FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

THE SPRINGBOKS. AN ALL BLACK’S OPINION, MB. J. HUNTER INTERVIEWED, Among interested spectators at the match on Wednesday was Mr. J. Hunter, the famoiis Hawera, Taranaki, and All Black player, who was considered one of the finest exponents of tte five-eighth game in the Dominion, and, with H. L. Mynott, of Tukapa, did so much to uphold Taranaki’s prestige on the field. The pair also toured Great Britain with the original All Black team, where Hunter was considered - one of, if not the most brilliant backs of that great combination. In an in-, terview with a Chrbnirie reporter after ifiej Wanganui match, Mr. Hunter said:— "The team has a great set of forwards, who know how to play to make openings for their backs. Of course, it would hardly be fair to judge them on their\ opening game after coming off a sea voyage and a long train journey. This fact, or want of condition, may have been responsible for the Relatively indifferent showing of the Springboks to-day, but when they shake down into form and get their combination going they should develop Into a very fine side. I like heavy forwards, and the South Africans certainly have these. They had the weight to-ay, and tbelr forwards practically did as they liked, particularly in the scrums and on the line-out. Their backs were good, but they did not run straight enough, and crowded their wing three-quarters too much on to the line. By the way, the two wing three-quarters were very fine players, and given a little more leeway they would have taken a lot of stopping. They have a great full-back in De Villiers. Tke Wanganui team to-day certainly appeared in better condition than the visitors, and Infused tmore ginger Into their play, especially in the second half. They were full of fight from start to finish. Th? backs, particularly Svenson and Collier, played very ably, and the wing three-quarters were good men, but they lacked finish. The weakness of the local men was that they were slow to sight openings. For instance, when a back was defending, instead of running towards the lino and finding it, he frequently kicked forty yards before there was any necessity to do so, with the result that he did not always find touch. The game was a hard one, and the tackling on both sides was determined and hard.'' When asked to compare the present Springboks with the 1905 All Blacks, Hunter smilingly refused to be drawn, and contented himself witt saying that tho South Africans, when they acquired combination and condition, would be quite a forruidablo side, FINE RUGBY EXPERTS. A TEAM OF GIANTS. The visit of the Springboks has a peculiar interest to New Zealand for at least three reasons (writes C. S, Undal 1 in the Auckland Herald). First, they aro undoubtedly a band of fine Rugby experts; second, they are the first athletes From their country to visit us; and last, but by no means least, they will provide us with a welcome opportunity of becoming better acquainted with one of His Majesty’s most distant Dominions, which by virtue of Its comparative isolation, has much in Common with New Zealand, but of which up till now, we have known all too little. The Australian papers had warned •me to expect something unusual physically about ’ several of tho visitors, but I must confess that like the. people of Sydney, I could but gasp when I saw a few of them. The two "lightweights," Baby Mlchau nnd Boyle Morkel, caught tho eye first. For sheer bulk, they certainly are unusual, and yet remarkably well-fashioned withal. One does not wonder that the depleted ranks of New South Wales Rugby players "got the wind up" when they first set eyes on them. New Zealand, however, is far stronger in football talent than Sydney —the lasl strong! old of the Rugby code in Australia, and from which the New South Wales representatives are largely drawn —and mere muscle and brawn must be backed by pace and skill, if they are to hold any terrors’ for the "All 3\lncks."

Mlchau and Morkel, however, strike the casual observer as remarkably active young fellows, quite capable of giving a clever, as well as a "hefty" exhibition of the game. Apart from these two there are some other, very stout Dutchman among the ranks of the Springboks, Including a formidable band of Western Province forwards in T. Pienaar, Harry Morkel, I’. Mostert, H. Scholtz, F. Mellish, and J. Olivier. Mr. Melllsh, by the way. is an Oxford University man, and was awarded his International cap in England, which ho represented against Irelad and' Wales. THE VISITORS’ FORWARDS. As I mentioned before, the forwards provide the heavy artillery of the team, and the following extraordinary record of the height and weight of tte members of the pack should therefore prove of interest:—

FAMOUS FOOTBALL FAMILY. By reason of their number the Morkels seem to be everywhere—and there are five of them. This Is the most famous football family South Africa has ever produced, nearly a dozen of that name having won their international caps. One of ttem. Boy Morkel, is the vice-cap-tain of the present teain, and was in England with the famous second Springboks. He also led the South African service team, and is a brilliant forward. Another brother is Gerhard Morkel, the famous fullback. He scales 14st 2lb in his football clothes, and measures 6ft 2ln in all. This places him in a class of h’s own as a fullback, and he can place such weight behind i.ls kicks that as a scorer from penalties and trios he is said to have no peer In the British Empire to-day. THE SPRINGBOKS’ CAREERS. The following list gives the career of the South African players, showing the provinces they represent and the years in which they tave played representative football:— G. H. Bannett, manager, G. P. Morkel (Western Province, 1911 to 1920—South Africa, 1912). J. B. de Villiers (Transvaal, 1920). A. Van Heerden (Transvaal, 1920). Henry Morkel (Western Province, 1912-1914-1920). C. du I‘. Meyer (Western Provihce, 1920). W. C. Zeller (Natal, 1919-1920). W. A. Clarkson (Natal, 1919-1920). J. Weepener (Western Province, 1920). W. Sendin (Griqualand West, 1919-1920). S. S. Strauss (Griqualand West, 1919-1920). J. I’. Michau (Western Province, 1919-1920). J. S. de Kock (Western Province, 1919-1920). J. Tindall (Western Province, 1920). W. Townsend (Natal, 1919-1920). W. 11. (Boy) Morkel, vice-captain (Western Province, 1910-1911-1914 ; Transvaal, 19191920: South Africa, 1910 and 1912). M. Ellis (Transvaal, 1919-20). T. Kruger (Transvaal, 1920). J. W. Van Rooyen (Transvaal, 1919-1920). J. M. Mlchau (Transvaal, 1919-1920). N. de Plessis (West Transvaal, 1920). A. P. Walker (Natal, 1919-1920). I. B. Siedle. (Natal, 1919-1920). F. W. Mellish (Western Province, 1919-1920). Royal Morkel (Western Province, 1919-1920). Harry Morkel (Western Province, 1914-1920). P. J. 'Mostert (Western Province, 1919-192.0). H. Scholtz (Western Province, 1914-1920). T. B. Pienaar, capts In (Western Province, 1814-1920). J. OU-rler (Wefitem Province, 1819*i920h

Mietau 6ft 4*4ta 2451b R. Merkel 6ft 2 in 230’b Van Rooyen Gft l%in 2101b Du Plessis 5ft 11 in 2041b Kruger ....•••• Oft 1 in 1971b Olivier 5ft 11 in 1971b Ellis 6ft 1961b Melllsh Oft 1961b Mostert Cft 1951b Schultz 5ft 10%in ISOlb Pienaar ...... 5ft 10% in 1901b Walker Mt %ln 1881b Boy Morkel 8ft 1821b H. Morkel 5ft 11 in 1781b Seidle 5ft 9% In 1681b