western Province—probable vice-captain), 30; 1928, v. All BlacVs; 1931, British tour; 1933, v. Walla hies. F. Louw (Transvaal), 29; 1931, British tour;'l933, v. Wallabies. L. 0. Strachan (Transvaal), 28; 1931, British tour; 1933, v. Wallabies. F. Bergh (Transvaal), 26; 1931, Britisl i tour. F. Smollan (Transvaal), 26; nil. J. 1 Herman (Transvaal), 25; 1931, Britisl; tour. E. Nlellish (Western Province), 24; nil. , M. van deu Berg (Western Province) , 25; nil. John Apsey (Western Province), 27; 1934, Argentina tour. R, van der Riot (Western Province), 21; nil. Georgi' van Reenen (Western Province), 125; nil. “We mint a dominating personality like a Messenger, or a Harold Horder, or M'Kiratt ,to inspire our internationals. Wo Rugby country can boast of any hiVUiant possessions in this respect at film moment—collective solidity rathei' than individual brilliance appears to be the only asset of successful teams these days. ONLY ONE WEAK SPOT. “ Gerry Brand can, and does, drop goals from any angle, and can kick with uncanny accuracy. For style and method I would compare him with Tom Sweeney, th e grejit,. Queensland fullback, who at the age of 22 terminated what would Lave been a brilliant Rugby career, when making a successful dive tackle against: the flying Harold Horder at Davis Park, Brisbane, in 1917. Tom never plnyed again, and Queensland lost a great star.”