FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

. THE SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR. PRAISE FOR TARANAKI. “BEST COACHED TEAM.” • In a copy of the Diamond Fields Advertiser, one of Kimberley’s daily papers, of November 25, which has just been received by Air. Jas. McLeod, president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, there is a report of a meeting held in the City Hall. Kimberley, in which Air. H. C. Bennett, who was manager of the South African touring football team which visited New Zealand last season, indulged in some racy reminiscences of the tour of the Springboks. The gathering was held under the auspices of the First South African Infantry Brigade Association, and the chair was occupied by Major T. Ormiston, D.S.O.

In referring to his own feeling of incompetence to give a public meeting any adequate account of the tour and the experiences of the visitors, Air. Bennett said if his hearer's were as interested in the doings of the Springboks in New Zealand as the New Zealanders were, he was sure it would only be his fault if they did not enjoy the subject. He referred to the opinion in South Africa when the team was selected that it was the worst team which had ever left the country, but he said though that had a bad influence on the team before they played any matches, the result was “the worst team which had ever left South Africa had proved themselves to be me finest team which had ever visited New Zealand, and had a better record than any other team from overseas. Air. Bennett said, in commenting on the play of the New Zealand teams: —“Taranaki was the best coached team in New Zealand, but it was only by the sheerest o-f bad luck that the Springboks did not score. Their opponents displayed the keenest tackling he had ever seen, and of all football enthusiasts no players were over better. If the Taranaki coach had been appointed the official coach of the New Zealand team, ne doubted if the tour would have been the success it was from the Springboks’ point of view. ... The match ended in a draw, and after that the Taranaki people backed the Springboks for all ’they wore worth, because they reckoned that if the South Africans drew with 'them other teams would not be able to beat the Springboks.”

Mr. Bennett said that when the team arrived in Australia it was soon evident that they were regarded quite as much as “Ambassadors of the Empire” as footballers, and so they accepted the position and made up their minds they would boost South Africa, which they did not forget to do throughout the tour.