WEAK FIVE-EIGHTHS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 55, 20 March 1937, Page 17

WEAK FIVE-EIGHTHS

SPRjNOBCMCS' STORR7 BEST FULL-BACK IN KORU) AM) A GREAT SCRIM HALF fobecasts of kugby talent Any suggestion that the Springnoks' Rugby Union team to tour Australia and New Zealand shortly will not be eminently worthy of upholding the wonderful prestige of South African rugger is utterly discounted by good judges in Africa. The Rugby Union people in that country are getting a very early move-on. Clubs throughout.the union. are holding their annual meetings, an4 early in March the first pracuce jnatches will be played. All this wrltes a South African authority to the Sydney Referee, is premature. Of course, but there is no alternatlve, as the problem of selecting the Springbok team for Australia and New Zealand must be tackled. "From the enclosed cutting from the Cape Times, you will notice that Mr. Steytler is of the opinion that the holding of the trials so early will be a grave mistake. I cannot agree. Today is only February 11, which means that the Rugby Union has given all the players six weeks to train and get ready. This I consider ample. Even the older players can easily get fit and ready, and also be in good form, after six weeks' of preparation * "As there is no alternative, the players will undoubtedly take the hint and get ready in good time, because the competition for places in the Springbok side is at all times extremely keen. To represent South Africa afe Rugby Union football is consldered one of the greatest honours South Africa can give to its young manhood. The standard has always been hlgh since 1906, and nothing has happened to lower the prestige attained durlng that red letter year in the history of Soyth African football. The Great Bacfei. In reply to a recent criticism of the Springboks from a South African source, my Capetown friend remarks: "It is absurd to state that the Springbok forwards have very few trlcks, and that they are Just steam-rollers. I would not call them a paek of Frank Burges, but undoubtedly each man can handle like a three-quarter, and for positional play and anticipa-

tion, they are magnificent. Apart rrom that, most of them can kick with great accuracy, and some of them are excellent drop and place kicks. "The writer's description of the back play, can only politely be describea as 'incorrect.' There are no wlng tnreequarters of the calibre of Harold Horder, nor centre three-quarters of the brilliance of Dally Messenger, but I do strongly emphasise that they are very fine players, right up to international standard. "Indeed, at full-back, the Spring boks can boast of the world's best player Gerald Brand, while at scrumhalf, Daniel Craven has been described as at present the finest ln the world. I compare him with McKlvatt, one of the greatest scrum-halves Australia has produced. "You will find the reai weakness of the Springboks at five-eighth, where they are definitely sub-standard. The selectors are worried about it, and it seems to me that the only alternative is to give the position to a first-class centre three-quarter, possessing a good pair of; hands, and who has a reputation for nippiness."