SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEAM.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8334, 17 January 1907, Page 3

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEAM.

• THE MATCH AGAINST WALES. LONDON, December 7. r Everyone outside of Wales seems to express delight that the South African footballers have been able to give "gallant little Wales" so decisive a beating last Saturday, when, at Swansea, the international ' 'contest came off. Play opened with good length kicking by the backs; Jackson made a strong returti to a free kick from a mark by Gwyn Nicholls, and then occurred a series of hard scrummages aoout the centre. The South Africans were getting the ball four times out of five in the scrummage. Krige in fielding a pass slipped, and the Welsh forwards dashed up and kicked the ball hard past Marsburg. Marsburg just fielded the ball near his own posts and got in a side kick. And then occurred a great chance for Wales; Morgan raced towards the right and had only to field the ball to go in, but he knocked it on, and the chance was lost, for from the scrummage outside the line the South Africans came ■ away with a dribble and reached the centre. Twice in succession Owen got the ball out to the Welsh three-quarters, but the South Africans forced the Welshmen's hand, and twice Gwyn Nicholls, realising the.hopelessness of attempting anything but a kick, sent the ball up the field. The great pace of the South Africans was staggering to the Welshmen; the following up was -wonderful, and wherever was the ball so there seemed one or more ■of the visitors. Not only was this quickness strongly noticed, but the fact became strongly pronounced that the South Africans were beating the Welshmen in the scrummage, both in genuine shoving and in footwork. The South Africans were superb in the loose rushes. The Welsh three-quarters all tackled well. But the South African attacks recurred with greater frequency; they were delivered with stinging brilliancy on both wings; Jackson and Dobbin were beating the Welsh halfibacks at every turn. SOUTH AFRICANS' FIRST TRY. Jackson swerved through towards the right and passed to. Loubser, who drew the defence and kicked across; Krige picked up the ball in the loose, and passed to De Villiers, who went on and gave Joubert •a pass; Joubert fielded it and going at top speed, beat "Teddy" Morgan, and scored in the corner. It was a wonderful piece of football from the moment that Jackson initiated the movement, and nothing could have been greater than the exquisite fielding of the ball by Joubert; who merely changed his stride going at top speed to beat Morgan. Joubert took the kick at goal himself, but the ball, front a difficult angle, fell short. This trj was scored after 30 minutes' actual play. THE SECOND TRY. It was a great movement for this second try. Dobbin got the ball, slipped round the opposite side of the scrummage, feinted to beat Bush and . Gwyn Nicholls, and passed to Krige; Krige drew the remnants of the defence, and put Loubser in with a try in the ; right-hand corner. Jackson . made a good kick at goal, but the ball ■ went short. , It was now half-time and the South Africans stood two tries ahead. « The second half opened with loose play in the Welsh quarters. The Welsh forwards seemed to have braced themselves for a big effort to save the game; the rushes were fierce, but the stopping of them was tremendous. SCORING THE GOAL. With the ball still in the Welsh' "half Owen broke away; he passed out, but Gwyn Nicholls. fumbled the ball, and Krige was on him and kicked it on; the South African forwards swept .on in a foot rush; Raaff picked up the ball and went over. This try was scored in 15 minutes from the re-start. The' charge was disallowed, and Joubert, taking a well-measured kick, landed a beautiful goal. WALES FINISH STRONGLY. Wales strove again and again to get through. Their rushes were stopped by the half backs; and Joubert, Loubser and Krige were more ! than masters in the situation when it ' came to kicking. 'Gabe made one :. great run, only to be well tackled by Morkel, and then Joubert and De Villiers went along the left. A :iong run by Williams renewed the Welsh attack, and for a moment the home side looked to have just a ' chance of scoring. Marsburg, who had injured his shoulder, was put at , three-quarter and Joubert. went fullback. Morgan tried to get through • on the right, but he had no chance •to beat Joubert, Krige and De Villiers, who crowded on him. From • a penalty kick a mistake by Mars- ■ burg was rectified by De Villiers. Then Nicholls took a free kick and followed up; Joubert slipped in making for the ball, and Nicholls with a great chance knocked on. > Gabe was nearly over in the far > corner. Joubert got his ( side out of its difficulties and there was some long kicking by both sides, the African backs finding touch with a nice length. And then came "no side,,." and the South Africans had vwon by one goal and two tries to nothing.