SEVENTEEN POINTS TO NIL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 395, 2 July 1928, Page 11

SEVENTEEN POINTS TO NIL

LINE CROSSED ONLY ONCE BENNIE OSIER’S FOUR .BRILLIANT GOALS NEW ZEALAND FORWARDS OVERWHELMED A DEFEAT crushing and amazing was inflicted on the All Blacks by South Africa on Saturday. The score itself, 17 to nil, was a surprise; but more surprising still was the way in which it was caused. The Africans crossed the New Zealand line only once, and 14 points came from kicks (two potted goals and two penalties) by brilliant Bennie Osier. New Zealand was. beaten by a better-balanced side, and a superior set of tacticians. South Africa had only 14 men in the second spell; on the other hand, the All Black threequarter line wa-s one of crocks, all three being injured.

(United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Special to Press Association.)

DURBAN, Saturday. Twerty thousand people watched Jouth Africa overwhelm the All Blacks on the Kingsmead ground toJav by two potted goals, two penalty joals, and one try, a total of 17 points, "yew Zealand literally was never in »«hunt, and only magnificent defence Led a bigger score. Territorially gte Springboks had 80 per cent, of the lame. Fourteen of the points were scored m Bennie Osier, the crack fly half, Jjjo is now regarded as a national juro. He potted both goals and idcied two penalties. tt was a perfect football day when (ha teams took the field. There was ® wind and the sun was hidden by (to* grey clouds. While the fates were fiendish in mmmitting the New Zealanders tq a Jpadful chain of errors, the latter

were certainly the less worthy of the two teams' Everything was tragic for the All Blacks, and they could do nothing right. The game went to a better balanced side and a superior set of tacticians. At the same time it must be stated that for the bigger part of the match New Zealand played with a threequarter line of crocks. Grenside’s knee, injured in the last match, failed him early. Robilliard, when downed hard by Slater, rose limping badly and could hardly run lor the rest of the day. In the first lew minutes Carleton had a thigh muscle badly damaged. Even as sore as they were they played a magnificent defensive game, smashing the Springbok attack time and again. With a pack that was obtaining easily the larger share of the serums, South Africa’s dominance radiated to its fast, elusive threequarter line, where the two Osiers combined with line precision, cleverly drawing their men or varying their play with a short punt or line kick. De Villiers was very clever at half, getting the ball away to his men without hesitation. Taken altogether, the New Zealand backs, except for stubborn defence, were disappointing. The forwards were overwhelmed in the scrums, but held the upper hand in the line-outs. The most brilliant exhibition of fullback play seen on the tour was given by Lindsay. To-day he had a tremendous amount of work, but never failed, being sound in every , department. Dailey was wayward and uncertain, and failed to get the New Zealand back machine on the move. Johnson suffered as a result, but at the same •une he, too, was not impressive. Strang was good in patches. The forwards battled hard and hopelessly, with Hadley, Stewart, Swain and Brownlie the most prominent workers. The South African forward front J°w, Mostert, Kruger and Van Druten, formed a splendid trio, who played a “foot game. Preforms was another he forward, who played centre-three-jiuarter when Duffy was injured, here is only one epitaph to record. Zealand was beaten by a better •earn.

game described

A WHIRLWIND START was a hush among the crowd ntle the teams gave their hakas. en Brownlie kicked off, and for the \W ~ ew minutes it appeared that * " Zealand would get across. Th « teams were:— SOUTH AFRICA p_; . Tindall rp ‘nsloo, Duffey, S. Osier, Slater B. Osier, De Villiers Pretorius Nel, Potgieter Daniel, Van Wyk mostert, Kruger. Van Druten NEW ZEALAND Gr ®nside, Carleton. Robilliard. Strang. Johnson c . Dailey M s>crimshaw, Stewart, Hazlett • Brownlie, Alley, Finlayson, Swain, If ■»« Hadley * was a whirlwind start that raised hopes of the All Blacks’ supporJ*®’ but fortune’s wheel turned Points against the New Zea«oders in a trice. otrang was collared while attempt--2? v. pot under the posts. Mostert A£r , r6 < 1 ' and away went the South forwards In a shattering run da, . '^ e ball at their feet. Heeling ®°* n a loose scrum the Springbok

