FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SOUTH AFRICA HAS THE “WIND UP.” DOES NOT WANT NEW ZEALAND TEAM NEXT YEAR. ‘‘Old. Blue”, writing from Basutoland. under date October 10, forwards to a writer in the “Dominion” the following clipping from the "Cape Arcjus” : “Ilie ‘Daily Mail’ prints the following cable from Christchurch, Now Zealand: "Tile New Zealand Rugby Union have decided to offer to send a team to South Afiiea next year (1025) and to invite a British team to tour in 1020.

“Mr A. Y. Solomon, honorary secretary of tbe South African Rugby Board, questioned by our representative, said that no word whatever had been reccievd fiom New Zealand. They had been invited to tour in South Aitriea this past season, hut owing to the difficulty of players getting leave, the plan had fallen through. This cable is the first heard about the All Backs touring this country since then. A New Zealander passing through South Africa had said that a tour here in 192.'! was favoured, hut that was entirely unofficial. “Though we all retain pleasant

memories of the thrilling matches played in South Africa by the military All Blacks of 1919. ami would welcome another display of the same sort we ’are of opinion that the time is not yet ripe lor a tour. Wo have just had the Britons with us, en using a great disturbance to the club Rugby, which, after all. is the foundation of international Rugby. We should get settled before we have another visit. In addition, the .second round of the Currie cup tournament should have been played in the past season, but was postponed. Were the New Zealanders to come it would have to he put back yet another year. And it is high time that it was derided. The British showed that our Rugby is not all it might be. Let us therefore devote some time to putting our bouse in nuler before inviting the New Zealanili-ts. - ’ “There’s something in it,” writes “Old Blue”, “and there is no doubt South African Rugby is not as strong now as it was in 1920-1921. T could see it in the club games I witnessed in the western 1 roviiice, mill then the British team that has just left convinced them that even ill the international games there was little between the teams. There was great indignation here because a reporter travelling with the British team wrote Dome to the Manchester Guardian’ and declared that at Twickenham. England would heat South Africa soundly. However, in my opinion it is true. At all events, they are rather contemplative about their Rugby just at present, and don’t want to run lisks by having an All Black visit next year. The Britishers finished up the tour in Capetown by

snuncllv beating a Western Province side that contained the following (this year’s) internationals: 'lindall (lull hark), Shit'-r. Starke. Barker (threequarters). Oder and Truler (halve). Mcllilier. Morfcrt. I.e Grange (forward--). Seme side! as it lontains nine Springbok*. It was a parting shot |,v the Britishers, ami must have upset many ealeiilatic.n.s and given much torn! for rellectinii. ■‘l think if it is a wet heavy ground

Knjrlaiit! will win. The Bmldoloy. Mo(liv'lor. Cooko typo of livo-oi|'litlis .no too !io|it, :iinl on n wot "imiml. when tjjo opposing forwnnls lironk tliroutili. tliov will omry tlm M'* Hvo-oiohtlis ;, 1,,nPC wltli tliom. If tliov piny Xiolm'ls mu! Xophi livo-oii'ld Ik tliov would lio inorli liottor in tho *dusli mid mud.”