SPRINGBOKS TOUR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 208, 3 August 1937, Page 7

SPRINGBOKS TOUR

NOTABILITIES IN TEAM. NOTES ON CAREERS. versatility" IN SPORT. Pen portraits of some of the betterknown of the Springbok players are as follow: DANIE CRAVEN: The outstanding half-back in South Africa. Learnt his football as a schoolboy in the Orange Free State. Has played for Stellenbosch (‘25 miles east of Capetown). "University since 1930. Was a member of the 1931 Springboks te;im which toured Great Britain, losing only one game out of 26. .Played against the New Zealand All Blacks jn South Africa in 1928. and the Australian Wallabies in 1933. Age, 26. Height, 6ft. lOJin. Weight, 13st. 61b.

PHILIP NEL: Forward. First appeared for Natal in 1921 while still a schoolboy at Maritzburg College. Played for Natal against the British team in South Africa in 1924; for the Springboks in all four Test matches against New Zealand All Blacks in South Africa in 1928; in all Tests for the 1931 Springboks in Great Britain; and in three Tests against the Australian Wallabies in South Africa in 1933. He captained his country in one of these latter matches. Age, 34. Height, 6ft. ljin. Weight, 15.5.

At. M. LOUW : Forward. First played for Western Province in 1924, at the age of 18, and turned out against the British team in South Africa in the same year. Has earned a reputation for an outstanding and tireless nicker. Was first choice among the forwards for the 1931 Springboks’ tour of Great Britain. Had previously played in four Tests against the Australian Wallabies in his home country in 1933. Age, 30. Height, 6ft. lin. Weight, lost.

D. F. de VYVER: Five-eighth. Age 27, weight list. 111 b, height 6ft. Bin. A solid, steady player, with safe hands and clever feet, who understands the art of getting his backs away at top speed. A product of St. Andrew’s College, Graham’s Town; went to Capetown in 1931, and played as a full-back. In later seasons he played in every position in the back division, except half-back. He was capped for Western Province in 1934, and went to Caledon in 1936, becoming the main»tay of the team. He is a bank clerk.

J. A. BROODRIJK: Wing-three-rfliarter. Age 25, weight 13st. 101 b, height 6ft. The heavy-weight winger of the team, and a fast and courageous player, who is hard to stop when he sets off straight for the line. He learned Rugby at Tulbagh, Cape Province, and in 1931 joined the police force and was stationed at Pretoria, where he has since played for the police, the outstanding club in the Transvaal. He was first chosen to represent. Transvaal in 1935, played right through that season, and again in 1936. T. A. HARRIS : Five-eighth. Age 21, ■weight list 81b, height sft 6in. A bright attacking player who gets his centres going nicely. When at school in Kimberley he was picked to play for Griqualand West in 1934 at the age of 17, but his masters would not allow him to play as they thought him too young for big football. He went to the band in 1935, and was capped for Transvaal in 1936. Harris is an excellent cricketer, having played for Transvaal and Griqualand West, and he was 12th man for South Africa in one match in 1936-37. He won the Griqualand West junior tennis championship for five years in succession.

S. C. '(‘‘Fanie”) LOUW: Front row forward. Age 25, weight 13st 131 b, height 6ft. Classed by some critics as the b«»t forward in South Africa, and by most as second only to his brother, “Boy” Louvv. He is a front-ranker whose vitality and energy seem endless. He was capped for Western Province in 1928, and was selected for the Springbok tour of Great Britain in 1931-32, when an injury kept him out of the Tests. He played in all five Tests against the Wallabies in 1933. He went to the Transvaal in 1933, and was immediately chosen for his new province. He captained the province lust year. P. J. LYSTER: Winger. Strong runner and solid defender. Played against the Australian Wallabies in 1933. Age 25. Height, sft 9Jin. Weight 12st 71b. . P. DE VILLIERS: Half : back. Has represented Western Province many times and played for the Springboks against the New Zealanders in South Africa in 1928 in three Tests. Was a mem her*of the 1931'South African team in Great Britain, and played against England. He also represented his country against the Australian team in South Africa in 1933. ’Though small and light he is wiry. Age 30. Height, sft 7jin.’Weight, 9st 10lb. FERDIE BERGH: Forward. Came into prominence with Stellenbosch University. Played for Combined South African Universities against the New Zealand All Blacks in South Africa m 1928 Was a member of the 1931 Springboks in Great Britain ™ the international matches. Played in all Tests against the 1933 Australian team. Is a giant of a forward, and many consider him the best m his

country. Age 29. Height, 6ft 3Jin. Weight, 16st 21b. GERRY H. BRAND: Full-back. Was first choice for the full-back position in the 1931 Springboks’ team in Great Britain and played in every Test, as well as in 18 of the 26 matches. A most versatile player, he made a creditable showing as a winger against the All Blacks in South Africa in 1928. Was full-back against the 1933 Australian team. Age 30. Height sft lOin. Weight 12st H. H. WATT: Loose forward. Age 26, weight 14st, height 6ft 2in. An outstanding loose forward, fast, and a good man on the attack, always in position to join in a movement. He started his playing career at Diocesan College, a noted Rugby school. After leaving school he went to the United States with his parents, but returned in 1934, and played for Western Province in 1935 and again in 1936. Towards the end of 1936 he moved to the Transvaal, where he is now a miner. He is also a good fast bowler, and was considered for the South African team against Australia in 1935-36. C. B. JENNINGS: All-round forward. Age 23, weight 14st 111 b, height sft llin. A versatile forward, he can play hooker if necessary. While still a schoolboy he was selected to play for Border in 1934, and since then he has been a regular member of the provincial side. He joined the Buffalo Club in East London on leaving school, and has been an outstanding forward for the club ; in the front rank or on the flank. He is a clerk.

