ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1928, Page 2

ALL BLACKS’ TOUR

SATURDAY'S TEST

THE AFRICAN TEAM

PRESS COMMENT

AFRICA MUST WIN

(.Special to Press Association)

.ec-eived this day at 9.30 a.m.) DURBAN, June 27.

After practice to-day the South African selectors decided on the following Springbok side for the Test:— Tindall, Prinsloo, Duffy, Stanley Osier, Brand or Slater, Bennie Osier, Devillers, Mostert, Kruger, Van Druton, Daniel, Van Wyk, Pretorious, Nel Potgicter.

If Slater is fit on Saturday he will be wing in place of Brand. The newspapers throughout the country are emphatic that South Africa will win.

Three African pressmen travelling with the team give the following opinions:—F. M. Howard (late of London “Times.” and now of the Cape “Times”) says:—“Everything depends on the South African forwards ability to get a real strangle hold on the New Zealand pack, and call the tune. .1 think they can do'it. The All Black forwards, unlike the backs, have not yet found their true form. They are not the equals of their rivals at scrummaging, therefore I think the odds are two to one on South Africa, because the New Zealand backs will see little of the ball. They will he very closely marked in any case. The winning of this test is virtually important to the New Zealanders,, as I can see little hope of their being able to win the next at Johannesburg.”

E. T. Steytler, representative of a chain of Dutch papers, says:—“South Africa, will win the test match, I presume, because they are sure to have a snpei iority in the tight scrums. Two cannot hook against three, with eight men in the pack, with an average weight of 195 pounds. I expect them to get possession of the ball quite seventy-five per cent of the game. As possession is really all that matters, South Africa with their advantage in set scrums will he able to lie continually attacking, hammering- away at the 1 New Zealand defence, which will not be able to stand the onslaughts of the hack division that South Africa is fielding on Saturday. The out-hacks are finislieh. the seven being equally good in attack and defence. In the latter department of the game one cannot honestly say that the All Blacks have thus far excelled, except’ perhaps Cnrleton and Johnston, who have shown themselves tacklers of a high standard. I expect South Africa will find a leakage in Hie New Zealand line at the second five-eighths, whether McGregor or Strang -fills the position. Except for the game against Free State neither of these players has greatly impressed. They seem incapable of varying their play, which in any International game is fatal.” j. B. Keartland of the Johannesburg “Star” says: “All who have seen the All Blacks recent matches will agree that there is a combination and thrust in the New Zealand backs, particularly the inside players, which gives an impression that the, tourist’s roar lines are superior to the best available to represent South Africa next Saturday. The Springboks hopes mainly rest in the powerful pack of scrummaging forwards. In the Rugby game, strength in the vanguard is the main essential.

“The task of the South African forwards will be to keep the hall tight, in an endeavour to wear down the All Blacks pack. Only if these tactics are successful, will South Africa carry off the honours. We can glean comfort in tlio fact that a team containing a pack of forwards such as South Africa possesses to-day will take a power of heating.” The public and the press in South Africa are greatly impressed at Nieliolls’s omission from the All Blacks chosen specially to train, for most of the papers have turned out big headlines, saying,—“lt is hard to understand why Nicholls is left out.” The “Natal Mercury” says: “The most noteworthy item about the All Blacks selections is the omission from the list of the name of Mark Nicholls. Nicholls very naturally is not quite the player to-day that he was four years ago, for, though only twenty-six, he began a first-class career very young. This is his eighth season in international football. Even so, lie has already demonstrated on this tour that lie still possesses that touch of genius which stamps him as a footballer above , the ordinary international level. The All Blacks next Saturday may have cause to regret that they have deliberately omitted him from thenside. 1 can think of no other national fifteen that would do so.”