THE SPRINGBOKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1921, Page 4

THE SPRINGBOKS.

MATCH AGAINST TARANAKI. INTEREST JN SATURDAY’S GA3LE. The South African footballers will arrive at Auckland to-day and their match against Taranaki will be played at New Plymouth on Saturday. The meeting of Taranaki and the Springboks is. exciting keen interest throughout the province. The South Africans will leave Auckland to-night for Wanganui, where they play their first New Zealand match on Wednesday, coming on to New Plymouth on T’hursday in readiness for the match on Saturday. The Taranaki team is to assemble in Now Plymouth to-night for training and cohching, Messrs. A. L. Humphries and G. Brown having agreed to take the team in hand. Taranaki is lucky iu having such men as coaches, both being ex New Zealand half-backs, while the latter has tile additional advantage of having captained the soldier All Black team that toured South Africa at the end of the war.

It will be necessary for eveiy player to take the field fit and well, for Mr. G. W. Slade (chairman of the New Zealand Union) states that an important decision respecting the playing of matches in- New Zealand was arrived at while he was in Sydney. There is to be no replacement of injured players. This is contrary to the New Zealand custom, but was insisted on by the South Africans. It means that if a player is hurt in a match and has to leave the field he cannot be replaced. He can, however, return and resume playing. it is expected there will be a great crowd in New Plymouth on Saturday, and those requiring reserved seats should at once communicate with Mr. McLeod. Train arrangements have been made- which provide for special trains leaving Hawera and Stratford in order to cope with the extra traffic expected. Motor cars are required for use in connection with the entertainment of the South Africans during their visit to Taranaki, and owners wishing to assist the Rugby Union are asked to get in touch.with Mr. J. McLeod. Cars will be required on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.