KOFFIE HOFMEYR: Centre threequarter. Played for Western Province last year as a colt, with Babrow as second five-eighth. Although young, will probably be depended upon in the Test matches. LUCIEN BABROW: Centre threequarter. Still little more than a colt. Combines well with his team mate, Hofmeyr. Medical student at' Capetown University. D. O. WILLIAMS: Wing threequarter. “Baby” of the 1931 side. Powerful winger, who will take a lot of stopping once in his stride. Stands more than six feet, has a vicious fend, can side-step and swerve with the best. Always runs straight. Age 23.

DENDY LAWTON: Wing threequarter. Trifle slower than Lyster, but his side-step and fend compensate for any lack of speed. Spectacular dashes for the line are his strong point. JIMMY WHITE: Centre threequarter. Was a surprise choice for the 1931 Springboks in Great Britain, but on the tour justified his selection and played in tlie Test against Wales. First played for Border Province in 1930. Played against the Wallabies in 1933. Age 25. Height, sft llin. Weight, 13st 21b.

H. J. MARTIN: Forward. Age 26, weight 15st., height 6ft. One of South Africa’s most solid front rank forwards. Was educated at Grey College, Bloemfontein, and played Rugby in that town until 1934. Tn 1935 was transferred to Roberts Heights and has played for Garrison since then. Represented Free State from 1931 to 1934 and Transvaal since 1935. Is a pilot in the South African Air Force.

G. P. LOCHNER: Fly half. Age 23, weight 12st. 71b., height sft. llin. The utility back of the touring team, a good scrum-half, fly-half and centre. He left the University in 1935 and represented Eastern Province the same year as centre.

B. DU TOIT: Forward. Age 24, weight 15st., height 6ft., loose forward. Was Andre Macdonald’s successor at Stellenbosch, and modelled his play on that of Andre. He is undoubtedly the best loose forward in the country to-day. He is virile in the loose, and also gives his full weight in the scrum. He handles and kicks like a three-quarter, and is able to deputise for any injured back. Occupation : Agricultural expert.

W. A. VAN DEN BERG: Forward. Age 27, weight 14st. 91b., height, 6ft. ljin. Has learnt all the finer points of the game from liis club-mate “Boy” Louw. He is a solid scrummager. and one of the best line-out forwards in the country. For. a lock forward he is very fast and is thus

able to participate in all the movements. Gained liis first Western Province cap in 1932 and has been a regular member ever since. Occupation : Ice cream manufacturer.

j. BESTER: Centre three-quarter. Age 18, height 6ft., weight 12st. 12 lb. Although he had only liad half a season in first league Rugby, Bester was “tipped” by many good judges as a certainty for the tour. He has an ideal build for a centre and may prove one of the great successes of the tour. Very fast off the mark on attack, and a stout defender. Has not yet gained the Western Province colours Occupation: Clerk. F. G. TURNER: Full-back. Aged 22, weight 12st.. 81b, height, sft. lOin. Graduated from second league Rugby to Currie 'Cup for Eastern Province and soon after gained international honours against the Wallabies in 1933. He is undoubtedly the finest allrounder in the country to-day, being equally at home at centre, wing or full-back. He is one of the safest kicks in the country. Occupation: Bank clerk.

E. BASTARD: Forward. Age 25, weight 14st., height sft. lOin. Although he was not among the original list of players nominated for the trials, his form throughout the trials made his selection fairly certain. Always up in support of his backs in the loose, he nevertheless puts his full weight into the scrum. Captained Natal last season. Occupation: Farmer. A. R. SHERRIFF: Forward. Age 23, weight 15st-.. height 6ft. 3in. One of the outstanding forwards of the North v. South match played last season, and his selection for the touring team was never in doubt. Occupation: Engineer.

G. VAN REENEN: Forward. Age 23, weight 14st. 10lb., height 6ft. 2Jin. Although heavy, Van Reenen gets about the field at a great space, and is always up in support of his backs. Pushes hard in the scrum, and is very useful in the line-outs. Occupation : Clerk, L. C. STRACHAN:. Forward. Age 29, weight I4st. 711>., height 6ft, ljin. One of the most dependable loose forwards in South Africa, and excels in defence round the base of the scrum.

Played for Transvaal against the All Blacks in 1928, and in 1931 was awarded Springbok colours. Has captained the Pretoria Police for many years with outstanding success. Occupation : Detective. J. W. LOTZ: Forward. Age 26, weight 14st. 71b, height 6ft. In 1930 Lotz joined the West Rand Club and made rapid progress. First represented Transvaal in 1935, and established himself as an outstanding hooker in the North v. South match last season. Occupation: Miner.