PRERARING FOR THE TEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 175, 11 August 1937, Page 7

PRERARING FOR THE TEST

-Pffeei Alibclatioii.)

Springboks Practising at Masterton CROWD OF SPECTATORS

(By Talewttjh-

>. ~ MASTERTON, L&st Night. ' f SThe Spriagboks' team for tlie first fte*t will, -Be selected ih Masterton after ph« prafttice on. Thursday morning be announced in Wellington on Ba^arday mernihgi . * THo playfera are greatly enjoying Iheir Tost in Masterton and are in the beet of spirits. They are keenly anticibating the eontest with New Zealand on Baturday, and thougli little is said in public on the subject, it is gathered jthat .they are quietly confideut of ihe jresnlt. i. Widfespread interest centred in the krminihg. iaethodS &f the Visitors tvhea they turned out at tho Memoriai Pnrk this afternoon and they attracted a& ittsndance ti about 52000. All the Khhibers of the touring party assembled hr training, trhich was more or less of \ Jight nature designed for tho relaxaKLon of the inuscles and to keep the eyes, hands and feet keyed iip to coneert pitch. There are only three ihen. ho w on the injured list: A. 3). Lawton, J. A. Bnoodtyk and B. du Toit. They all trained to-'day and it is thought that Lawton and Broodryk will be flt tb play again in a week or ten dayBi Du who had the small bones in his lower spine broken in the match against New South Wales, has made Temarkable progress and will «oon be in full training.

One of the most impressive features of ihe praetiee was the work of tho forwards, Who wero headed by thehskipper, Nel. They indulged for somo time in close passing rushes, in which they made short dashes in close f orniation with tho ball haAded rather than paisecl from player to player. They showed amating speed and accuraoy in hamdling.the ball and agllity in cotaing' ronnd behind the man. with the ball to; euore continuity of tho movement. 1 This style of play was varied at times ( with the forwards farming- out in line' Ud throWing the ball atOUnd with; ihort, sharp passes. It was purelyi praetiee with no attempt at rusk-| stopping by the other members of the team, but sufiicient was seen to enable tho ' opinion to be forrned that resolute tockling will be tequired from Kew Zealand when the Springbok pack nrings into action. fEhe great skill shown by the tourists •t dribbling waa a revelation. They showed excellent ball control. Thb backs in charge of D. Craven (vice-captain) practiced mainly passing^ kicking and fielding, full speed jbsing worked up at times. Praetically ietery player showed himself to be a iUMter of the "serew" kick, while there was general accuraey in touchZmding. 1 Another featuro was the manner in Iwhieh the players have appaTently perfeeted the centre kick. After a sharp passing rosh the ball would be kicked infield, sometimes high and at other times along the ground, but invaxiably to a spot where it could be gathered 'or dribbled by the rushing forwards, who {WQtxld still be onside. Craven was sOen in' his famous pass, which he sent out with great speed while falling. It the morning the Springboks were taksn for a motor drive to Middle Run. yf. p. Bergh, one of the biggest fortwarda in the team, who is a Qovernptont atock expert, ghve a most inferosting and instruetive lecture to the members of the Yoyng Parmers ' Olub. 'He atated that ha found it diificult to lunderstand why, in New Zealandj with beantiful pastures abounding that so little grass wis to be found on the tfootball fields. He was elected an Jhonorary life member of the Masterton iClub. The Springboks will have to-morrow morning free, but they will again train at Memoriai Park at 2.30 p.m. The' dnal praetiee will be held on Thursday morning and they will leave for Wellington in the afternoon. Beferring to the matches played in |the North Island, Mr. A. de Villicrs, SissistaB.t man.ager of tho toam, said the iSpringboks had cncountered tough toppoiition in praetically every case. H* thought the standard of play by the 2&Tew Zealand provincial teams had been fhigh and he had been pdrticularly impressed witb the display given by the forwards. Ho had been much moro favonrably impressed by the forwards thaa, by tbe backs.