Tension grips NZ ahead of decider
New Zealand Sports History, the 1921 Springbok Tour of NZ, No 8
Anticipation gripped New Zealand ahead of the third and deciding Test match of the 1921 Springbok tour in a manner rarely seen before, as the All Blacks' right to be regarded as notional world rugby champions came under threat.
Complacency over its place in the world game had crept into New Zealand, possibly in the wake of the post-World War One feats of the NZ Army side in Europe and South Africa.
Former All Black turned critic, E.E. Booth said New Zealand was afflicted with rugby fever in a way not seen since the 1905-06 tour. The loss of the second Test and the defeat of the NZ B team at the hands of New South Wales had lifted the nervousness quotient in the country significantly.
The two overseas combinations from South Africa and Australia have struck deep into the Dominion's pride and glory of its football supremacy by their almost unchecked careers. 'What has happened to our football?' is the national question everywhere from the Bluff to the North Cape. All classes and conditions are anxious with the third test – the actual rubber game – so close at him.[1]
Booth said various reasons were contributing to the anxiety. Both the Africans and Australians had been under-rated, not only by the public but by many prominent players. That was easy to understand, he said, because New Zealanders had considerably over-rated their standing, and the opposing sides had hit that home hard.
The smug complacency of our superiority has been rudely shattered, and has now fled, and given place to a feeling of wonderment. This last thrashing of really a first-flight New Zealand team by the New South Wales team (mostly all colts) should be sufficient to make New Zealand 'wake up' before the next test.[2]
However, the situation was not beyond recovery. The Africans had the advantage of time playing together, and their improvement on tour Booth rated as 'truly amazing.' They had exceeded the expectations of not only rugby followers and authorities at home but also themselves. He wondered just how much better the Springboks might be with the benefits of having been trained all their lives with 'the best ideals, theories, and style of New Zealand'.
New Zealand's selection had been an issue earlier in the series. Booth felt a common fault with All Blacks selections was the continued inclusion of players by reputation rather than form. And to cope with the different methods and style, and the Springboks' defence, demanded exceptional tactics, methods, and a new order of playing and training from the All Blacks, Booth said.
It takes weight to oppose weight. The good big men beat the good little man every time, and the old New Zealand method of invariably selecting short, light, clever hookers appeared to me a great error. Subsequent events have justified this expectation.[3]
Before the announcement of the third Test team, Booth said New Zealand had lacked absolute hard-pushing power in the first two Tests. More players with dribbling ability were needed, while hard, fast, tackling forwards should be included. Little combination was evident in the first two Tests. That meant the third Test side could only be regarded as experimental. He felt the training camp at Day's Bay would help, although the loss of differing styles and tricks among New Zealand's provinces had not helped. He wondered if the popular support for flash play had resulted in a loss of tackling and defensive skills.
Following close upon the desire to try new players comes the suggestion to try new methods. The staid stereotyped methods of play throughout New Zealand have seemingly diminished much of the initiative of individual players. A player nowadays seems scared to get caught out of position, and yet many great players like Dally Messenger often made almost a practice of it. The use or adoption of the 3-2-3 scrum might help to instill new ideas and more initiative into the game. The abolition of the wing-forward as [sic] something eminently desirable in many ways. He is a spoiler, a destroying agency against open and crisp spectacular passing movements, which are the brightest attraction of the Rugby code. The wing-forward is a local creation, and this order of play has done much to bring almost stinging abuse on New Zealand teams abroad. The wing-forward's total abolition would be no loss to the game.[4]
As Sas de Kock had played only his third game on tour against the Nelson combined side, Booth expected him to play in the third Test where his combination with Mannetjies Michau would be vital to South African hopes of winning the series.
De Kock was injured in the opening game against Wanganui and, before the Nelson outing, his only other appearance was against Manawhenua after the first Test, where he played at centre.
