HAMILTON'S BIG RUGBY FIXTURE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20256, 27 July 1937, Page 11

HAMILTON'S BIG RUGBY FIXTURE

Springboks’ Second Dominion Outing. COMBINED TEAM WILL BE HARD TO BEAT. FORM OF VISITORS WILL BE FULL OF INTEREST. The stage is set for the Rugby game in Hamilton that Waikato enthusiasts have been waiting for for many months—Springboks v. Combined Waikato-King CounlryThames Valley—and when the ball is kicked off at 2.30 p.m. at Rugby Park to-morrow new record gate figures will be set. Interest in a touring team in the Dominion has never been as keen as it is over this Springboks team while the Combined team is certainly a strong one and one that will fully extend the visitors. The turf at Rugby Park is in splendid order and providing there is no further rain the ground should be ideal for bright, open football. The reserved seats are booked right out but there are 1500 unreserved seats available and there is also standing room for many thousands.

The Combined team received a set 1 back yesterday when L. Russell, the half-back was not-' passed by the •doctor owing to his shoulder, which he injured in Wellington, not having sufficiently mended. This Is very unfortunate, not only for Russell and the team, but also for the enthusiasts who were looking forward to again seeing this half-back who was easily the best of those playing In the re- ! cent trials in Wellington. The enthusiasts were relying on ' his wonderful service from the scrum | to give the Combined team’s backs a ( flying start and also were relying on j Russell to check the Springboks • for- | wards when they came through with the ball at toe. However. 'Robinson (King Country), who replaces him, is a very solid half and at Taumarunui, against. Waikato, was nearly as good as Russell. 'His service may not be j quite as smart as Russell's, but his de- i fence is extremely solid and also

Grossman knows his style of play. This will be an advantage.

The captain, C. A. Crossman, will have a great responsibility. (He has built up a great reputation for himself and with the critical eyes of the selectors on him, will have to be at his best to go further in the game. 'He undoubtedly has class and given a chance may rise to great heights. Fortunately his defence has never been under suspicion and the visiting backs will find it hard to get past him. The second five-eighths, Cameron, also of King Country, has played many times with Crossman and these two should have developed good combination by now. He is a reso-

lute tackier and as long as he passes the ball out smartly and accurately and does his job well when it comes to tackling no fault will be found with him. Promising Young Centre. Everest, the centre, is the only Hamilton player in the backs and he has the required pace and hands. His tackling has always been very good and he should not fail to make a fine impression. Everest is a very promising player with 'determination on attack and defence that should onrry him through the tight corners. If he can draw his man and give the speedy wingers their chance he will be a useful link. The Combined team is fortunate with its wings. Phillips is still in the running for All Black honours and if he» goes as well to-morrow as he did in Wellington he will enhance his chances. The other scoring man, Dixon, has all the pace and determination required for a good winger, while his -defence is also of a high standard. The team is in difficulties over the full-back position and at the time of writing no decision has been made. G. Childs, the emergency back, is a great cut for a centre or wing, but has had no full-back experience. TL Swann. Thames Valley, who plays in both the three-quarter and full-back positions may he preferred as he has a longer kick and has proved himself in this position. Childs may he an excellent full-baclc but to experiment with him in such a big match docs not appeal. A Strong Side. The tourisls are, apparently, not running I he risk or taking the Combined team cheaply and llirv have picked a very solid learn. Brand, I heir number one full-back, will again he seen in action and as the last line of defence he should give the local lads plenty of ImuHe. Mis line kicking will he a decided advantage lo Ihe Ppr team will have to keep the ball away

from him as much as possible if they wish to sustain an attack. On a dry day he should bo well worth watching. The team will have a complete new centre three-quarter and wing line, not one of the four players having played in Auckland. Turner is the reserve full-back, but he plaved on the wing in Australia and showed excellent form. One of the centres, Lochner, is really a fly half, but Is a utility man and is being used to give the others a rest. Hofmeyer, the Western Province flier, was one of the first men pioked foe the tour and is regarded as the finest attaoking centre in South Africa, while Lyster, on the other wing, has speed to burn and has a great reputation. The fly and scrum halves also are new to New Zealand football, the Insides who played in Auokland being rested. The sorum half, de Villiers, is the Sprinkboks Test pivot and is reputed to be a fine general as well as a really great player. The fly half, van de Vyver, is an experienced" inside baok with pace and, great penetrative ability, while his defence is Just as sound as the defence of the backs seen out in Auckland. Forwards Handloapped. The visitors have been badly handicapped in the forwards owing to injury and the same players have had to play again and again without rest. HoAvever, van den Berg, who was injured in Australia, is fit and will be turning out for the first time for several weeks. All the rest of the forwards played in Auckland, “Boy” Louw being the player being rested. The team has been slightly re-arrang-ed, Jennings, a loose forward, who played at the back of the scrum In Auckland being shifted to the front row with Lotz and Martin. Nel and Bergh, who did so well in the lineouts in Auckland will be in the lock positions again with Bastard and Strachan on the sides. There is not a great deal between the weights and heights of the teams, the Springboks having a slight advantage all round. The teams are as follows: SOUTH AFRICA.

Averages of Teams. The averages of the teams are as r«lSPRtNCBOKS. Team .... 2$ r.rt. 1 tin. 13.5 COMBINED TEAM. Forwards .. 2 art. 14 3 Team 23 6ft. o*lo. 12.Qi

Age Height Weight Fullback:— G. H. Brand 30 5 10 12.0 Three-quarters:— F. Turner 23 5 10$ 12.8 S. n. Hofmeyr .. 24 5 11$ 11.11 C. P. Lochner .. 23 5 1 1 12.7 p. J. Lyster 25 5 9$ 12.7 Halves: — D. van de Vyver • 27 5 8 11.11 p. de Vllllers .. 30 5 7$ 0.10 Forwards:— M. van den Berg . 27 ft 1J 14.9 W. F,. Bastard 2 5 5 10 1 4.0 W. F. Bcrgh ... 2 0 0 3$ 10.2 P. J. Nel 34 6 1$ 15.5 L. C. Ptrachan .. 29 6 1} 14.7 H. J. Martin 2 6 6 0 15.0 J. W. Lot;. .... 26 6 0 14.7 C. Jennings %... 23 5 1 1 14.1 1 THE COMBINED TEAM. Age Height Weight P. Robinson (K.C.) 21 5 5 10.12 H. Dixon (K.C.) . 25 5 7 10.10 R. Everest (Walk.) 21 5 10 11.2 W. J. Phillips (K.C.) 23 6 0 13.9 K. Cameron (K.C.) 22 5 5 10.3 C. A. Crossman (K.C.) 24 5 8$ 11.13 J. T.eeson (Walk.) 27 5 9 12.13 J. Best (Walk.) . 22 6 1 15.2 J. A. Trust (K.C.) . 23 ft 2 15.3 W. J. TruBtrum . 24 ft 1$ 14.ft J. G. Wynyard (Walk.) 22 ft 3$ 15.5 N. E. Margan (K.C.) 27 5 9 13.6 E. Catley (Walk.) 21 5 11$ 13.12 A. 11. Nelson (K.C.) 2 8 5 11 13.8 O. Childs (T.V.) . 21 ft 1 14.3 C. BOX (K.C.) .. 27 5 11$ 13.S