South Africa’s Search For New Rugby Internationals

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 157, 23 September 1927, Page 10

South Africa’s Search For New Rugby Internationals

REPLACING THE OLD BRIGADE South Africa is in the process of searching the veldt from end to end for new internationals to meet the All Blacks next year. The old brigade of 1921 is gone, and the process of team building is going on anew. .

Some interesting impressions of South African Rugby are given in a letter to the Sports Editor of THE SUN from Mr. N. L. Lowe, formerly of Auckland. Writing from Kimberley. Mr. Lowe says:

Kimberley Rugby is at a very low ebb. Owing to the diamond industry being stale, all the old stalwarts have Jeft, and the senior clubs are composed entirely of young players, who have not the finesse and dash of the “Uncle Dobbin” school of 1916-1920. A beautiful stadium has been built, but the ground has no turf, although it is remarkably kind to players.

The old SpringDoks of 1921 are forgotten. Mostert, the crack Western Province forward, and one of the old guard, is the only one who is pla.ying class football, and will in all probability be an opponent for the same province against the All Blacks.

“Boy” Morkel Is now leading the Western Transvaal, but it is quite probable that this is his final season.

G. Morkel has retired, while young Tyndall is now playing in his place as full-back. CAPTAIN AND MANAGER DEAD “Baby” Morkel is dead; and so is Pienaar, the captain, and Bennett, the manager of the 1921 team. Big Jim Michau was in Durban, but on the grandstand, while the small Michau, the scrum-half, is trying to make up his mind to “come back.” Myburgh, who was a reserve, is playing with “Boy” Morkel and “Nick” du Plessis. To all intents and purposes, Rugby is still very strong, except in Kimberley. The Currie Cup is not quite decided, and from local celebrities I have met, the information that some astounding new players have come along has been gleaned.* We do not fear the All Blacks, nevertheless we are not underrating them, and you can rest assured that brute force and ignorance are factors which the selectors are not considering again.