Springbok Rugby History, Chapter 1

SPRINGBOK RUGBY

HISTORY

1891 - 1996

1891

The First Test Series

in South Africa

vs

British Isles

CHAPTER

CONTENTS

IN THE BEGINNING. ...............................3

THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE SARB................4

TESTING TIMES. ..................................5

1891 TEST MATCHES. ............................. 6

TOUR ITINERARY. .................................6

1891 BRITISH TOURING TEAM ..................... 6

FIRST TEST .......................................7

SECOND TEST.....................................8

THIRD TEST. ..................................... 10

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TOUR ........... 12

SOURCE LIST. .................................... 13

This is a painting of club rugby in Cape Town in 1888.

This period was known as the “first there, first to

go-down” period, meaning that there was still

no advanced structure for the game among the

forwards as well as the backs, as we know it today. When

a scrum had to be formed, the first players who were

there, formed the front row and the next players the locks

and so on.

Like the forwards, the backs had to be very versatile,

because the same principle applied, namely, the first

players in position filled that position, so there was no

scrum-half, fly-half, etc.

It was during this period that the nine forwards were

reduced to eight as we called it today and the only center

later got a mate. Due to the fact that there were not

specialists, players in the era were very versatile and this

resulted that more double Springboks came out of the

period than thereafter.

IN THE BEGINNING

Rugby was brought to South Africa probably by British

regiments who fought various wars at the time during the

second half of the 18th century. Diocesan College (also

known as Bishops) was the first school to play a form

of handling code in South Africa and also produced a

number of famous players who formed the backbone of

the early Western Province players. There was a game

between Military and Civilians as early as August 1862

and it was probably the first organized football match

played in the country.

In March 1875, the first rugby club, namely Hamilton

Rugby Football Club, was established and is thus the

oldest in the Southern Hemisphere. The second oldest

rugby club in South Africa, Villager R.F.C. was formed

in May 1876. The formation in 1882 and 1883 of the

Stellenbosch and South African College (later University

of Cape Town) clubs was to have a profound influence

of the advancement of rugby in the Western Province in

particular, and in South Africa in general.

From Western Province, the game rapidly spread along

the coastal belt of the old Cape Colony to the Eastern

Cape and when diamonds were discovered in Kimberley,

Griqualand West were to compete with Western Province

Springbok Rugby History - 1891 - 1996 1891 ©Published by Johan Jooste - Oubokrugby - 2021

1891

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for provincial honours. The game spread throughout the

main town centers and by 1888 inter-town matches were

being played between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

So, in a matter of 28 years since the “Gog” and

Winchester versions of the game had their baptism in

the Cape, rugby football had taken firm root and was

flourishing throughout South Africa.

first to visit South Africa), with a gold cup before the team

departed for South Africa. The order was that the cup be

presented to the South African team which put up the

best opposition against the British team on their tour

in 1891. When Kimberley held the tourists to a try to nil.

Maclagan presented the cup to Griqualand West Rugby

Union which, in turn, generously handed it over to the

South African Rugby Board (then three years old) in 1892

as a floating trophy for the inter-provincial competition.

The first provincial rugby union in South Africa, namely

Western Province was formed in 1883. Three years later

the Griqualand West Rugby Union was born in 1886,

followed by Eastern Province (1888), Transvaal (1889),

Natal (1890), Border (1891), South Western Districts

(1899) and North Eastern Districts (1893). Later on in

Transvaal, unions expanded to Northern Transvaal,

Eastern Transvaal and Western Transvaal.

The year 1891 was a significant year which was

to provide South Africa with an inter-provincial

competition directly responsible for producing the many

famous Springbok teams who became one of the leading

forces in the world of rugby.

THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF

THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY

BOARD

The first official meeting

of the South African Rugby

Board took place in Kimberley

on September 10, 1892. Percy

Ross Frames was the first

president while others were

A. Richards, W. Bissett, R.

Sneddon as well as others.

The Board decided to adopt

the laws of the Rugby Football

Union of England.

Cecil John Rhodes

When the secretary of the S.A. Rugby Board, T.B.

Harold acknowledged that finance was to be the

big obstacle when a tour by a British team was proposed,

the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, Cecil John Rhodes

stepped in and undertook to cover any deficit.