These two players, according to reports from their own land, are the cleverest attacking nucleus ever attached to any or either of the preceding Springbok teams. Their university life of two years together at Capetown [sic] has cemented a perfect understanding and code of understanding. Charlie Meyer, as an individual player, appears to possess infinite resource and initiative. The Africans' display on Saturday should unquestionably be their best on the tour, and their games will be an exposition of the best British orthodox methods, better illustrated than by any British team today.[5]
So far as New Zealand was concerned, Booth felt there was greater satisfaction throughout the country with the team selected. The material was there and with time together at Day's Bay, only their style of play remained to be tested.
Probably never before has it been more vividly revealed to the New Zealand controlling managers and selectors the necessity and need of bringing all players up to a mental knowledge and apprehension of their duties.[6]
Booth felt Otago's W.R. 'Billy' Fea, who was part of the NZ Army side, was the type of player who could provide a difference at first five-eighths in the All Blacks backline. He expected him to combine well with halfback Teddy Roberts.
Also, he played through Africa, and has thereby an acquired knowledge of the styles of the Springboks. He has seen the De Kock-Michau couplet in action. Roberts and Fea are both gifted with exceptional attacking proclivities, and it necessarily follows that they must secure possession.[7]
Also, he played through Africa and has thereby an acquired knowledge of the styles of the Springboks. He has seen the De Kock-Michau couplet in action. Roberts and Fea are both gifted with exceptional attacking proclivities, and it necessarily follows that they must secure possession.
Booth hoped New Zealand would play a 3-2-3 scrum with two flankers capable of doing the job of two wing-forwards while Moke Belliss' extra weight in the scrum would be invaluable. He also felt the All Blacks should look to copy the New South Wales technique of knocking the ball back from the lineouts to give faster ball to the backs.
One less savoury aspect of the interest in the game was what Booth described as 'a tremendous amount of betting', something that had been growing in recent years.
The Springboks had injury concerns. Twenty-five per cent of their team couldn't be considered due to injuries. Henry Morkel had an elbow injury while Billy Sendin was out due to a dislocated shoulder. Jackie Wepener was also out with an injured leg.
Wellington fans had a look at how the All Blacks' preparations were going when seeing the All Blacks play an unofficial game against a Wellington selection that included only 11 players as a curtain-raiser to the Ranfurly Shield match at Athletic Park. The All Blacks won 32-16, but fans were unimpressed that the game was not a serious affair.
The Shield match was a different story. Southland, the holders, returned the favour to Wellington of the previous year by taking the Shield on tour. Southland had beaten Wellington in 1920 to become the first South Island side to win the Shield. Key Wellington players were given time off their All Blacks preparation duties to take part. Mark Nicholls was especially prominent in contributing 10 points from two conversions and two penalty goals in the 28-13 win.
While all that was happening, the Springboks were in Nelson playing the Tasman districts side of Nelson, Marlborough and Golden Bay. The combined side exceeded their fans' expectations by holding the Springboks to 3-3 at the break. But, by upping the ante in the second half with their faster backs taking control, the Springboks achieved a 26-3 win.
The Springboks were then left with the week to prepare for the third Test. But their plans were upset. Initially, they were to return from Nelson on the Tuesday before the Test. But, because of the state of the series, they decided to return as early as possible after their game. However, the trip turned into a logistical nightmare. They were put on a boat in Wellington, but not all players had sleeping berths. They had to wait until the ferry stopped off in Picton before carrying on to Nelson, that more sleeping berths were available. Then, upon arrival in Nelson, because of the cancellation of their hotel accommodation, when they decided to return to Wellington on an earlier sailing, no rooms were available for the players to rest. They expected to start their game at 1 pm. However, it started at 2.15 pm. That left little time before they had to catch their ferry back to Wellington at 4.30 pm. But then they learned there was no accommodation on the ferry, and it could be Tuesday before they sailed. They put up with sailing on Saturday without sleeping berths. It was hardly the best preparation for the Test match, and tour manager Harold Bennett took exception to the circumstances.
Local officials, while disappointed the Springboks wouldn't stay longer, understood their desire to return early. But they were aghast at the lack of care by the New Zealand Rugby Union towards the tourists.
