FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SOUTH BOARD. INVITATION TO FRANCE. j By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Capetown, Oct. 8. The South African Rugby Board has decided, to ask the French Board to allow the team proceeding to Australasia to break the journey and play a series of matches in South Africa. The question whether a New Zealand team shall visit South Africa will be decided at the board’s annual meeting in March. MORE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMENT. TJie following extracts are taken from a report of the first Test, published in the Cape Argus :-r“Never in the history of any country has a sporting event so stirred the population as the meeting of New Zealand and South Africa, and never, perhaps, lias an international fixture been so marred by a decision of the refeiee. Despite the exalted opinion of the Arlt Black forwards, who were regarded as all-conquering, the South African vanguard at the outset asserted their superiority, and despite the fact that there were many disappointments, it was only in the last ten minutes that their superiority was challenged.

“The South African tactics were highly successful,’ five proving sufficient to I carry the scrums, while in the loose the New Zealanders were carried off their I feet. Indeed, they were not a resource- | ful provincial pack, and a substantial I South African victory was early indica- ' ted, but the selection of the backs was : unfortunate, and the plfty proved the contention of the majority of the members of the team, that the line should have been filled by Zeller, Clarkson, Sendin, and Meyer. “On resuming after the interval, tbe J Springboks soon attacked, and the backs ! were busy, but there were few passing I movements from the scrum, and Van ; Heerden, while hopeless in defence, dei dined to run on two occasions when determination must have carried him across. Then an incident calculated effectively to dishearten the pluckiest team that ever took the field occurred. The ball was kicked over the South African line and was actually handled by two Springboks before Meyer firmly touched down. Then a New Zealander fell on the ball, and, when the referee appeared on the scene, to the blank amazement, not only of the South Africans, but several of their opponents, he awarded a try. The South Africans to a man momentarily protested, but the damage was done. The Springboks’ confidence and dash diminished. Van Heerden next had a splendid chance, but when 20 yds from the full-back he passed wildly to nobody. This time there, was a great change in the demeanor of the crowd, who showed frantic delight. Seldom in football has such a dramatic change come over a game, and ! sympathy' for the South Africans was I by' np means confined to their own sup- ■ porters. The game was of the hardest, ' but clean throughout. The Springboks i were a long time in extricating therai selves from the crowd which rushed on ! the field to carry ofl’ the New Zeai landers.”

The annual re-union in connection with the Tclrapa Football Club will take place at Kawaroa Park on Thursday evening.