There was a meeting in England whereby a proposal

was made to send 21 players to South Africa on a tour

consisting of 20 matches, including three internationals.

The British team was limited to players from Scotland and

England and included no fewer than twelve Cambridge

Blues. The colours were striped red and white jerseys

with navy blue shorts.

The First Tour To South Africa

by an International Team

The British Isles - 1891

On Saturday, June 20, 1891, the “Dunottar Castle” ship

left Southampton on a 16-day voyage to Cape Town. On

board was the first ever British Isles rugby team to go on

tour to South Africa and thereby making history. The team

included international players and as expected, proved

far too strong for their South African counterparts. The

South Africans did learn quickly and improved markedly

towards the end of the tour.

TESTING TIMES

Traveling throughout South Africa has proved to be

very difficult and exhausted for a team such as the

British who were not used to bad gravel roads by coach.

Despite all obstacles

that the touring team

had to

endure, they went away with a near perfect

record of scoring 226 points in the 20 matches against

only 1 point for a solitary try by Cape Town in the first

match. In total they scored 89 tries of which a threequarter,

Randolph Aston scored 30 of them.

Sir Donald Curry of the Castle Shipping Line, presented

W.E. Maclagan, the captain of the 1891 British team (the

Percy Ross Frames

Randolph Aston


1891

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1891 TEST MATCHES

The three international matches were played in Port

Elizabeth, Kimberley and Cape Town and produced

4-0, 3-0 and 4-0 victories respectively for the British

team. At the time there

was no national selection

committee to choose the

South African teams. In the

1891 historic series, the

selectors were appointed

by the host center.

The South African

captain that was chosen for

the first ever international

match in Port Elizabeth,

was Herbert Castens, who

returned to Cape Town

from Oxford University.

Herbert Castens

Another player Alf

Richards, the brilliant Western Province fly-half who

was to represent his country in cricket, became a double

international.

TOUR ITINERARY

1891 BRITISH TOURING TEAM

FIRST TEST

3 Tests

(1) South Africa, Thursday, July 30, 1891

St. George’s Park, Port Elizabeth

South Africa 0, British Isles 4

Spectators 6 000

Referee: Dr. Griffin

Try: Aston, Whittaker, Con: Rother

A

lot was expected from the South African team,

and the crowd of 6,000 were not disappointed

in the football produced that day. It . is true that

Maclagan according to the practice in vogue in those

days, had to claim several penalties, all of which were

granted; it is also true that many marks were caught, and

dropped goals attempted, also according to the demands

of the game, but the dribbling rushes which were executed

with such success by both sides and which sometimes

covered the whole length of the field kept the crowd and

the ladies on their toes. (There were no stands in those

days.)

The Britons remained on the attack until Bissett led a

good rush down the field, and nearly scored. The next

minute the Britons were back, and Vigne, Boyes and

Guthrie defended well. Again the forwards broke away

with the ball at their feet and dribbled the whole length

of the field. It cost the Britons everything they knew to

keep the South Africans out, but when the South Africans

dropped a pass Clauss secured and kicked high. The

ball was mulled and the British forwards raced up liked

hares to boot the ball along. When the ball bounced right

it was picked up and Wotherspoon, Bromet, Clauss and

Whittaker all handled before the latter went over for a

beautiful try which Rotherham converted. 4 0.

After this first try the South Africans played like Trojans.

First Alexander broke away and the ball went from him

to Guthrie, Richards and Boyes. The latter’s pass was

unfortunately intercepted when a try looked certain. Then

Merry and Castens were stopped on the line, Maclagan

relieving after he had claimed a penalty. Bissett brought

the game back to the British line where the Britons

defended grimly. Just before half-time the play swung

up and down, but the South Africans more then held their

own.

Bill Maclagan - captain of the British

Isles touring team - 1891

SECOND HALF

During the interval the two teams received ‘’instructions

from well-known backers of either side”,

and enjoyed “lemons and sundry”. The advice given to

the British team, apparently, stood them in good stead,

for they were soon on the attack.· Castens and Little,


1891

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First test in Port Elizabeth

SECOND HALF

In the second half the South African forwards enjoyed

a distinct supremacy. Even when Trenery got hurt and

had to be carried off the field Sneddon, Versfeld, Shand

and Alexander covered themselves with glory. The British

forwards were not accustomed to having their rushes

nipped in the bud, as Richards succeeded in doing.

