SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 447, 1 June 1937, Page 4

SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR

WESTERN AUSTRALIA DEFEATED Visitors’ Brilliant Possibilities presi Association —CopvMeht Perth, May 31. The South African Rugby team beat Western Australia by 47 points to 8 in the opening match of the Australian and New Zealand tour to-day. The subordinate position of Rugby in Western Australia intensified the visitors’ belief in fast, open play, giving the backs the ball instead of seeking touch and trusting to massive forward work. With the players obviously stiff after the voyage it was difficult to judge their real strength, but they are undoubtedly fast on attack and strong on defence. Several flashes of brilliance revealed plenty of quality behind the scrum. The full-back, Turner, drew applause for the first score by the visitors after a pretty piece of three-quarter play. The impression was left that the Springboks are a good, solid team, with brilliant possibilities among the backs. The visitors had 36 points to their credit before the home side scored, though Western Australia at one period kept the visitors on the defensive for ten minutes. The captain said the team would play under South African rules and conditions only. The tour was not a struggle for the world championship, but just a friendly visit to another country to play a friendly game of Rugby. The whole team was particularly interested in the New Zealand visit to test- strength and compare standards. If it did not win it would undoubtedly learn. The team re-embarked to-night for Adelaide.