Springboks Arrive

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 157, 21 July 1937, Page 5

Springboks Arrive

-Fress Association.)

A FEW "CROCKS" Comment on Australian Tour FIRST PRACTICE TO-DAYj

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, This Day. The Springboks arrived by the Wan-* ganella after ari exbeptionally calm trip, They were welcomed by officials of the Auckland and New Zealand Rugby Unions. The team is keenly looking forward to the Dominion tour, and this afternoon will hold its first practioe. Mr 3P. W. Day, manager, said that some very hard games had been played in Australia, with the result that there were a few crocka on ihe side, but he expected that they would all soon be fif. He hoped that they Would l»ve . good games in New Zealand, lt would, be absurd to say that tihejr did not want to win j they would do their best, although they realised that they were up against a Btiff proposition, He considered that the warm Weleome at Auckland meant half the hattlo to the' touiTng team. P. J. Nel, captain of the team, said he had been disappointed With the standard of play in Australia, whicli. was not high outside Sydney and eertainly not up to the standard of the Australians in Afrxca in 1933, The Springboks had net cOme to teaeh New, ' Zealand fcothall, but hoped to show, New Zealand a few things which would benefit thein. p, H. Craven, vice-captaia, said that the tests in Australia had been very hard matches. He considered that Kelleher, Richards and Rankin were the hest of the Australian baoks end that Hadgson was the hest forward. He had been impressed with the laek of Btigby "atmosphere" off the Australian playing-grounds and said that the Australian play was moulded on lines to make an exhibition, The Bpringboks played the game for the game's play— open when they could break, Jimmy Mill, the All Black half-back of 1924, who returned by the Wanganella, said that the New Zealand fo?wards would haye to put their full wedght into the scruifls to match the pcwerful Springboks forward ditision. Althoiigih the crowd on the wharves was not as largevas xt would haye been owing to showery weather, an enthusiastic reception wafe given by Rugby officials and enthusiasts, The Springboks were eager to See the sights and learn the likely New Zealand test team. Eight of the visitors are on the injured iist. Du Toit, who fractured a vertebra, has made a remarkable recovery, will probably resume training next week, and should be available for the third match of the tour. Bastard will be otit for at least another week. Van Reenan. who injured a hip, has mado a quick recovery but may not be fit for Saturday's match. Lawton will be out for another eight days. The others are reeovering rapidly. ' The manager of the team, Mr Day, said that despite numerous injuries in hard games all had greatly enjoyed. their stay in Australia. The people were very hospitabie, and the Goverument had extended railway facilitiea and other privileges. The crowd to see them off on the Wanganella on Saturday night must have been a record for Sydney, *