HIGHLIGHTS OF GAME

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20255, 26 July 1937, Page 13

HIGHLIGHTS OF GAME

A SOLID TEAM. BACKS VERY FAST. VISITORS NOT INVINCIBLE. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. The sun was breaking fitfully through leaden skies and conditions underfoot were he'avy when the Springboks made their bow to New Zealand Rugby enthusiasts at Eden Park this afternoon. The ground was packed to oapaolty. The terraces were black with people' before 10 o’clock apd from then on till after 2 p.m. there was a continual stream flooding into the. ground.

There were plenty of incidents among the crowd on the terraces, free fights and pie throwing being frequent. The ourtain-ralsers were bright and whetted the appetite of the' public. Sacred Heart College defeated Stratford High School by 23 points to nil and Auokland (second division) beat Kalpara by 20 points to nil. The crowd was estimated, before' the start at easily 40,000. Auckland defeated South Auckland I.l—lo in a fast, bright curtainraiser. The Afrloans received a tremendous welcome as Nel led the big team on to the field five minutes late, the ovation lasting for several minutes. Auokland was the first team on and the Springboks looked every bit of their stone heavier all round as they took their places. Packing very low, the Africans had no trouble in hooking the first scrum. | Harris showed speed and penetration l in one fine dash, but there was lack I of cohesion between Craven and Harris, spoiling many movements. It was torrid going in the forwards with the lighter pack holding theft own well. Forwards Surprisingly Fast. D. Solomon tackled high early but later he and Killeen kept the Springboks quiet with good, low taokling. Babrow’s first try was a gem. He out In nloely, swerved out and changed dlreotlon again to run over 80 yards and touoh down under the posts. Slight rain was falling at this stage and the visitors were using their weight more and collapsing Auckland’s scrums. The visitors had surprising speed In the backs and were on top of the Auokland backs very smartly. They exploited short passing between the forwards and when on defence the backs kioked for the line all the time. Graven showed how to pass smartly from the scrum, his diving pass pleasing the crowd. Harris, White and Babrow impressed In the Springboks’ back line, while the forwards were surprisingly fust for their size. Line-out Superiority. The Bprlngboka had wide superiority In the llne-outs, winning 10 to Auckland’s 6 but the scrums were muoh more even than anticipated, tne visitors’ advantage being very small. The Auckland forwards played magnificently and the visitors did not appear unbeatable In this division on their showing. History repeated Itself when the half-time score, s—o, was the same as In the 1921 tour In the match I against Auokland. I*t was noticeable that when a i Springbok player received a ball In the llne-out he threw it oleanly back ! immediately while the Aucklanders i went Into the pack, turned and then i threw the ball back. The crowd was really only raised !to anythnlg like enthusiasm twice ! throughout the whole match, onoe I when Auckland scored and the other i time shortly afterwards when the j home team, making the pace for abotut ten minutes, looked like scoring again. Solid Rather Than Brilliant. Taken on the whole the Springboks team was very solid back and forward, rather than brilliant and unless they Improve on this form they will be hard put to It I to win against the strongest unions, let alone the Test sides. The game was a good and hard one with a great deal of aotlon but was never brilliant. The assumption that the Africans will have to improve Is taken more on Auokland’s poor play than on the visitors’ exhibition, which was only up to International oharaoter at timos. Auokland had several passengers In the team and besides that they showed no Initiative. The baoks, especially were weak and the only ones to really please were Frankham (who was very solid but orthodox) and D. Solomon (who did a lot of defensive work but never looked like an All Black). Bush, at fullback, was very weak and the visitors should not have scored three of their tries, two of which they converted. Besides fumbling the ball at critical stages. Bush allowed Babrow to dummy him and another time was far too slow to get across and tackle Bester. Killeen and Prentice tackled well at times but at other times they let the speedy hacks through. them. D. Solomon, when he saw hts outsides taken man for man every time should !ia\e stab-kicked for the gap and let the backs through but his attack was aimless. Impressive Baoks. Harris, the visitors' fly-half, was very Impressive, being tricky- with plenty of penetrative ability while he covered the other hacks Instead of Craven, who was usually on the ground after giving his famous bullet-like dive pass. Babrow was another first-class hack and he, Harris and White had speed to bum, a feature of their play I being the manner in which t hey ran smartly up to ttie Auckland hacks and

smothered their attaoks with relentless, fast taokling whereas they themselves on attack were allowed plenty of room to which to work.

A Fine Winger.

Wnilams saw much more of the ball than Bester but he had a fine turn of speed and great determination and was well up to standard. The pace of all the backs was surprising and Auckland were never in the hunt In this department.

On a dry day the baoks should be very dangerous as they have •peed and penetration and also they changed the dlreotlon of the attaok smoothly and at the right moment but If the opposition get up to them smartly and tackle low all the time they oould be held In oheok.

Brand, the fullbaok was safe with a speotaoular kiok but he favoured his left foot, 'ills right only being used in emergency. He oould also be bustled but Auokland did not exploit this enough. Compared with the great fullbacks seen at Eden Park Brand was not outstanding. One player on the field who disappointed was Dlok, the Auckland winger and a strong possibility for All Blaok honours. He did not Improve his chances by running alongside his man several times Instead of tackling. Of oourse he was unfortunate at times to have two men to mark, but he had his reputation to keep and should have made sure of the man with the ball. Nothing more would have been expeoted of him. On the day. Byerley, who had more to do, was Just as impressive. The Springboks forwards wore a solid bunch but not the overpowering Invinoibles they have been pictured. They played as forwards and did not spread out over the field and handle like backs but they were well held by the lighter Auckland pack, despite the fact that F. Solomon was only down In earnest in the set scrums. Pearoe’s Fine Exhibition. The best forward on the day was Strachan who was fast, fit and keen and who also used his head as well as hls boot. Lotz was another visitor to show really fine form btut “Boy” Louw was disappointing and the team as a whole did not make as much use of their weight as was expected. The only Auoklander, who looked like an All Black was the hard working front ranker, Pearoe with Pepper and Lockington also well up to the best Auckland standards. F. Solomon did more work than given credit for In hampering the Springboks, without getting off-side but he Is slowing up. Hadley hooked well and also played a good all-round game.

AUCKLAND THE MECCA. HUGE CROWDS ASSEMBLE. ALL BLACK SELECTORS THERE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. The weather is fine but mostly overcast for the Rugby match between the Springboks and Auckland and with a dry ground and ball a great game is anticipated. Both teams are fit. The first enthusiast arrived at the Gates of Eden Park at 3 a.m. and by 10 a.m. the terraces were packed by 10,000 people. The crowd in the city was swelled by the arrival of nine special trains and two ordinary expresses, while all the roads carried heavy motor trafflo. Among the spectators at the matoh will be the New Zealand selectors with eyes on the test team. To preserve their freshness the Springboks were taken- on a drive In a charabano this morning. They returned -shortly after midday and left their hotel for Eden Park at 1.45 p.m.