backs had the New Zealand defence in a tangle. Mostert kicked through and smothered Lindsay, but only a force down resulted. Play was fast and open at this stage with most of the game in the New Zealand twenty-five. The sun broke through the grey clouds, and shone in the eyes of the South Africans, putting them to some disadvantage. Serum followed scrum, but Bennie Osier would not feed his backs until in the New Zealand twenty-five. He always persisted in kicking into touch. DESPERATE POSITION Carleton saved a desperate position a minute later by smashing a Springbok back attack. He kicked through to half-way, but De Villiers shot the ball away from a scrum, and Stanley Osier short-punted. Lindsay, racing up, took the ball in his stride and cleared brilliantly. Hadley, Stewart and Swain dashed out from the ruck with the hall at their feet, only to be sent back by Tindall, the South African fullback’s never failing line kicks. ROBILLIARD INJURED

From a penalty at half-way Lindsay made an attempt to score, but his kick fell just 3hort. In a blind side run Robilliard was hurt, and became practically useless all through the rest of the game. Away went the South African backs in full cry again. Stanley Osier, with a clever short punt gave a chance to Slater, who was played in preference to Brand. The winger collected the ball going at top speed, and bolted hard for the corner. Lindsay came across just as fast, made one dive at the flying Springbok and brought him down brilliantly. With run after run the South African backs kept the New Zealanders guessing, and only rock-like defence saved them. Another scrum was formed 40yds from the New Zealand line. From this De Villiers sent the ball to Bennie Osier, who beat Scrimshaw and manoeuvred for a drop at goal. He let drive, and the ball soared high between the goal posts. It was a magnificent kick which roused the spectators to a state of frenzy. Springboks 4 All Blacks 0

The frenzy only simmered down when the New Zealand forwards set about a task of recovery. They could achieve very little, and only once, close on half-time, did they look at all like scoring. From a line-out Robilliard sent the ball to Swain, who gave a reverse pass to Robilliard. Again he raced for the corner, but was held up on the line and South Africa cleared with a penalty kick. HALF-TIME Springboks 4 All Blacks 0 When play restarted Duffy, one of the South African centres, did not turn out, owing to an injury. A change was also made in the. New Zealand team. Scrimshaw went from rover to extra centre. Hardly two minutes of the second spell had gone when the ball again came out from a scrum to Bennie Osier, and, like a flash of lightning, he potted another fine goal. Springboks 8 All Blacks 0 A fierce forward battle went on near half-way, with South Africa getting all the best of it. It ended in Brownlie being penalised for offside and from this Bennie Osier kicked an easy goal. Springboks .. 11 All Blacks 0 Although a man short the Springboks were now playing better than ever. The backs developed a series of impressive thrusts, and from one run Prinsloo was almost over, being pushed out at the corner by Grenside. Three free kicks to New Zealand

gave them a chance to work up to half-way, where Potgieter had an unsuccessful attempt at goal. From a penalty Pretorius opened up the play well, and short-punting, he found the All Blacks’ defence at sixes and sevens, but again Lindsay saved magnificently, racing across to take the ball on the full and finding the line. The New Zealand forwards got away in a combined movement, but the Springbok battlers soon swept back. The ball came from scrum, to

B. Osier, who short-punted, but, after he had got in his kick, Johnson bowled him over and a penalty was awarded the Springboks for obstruction. This Bennie Osier turned into a goal. Springboks 14 All Blacks 0 WINNING FORE AND AFT South Africa was winning fore and aft now, being given plenty of the ball by their forwards. The backs started to throw the ball about spectacularly. Lindsay had a shot at goal from a penalty at half-way, and only just missed. Again the South African backs got going at top speed, and Prinsloo lost the ball when actually over the line. The next moment it came along the line of backs from a

scrum to Stanley Osier, who threw away a certain try by holding on too long. A few minutes before time, when the Springboks had been attacking continuously, De Villiers worked the blind side brilliantly. The ball went to Bennie Osier and then to Slater, •who cut clean through the defence to score a great try. Bennie Osier just missed goaling. Springboks 17 All Blacks o The New Zealand run of the whole day came a minute later, when Strang cut in after receiving from a serum. The position looked quite hopeful, but Scrimshaw dropped his pass, and the opportunity was lost. The whistle went with South Africa still on the attack. FINAL Springboks 17 All Blacks 0 , < ? ro Y <i at °hce surged on to the field, cheering and congratulating their men.

