FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1921, Page 4

FOOTBALL

THE SPRINGBOK TOUR

AUCKLAND, August rJ. Discussing their tour in the South, ,1 r Will Lawson, who is Reuter’s repesentative with the team, said tnat lie meeting of the New Zealanders md the South Africans in the ioot>al] field of this country .should have m important effect u]mn the game of Rigby in both countries. It was really i meeting of two distinct styles of day. The chief difficulty had been to ;et clear rulings on points of play, concerning which a different interpretation prevailed in the two Dominions. A good deal of tact had been required on tho part, of the referees, and it must be added that the Springboks had always accepted the referee’s rulings, though once or twice they had asked for fuller information on the points concerned. They were essentially sportsmanlike. “In regard to the rough play which occurred in the South,” Mr Lawson said; “I would like to clear up any misunderstanding on the matter, particularly as I have heard mentioned here that th 0 Springboks are rough players, There was no indication of any rough play until the Southland match at Invercargill when the rough play was attributable to one of tin Southland forwards, whose behaviour lias since been enquired into by the executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The Otago match at Dunedin was marked by play amounting almost to violence and a ver v bad impression was left in the minds of the public since naturally the Springboks retaliated on the field. It will be enough to sav that the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union and the cliairmai of the Management Committee of tlu same body, who arrived at Dunedin 01 the eve of the first test match thorough]_v investigated the matter and satisfice themselves that the whole trouble was started by one Otago player, wlm wil be called upon to explain liis conduct An apology for the occurrence was tendered to the Springbok team. The result of this prompt action was that the test match was one of the cleanest games ever played in this country. It was the kind of Rugby, in fact whir 1 has set New Zealand’s nam<> high in records of Rugby football. I have never met a more keen, clean team than the Springboks, who speak with appreciation of their reception, both in Australia and Now Zealand, and who are looking forward to the games to be played ill the Auckland province where they understand the people are fair-minded and always eager to welcome players in any sport from overseas.” THE SOUTH AFRICAN VIEW OF THE Torn. The “Cape Times” (Capetown), in its issue of July 'Jnd, had the following official article: “The games which the Springboks have played in Australia are, of course quite incidental to the purpose for 'which they have gone East; for the tour proper only commences when the team land in New Zealand. Hut none the loss they are important,, as a- creditable record of rivalry in -sport between Australia and South Africa attests. New South Wales, mor-owr, is the last surviving stronghold of the Rugby Union game among the Australian States, and the knowledge that it is fighting a. good light against the Northern Union code adds at times a slight favour of fanaticism, to the naslight flavour of fanaticism, to the natherefore a tough proposition for any visiting fifteen to heard the Kangaroo on any playing field in this part of Australia, and it is well known that ‘Alt Black’ teams have regarded their encounters with New South Wales on their way to and from the conquest of (I rent Rritnin with an anxiety they have seldom been called upon to show in any other of their engagements. The two defeats that the Springboks have already inflicted on the Austral bins are consequently very meritorious performances. Hut far happier than their victory is to us is the thought that hv the splendid standard of sportsmanship which they have set in both games our lads have probably done a great deal to keep the flame of the true ‘Rugger’ spirit burning brightly in a land w! ioh lias been giving itself over far too readily to the worship of false gods in sport. If wo may judge by cabled eritieinns, the team is not tho greatest we have sent overseas nor even the equal of our previous best. Hut totally fake impressions can lie built upon the lack of understanding individualities among the players. Team work matters l'ar more than star performances, and with a very' little more practice together tin's team may yet raise itself to a level of collective excellence not surpassed by even the famous fifteen of 1!>08. This, perhaps, is a hope doomed to frustration, for critics hint at a certain lack of balance about the Springbok’s combination. But whether it is fulfilled or dies unecnsunumited matters very little so long as the players carry on the line tradition of sportsmanship' which lias always distinguished South Afri•ans on every field —battlefield or playing field—and which has frequently seemed to suggest that in the happy blend of Dutch and English temperaments of which South Africanism is composed the Union is destined under Providence to act as a solvent of difficulties in the relationships between the British Commonwealth of Nations.”

GRKYMOUTH V. INANGAHUA. Tlio following team lias been chosen to represent the G roymoulh rep. t<mm against Inangahua on Victoria Park next Sntnlirny. The West Coast team to play New South Wales will ho chosen immediately after the above match. Goodall, D. King, J. Russell, ']’. O’Callaghan, Nightingale, Walton, Mclntosh, Hall, Bowman, Deere, Mouatt, McEnaney, Ward, E. King, Maloney. Emergencies: Backs, Ryan, Nelson; for wards: Mcßreaty, Wallis.

THE SEDDON SHIELD. ROLLER TEAM FOR BLENHEIM. The following players have been selected to make the tour to .Blenheim. Backs: Casey, Pidwell, Borlaeo. Grogan, Srenson, Corby, Palmer, Logan, Griffiths. Forwards: Colvin, McLean, O’Neill, Turnball, Whittaker, Ale-

Naught, W .Ryan, J. Mumm, Walsho and Schadwimk. The team to play against New South Wales will be selected from the above mentioned players.