RUGBY TOUR

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 14 (Supplement)

RUGBY TOUR

THE SPRINGBOK TEAM MATCHES DK AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TWO ENGAGEMENTS IN ONE SOME OFTHE LIKELY TALENT (By "Cross-bar.") The Springbok Rugby team to tour Now Zealand and Australia during the coming oeaaon will be selected early In April alter a series of special trial games in which 51 players will participate. Owing to improvement in the standard of Rugby in Australia on Commonwealth grounds, the South African authorities have recognised the strenuous nature of the undertaking to meet both Australia and New Zealand, and the task has been referred to as “two tours In one.’* Thirty-one players will be chosen, ,6 backs and 15 forwards. The team will have two managers— A. P. de Villiers, of Capetown, and Percy Day, of Johannesburg. Both are well-known sportsmen in their counThe South Africans leave for Australia on the Ulysses on May 14, and arrive at Perth on May 31, playing there on the some day against Western Australia. The Springboks will then go on to Adelaide, where a match is to be played against South Australia on Saturday, June 5. These two matches are not Included in the official tour. The team will arrive In Melbourne on June 7. The itinerary of the official tour in Australia Is:— Saturday, June 12, ▼. Victoria, at Melbourne. Wednesday, June 16, v. Western N.SW., probably at Orange. Saturday, June 19, v. N.S.W., at Sydney. Saturday, June 26, v. Australia at Sydney, First Test. Wednesday, June 30, v. probably Newcastle, at Newcastle. Saturday, July 3, v. An Australian XV at Brisbane. Wednesday, July 7, V. Toowoomba, at Toowoomba. Saturday, July 10, r. Queensland, at Brisbane. Saturday, July 17, v. Australia, at Sydney, Second Test. The South Africans will leave on the night of July 17 by the Wanganella, for New Zealand. They return to Sydney on October 3, but, of course will play no football, leaving for South Africa on the Nastoron, two days later.

The Itinerary in New Zealand has been arranged as follows: — July 24: v. Auckland. July 28: Waikato King Country and Thames Valley combined. July 31: Taranaki. August 4: Manawatu, August 7: Wellington. August 14: First Test at Wellington. August 18: Marlborough at Nelson. August 21: Canterbury. August 25: West Coast at Buller. August 28: South Canterbury. September 4: Second Test at Christchurch."' - *-• __ , September 8: Southland September 11: Otago, September 15: Hawke's Bay. September 18: Poverty Bay, East Coast and Bay of Plenty. September 25: Third Test at Auckland.

September 29: North Auckland. The team will leave New ealand on October 1 for Australia.

Some of the players likely to tour with the team are: Danie Craven (Cape of Good Hope): The outstanding half-back ro South XW(ea.T,i kWy’to be captain of

the team “for Australia. Learnt his football as a schoolboy in the Orange Free State. Has played for Stellenbosch (25 miles east of Capetown) UniverSftysffirae 1989. Was a member of the 1931 Springboks team which toured Great Britain, losing only one game out of 26. Played against the NZ All Blacks in South Africa in 1928, and the Australian Wallabies In 1932. Age: 25. Height: sft. 9in. Weight: 12st. 121 b. Phillip Nel (Natal): Forward. Is the likely vice-captain. First appeared for Natal in 1921 while still a schoolboy at Maritzburg College. Played for Natal against the British team In South Africa In 1924; for the Springboks in all four Test matches against N.Z. All Blacks In South Africa In 1928; In all Tests for the 1931 Springboks In Great Britain; and in three Tests against the Australian Wallabies In South Africa In 1933. He captained hts country in one of these latter matches. Age 33. Height, 6.5. Weight 14st. 21b. M. M. (“Boy”) Louw (Western Province) : Forward. First played for Western Province In 1924, at the age of 18 and turned out against the British team In South Africa In the same year. Has earned a reputation for an outstanding and tireless rucker. Was first choice among the forwards for the 1931 Springboks’ tour of Great Britain. Had previously played In four Tests against the Australian Wallabies in his home country in 1933. Age 30. Height: 6ft. lin. Weight: 15st. 61b.

S. C. (“Fanie") Louw (Western Province): A brother of “Boy” Louw, and, like him, a very fine all-round forward. Plays in the front row. Was a member of the 1931 Springboks’ team in Gxytat Britain, and played again the Australian Wallabies In South Africa in 1933. Age 27. Height 6ft. Weight 13st. 131 b. Ferdle Bergh (Griqualand West): Forward. Came into prominence with Stellenbosch University. Played for Combined South African Universities against the New Zealand AH Blacks in South Africa In ,1928. Was a member of the 1931 Springboks in Great Britain playing in all the international matches. Played in all Tests against the 1933 Australian team. Is a giant of a forward, and many consider him the best In his country. Has earned the soubriquet of “The Tank." Age 29. Height 6ft. Sin' Weight 15st. 31b.

Gerry H. Brand (Western Province): Full-back. Was first choice for

the full-back position In the 1931 Springboks’ team in Great Britain and played in every Test, as well as in 18 of the 26 matches. A most versatile player, he made a creditable showing as a winger against the New Zealand All Blacks in South Africa in 1928. Was full-back against the 1933 Australian team. Age 29. Height sft IOIn. Weight list. 111 b. Jimmy White (Border Province): Centre-threequarter. Was a surprise choice for the 1931 Springboks in Great Britain, but on tour justified his selection and played in the Test against Wales. First played for Border Province in 1930. Played against the Wallabies in 1933. Age 25. Height sft. llin. Weight, 13st. 31b. Frank Waring (Capetown): Centrethreequarter. Has been one of the leading players in the University of Capetown for several seasons. Toured Kenya in 1929-30 with the Combined South African Universities team. First represented Western Province in 1929. Was a member of the 1931 Springboks in Great Britain, and played against the Australian Wallabies In South Africa in 1933. A very nippy and heady player. Age 27. Height sft. 9in. Weight list. lib.

P. J. Lyster (Natal): Winger. Strong runner and solid defenderjust the type to come out well under the rigors of a heavy tour. Played against the Australian Wallabies In 1933. Age 24. Height 6ft. Weight 14st. 21b. P. de Villiers (Western Province): Half-back. Has represented Western Province many times and played for the Springboks against the New Zealanders in South Africa in 1928 in three Tests. Was a member of the

1931 South African team in Great Britain, and played against England. He also represented his country against the Australian team in Soutn Africa in 1933. Though small and light, he is wiry. Age 31. Height sft. 7in. Weight 9st. 101 b