DOMINION’S TEST RECORD reeord if"*'* teSt mateh

♦This was really a New Zealand B team. The first team was engaged in the South African tests. Played S 6; won 6S: lost 14: drawn 4; points for, 1,442; against, 566. SOUTH AFRICA’S TEST RECORD South Africa has a splendid record in test matches in the last few decades, as

1884—New South Wales . New South Wales . New South Wales . 1893—New South Wales . New South Wales . Queensland Queensland 36 New South Wales . 16 1894—New South Wales . 1896—Queensland 9 0 1897—New South Wales . won 13 s New South Wales . 8 22 Queensland 16 Queensland won 24 6 New South Wales . won 26 3 1901—New South Wales . won 20 1903—New South Wales . 12 0 New South Wales . won 3 to o Queensland won 17 0 •Queensland won 28 to 0 Australia 22 1904—British XV won 9 1905 —New South Wales . won 19 0 New South Wales . . draw 8 to 8 Australia 14 to Scotland won 12 to 7 Ireland won 15 to 0 England . won 15 to 0 Wales lost 0 to 1906—France .. 38 to s 1907—New South Wales . won 11 to New South Wales . lost 0 to 14 Australia . 26 to 6 Queensland won 23 to 3 Queensland won 17 to 11 Australia . 14 to Australia . . draw 5 to 190 S—Ansrlo-Wels i XV. won 32 to 5 Anglo-Welsh X.V. . draw 3 to 3 An gio -Welsh XV. won 29 to 0 1910—New South Wales - won 23 to 8 New South Wales won 17 to 11 Australia . won to 0 Queensland 19 to 15 Queensland won 21 to Australia . lost n to 11 Australia . won 28 to 13 1913—Australia . 30 to Australia . 25 to 13 Australia 5 to 16 193 4—New South "Wales won 27 to 6 New South Wales won 25 to 10 Australia . to Queensland 26 to 5 Queensland 19 to 0 Australia . 17 to Australia . won 22 to 7 1920—New South Wales won 26 to 15 New South Wales won 14 to 6 New South Wales . won 24 to 13

1921—South Africa won IS to 5 a South Africa .. .. lost 5 to 9 South Africa . . .. draw 0 to 0 *New South "Wales .. lost 0 to 11 11 1922 —New South Wales .. won 26 to 19 B- New South Wales .. lost S to 11 1 New South Wales .. lost 6 to 2 1923—New South Wales .. won 19 to 9 New South Wales .. won 34 to 6 New South W"ales .. won 38 to 11 —New South Wales ... lost 16 to 26 New South Wales .. won 21 to 5 New South Wales .. won 38 to 8 1 Wales won 19 to 0 f Ireland won 6 to 0 England won 17 to 11 1 FrjuiCG • • • • - * * "won 30 to 6 S " New South Wales .. won 25 to 3 New South Wales .. won 4 to 0 New South Wales .. won 11 to 3 New South Wales . . won 20 to IS 1 New South Wales . . won 36 to 10 1926 —New South Wales .. lost 20 to 26 New South Wales . . won 11 to 6 New South Wales .. won 14 to 0 1928—South Africa . . . . ... lost 0 to 17

the following table shows: — 0 to 4 Britain lost to to 0 to to 3 to 9 5 to 1903 —Britain draw 10 to 10 0 Britain draw to Britain won 8 to 0 1906—Scotland lost 0 to h Ireland won to Wales won 11 to England draw 3 to 3 Prance won 55 to 1910—Britain won 14 to 10 Britain lost 3 to 8 Britain won 21 to 5 1912—Scotland won 10 to 0 Ireland won 38 to ( Wales won 3 to ( - Fngland won 9 to 3 France won 38 to 1921 —New South Wales .. won to 1( Xew South AA ales . . won J 6 to 11 Xew South Wales . . won 28 to f 1 Xew Zealand . . .. lost b to i: Xew Zealand . . . . won 9 to 5 Xew Zealand .. .. draw 0 to 1921—Britain won 7 to Britain won 17 to < t Britain draw 3 to Britain won 16 to 192S —Xew Zealand won 37 to 0 Played 34, won 20, lost 9, dra vn 5. Points for, 403; against, 7