RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1931, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FORM OF SPRINGBOKS. MONOTONOUS FORWARD PLAY (By Telegraph —Per Frees Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. While he was in London Mr C. S. Thomas, of Christchurch, who returned from a tour of (Great Britain and France, by the Ulimaroa to-day, attended the Rugby football match between the Springboks and London, From their display in that match Mr Thomas said the South Africans were far from a great international side. Although they would be hard to beat, thero was no brilliance in their play and it seemed to him that they would have to rely mostly on their splendid forwards for success.

The Springboks had defeated London heavily, but the opposition had been weak. Their main strength had seemed to lie in the wonderful physique of the players, particularly the forwards; and their tactics, in this match at any rate, had been confined to trusting to the forwards to. get the- ball and- give it to the backs, who immediately kicked for the line. The result was that th» game proved extremely monotonous, much to the disannnintmeut or tna spectators. Bennie Osier played in this match, Mr Thomas said, but his game all tlie way through had been of the most stereotyped kind. That comment applied. practically to all the backs. Unless the side’s tactics and the general standard’ of back play * improved considerably, it would stand a good , chance of defeat when the internaticnal matches came along.