With the result of the final test so uncertain, the public would naturally expect the New Zealand Rugby Union to be particularly mindful of the Springboks' welfare. Instead, the arrangements for the visit to Nelson seem to have been totally at fault, and while the footballers had an unpleasant trip across, it was rather by good luck than good management that they were able to return at all on the Saturday evening…It is very regrettable that those in charge of the tour in New Zealand so seriously failed in their duties. The New Zealand Rugby Union has much to explain in this connection.[8]
Tension built in the capital as The Evening Post added to the pressure the home team was under.
New Zealand has to make certain of the third [Test] to hold the laurels won by the All Blacks in 1904-05 [against Bedell-Sivwright's side and on the tour to Britain and France], and preserved against all comers ever since. Australian teams, Harding's Anglo-Welsh team came, saw, and were conquered; abroad New Zealand always held her own down to the victories of the Army team in the season of the Armistice. But never before have the representatives of Rugby in this Dominion had to meet such formidable challengers, such redoubtable assailants as the visitors from South Africa, come at our invitation, but come to conquer, if they can.[9]
The Post's 'Dropkick' said the Springboks had built gradually, trench by trench, during the tour and observed that while they hadn't posted cricket scores, what stood out was how few points had been scored against them. The South Africans were ‘dogged defenders’ and 'exceedingly hard to score against.'
To see in the two Tests already played, for instance, the flower of New Zealand backs, according to the selectors, battering against a solid, stolid, imperturbable well of green-jerseyed defenders was convincing enough, in all truth.[10]
However, he felt the South Africans' reputation for brilliant back play had not been borne out during the tour, apart from their opening out against Auckland, and in Nelson. Interviewing the Springboks' manager Harold Bennett, 'Dropkick' sought an explanation.
If the Springboks could play the same game in the third Test as they played at Nelson your people would be astounded.[11]
Bennett explained the side had adopted a tighter game to conserve their players on a hard tour because they felt they must win all their matches or lose their reputation. The forwards had absorbed that policy while the backs had not been able to produce the combinations that had been so successful in South Africa. At the same time, Bennett said he was disappointed the quality of back play in New Zealand hadn't been higher. Kick-and-rush had become the game in New Zealand, whereas the rugby the NZ Army team had played in South Africa was of better quality. He did admit that the type of play adopted by South Africa may have contributed to that situation. Bennett expected nothing would change in the third Test.
If the loss of the game did not have such a bearing on international Rugby then the standard of football from the point of view of the spectator might be better. 'But when so much depends on the result," he added, 'teams must take all precautions.'[12]
'Dropkick' believed the 11th-hour decision to have the All Blacks prepare at Day's Bay was wise under local trainers Dorrie Leslie and Mick Hogan. He expected the side to be improved both as a result of the training and the selections made. After all, it had been at the same training facility that the side of 1904 had prepared to win New Zealand's first home Test match against Great Britain. Strict medical examinations had also been made so New Zealand would take the field with 'no cripples or crocks' as had been the case in the first two Tests.
An expectant crowd awaits the sides to decide the 1921 Test series between the All Blacks and Springboks at Wellington’s Athletic Park. [Otago Witness]
What precise tactics will be employed in the actual match it is impossible to say. The weather is quite uncertain, and, indeed, threatens a change. A high wind, such as characterized the Wellington-Springbok game, or heavy rain rendering the ground heavy and slippery and the ball hard to hold may make all the difference. But it is sincerely to be hoped that New Zealand does not repeat the mistakes of the earlier Tests. Twice they went off with a rush and tired themselves out, while the Springboks coolly waited until the frenzy of the attack faded, and then launched their counter-attack.[13]
In modern times, since Wellington transferred its main rugby ground from Athletic Park, high on a Berhampore hill, to downtown to the Wellington Stadium, it is hard for many to imagine what impact wind and rain could have. But for those who played in the series-deciding Test, the weather would never be forgotten.
Next week: The tour concludes.
[1] E.E. Booth, New Zealand Times, 13 September 1921
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] Booth, New Zealand Times, 15 September 1921
[6] ibid
[7] ibid
[8] Editorial, Nelson Evening Mail, 12 September 1921
[9] 'Dropkick', Evening Post, 16 September 1921
[10] ibid
[11] H.C. Bennett, interview, Evening Post, 16 September 1921
[12] 'Dropkick', ibid[13] ibid