This enabled our own forwards to be much more in the

picture. True enough, the British forwards nearly shook

off the iron grip towards the end of the game, but it was

only temporary. At the final whistle South Africa were still

hammering at a dogged defense.

however broke away in a great forward dribbling rush, and

were joined by Vigne and Richards who were stopped by

Mitchell near the British line. Next it was Versfeld’s turn to

dribble through. At this stage several dropped goals were

tried by both teams, some of them kicked into the field of

play as an attacking method.

Richards, Boyes and Vigne came very near to scoring,

but Maclagan saved brilliantly. A short while afterwards

Vigne just missed with a drop. The fitness of the tourists

was in evidence at this stage, because there was always

somebody to stop any movement undertaken by the

home side, and when the whistle blew a great sheer went

up as an appreciation of the fine football witnessed by the

crowd. Final score 4-0.

SECOND TEST

3 Tests

(2) South Africa, Saturday, August 29, 1891

Electic Cricket Field, Kimberley


Spectators 3 000

Referee: Percy Ross Frames

Goal from a mark, Mitchell

The South African forwards in particular, as also

Alf Richards, played good football, and it was they

who took play back to the English 25, and nearly scored.

Here Hammond took matters in hand and led a very

good forward rush. Duff managed to pick up, and tried to

drop, but Aston was there as usual to smother the kick.

The first half broke very evenly.

The second international match was the closest

game the visitors were called upon to play during

the tour. They, however, managed to scrape home, by a

dropped goal, kicked early in the first half. Mitchell it was

who caught a mark and then had a pot at goal. The ball

struck the cross bar and then just fell over for the only

points in the match. At that stage Britain was mostly on

the attack and South Africa had to rely on touch kicks to

drive them out. When one of these failed to find its mark

Mitchell caught the mark. An interesting part of this match

was the fact that Britain for the first time played with four

three-quarters, something which had been tried only by

teams like Cardiff, Oxford and Cambridge. In this match E.

Bromet acted as the fourth three-quarter.


1891

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Second Test in Kimberley

THIRD TEST

3 Tests

(3) South Africa, Saturday, September 5, 1891

Newlands, Cape Town


Spectators 3 000

Referee: Herbert Castens

South African Team, Third International

Tries Aston, Maclagan, Conv. Rotherham

In the third international match played at Newlands

“the sympathy of the onlookers was all with England”.

Spurred on by this Britain remained on the attack for long

spells, and time and again Richards had to save. When a

scrum was formed in front of South Africa’s goal posts,

and the scene was set for a score Richards and Vigne

took play back, and again it was Richards who saved.

Within the next few minutes first Louw and then Duff had

to press down. The play from this point up to half-time

was fast and furious.

SECOND HALF

On resumption South Africa played much better and

it did not take them long to invade the British half. Here

Richards and then Versfeld tried desperately to find a gap,

but always there was Clauss in the way, who, incidentally,

“was playing like a vision”. Next it was Britain’s turn,

and one of their forwards actually went over, “but he

was ruled off-side by the referee and the public”. Here

the British team remained on the offensive, with Clauss

particularly dangerous, but South Africa’s defense held,

and McKendrick played grandly. ‘’Then followed such

a display of passing by the English backs as has never

been seen in South Africa; the bladder traveled from

one to the other and back again like lightning and it was

only the watchfulness of McKendrick, Hartley and Duff

which prevented a dropped goal or try.” When everything

looked like a drawn game Maclagan came into the line

and scraped home as he was tackled, Wotherspoon

converting. Within the next minute or two he repeated this

and scored an unconverted try right on time, winning the

match for his team by 4-0.


1891

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days were selected in order of merit, and Marthinus was the last in the team which played for the Cape Clubs against

the visitors. He was promoted to third for Western Province, but was always first in all three international matches. R.

L. O. Versfeld represented the Transvaal Country Districts as a wing. He is, of course, better known as Loftus Versfeld,

whose name has been given to the field at the headquarters of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union in recognition of

the many services he rendered to rugby in the administrative capital.

Also in the same team as Loftus was W. Tindall (an uncle of the well-known Jackie Tindall) who was one of three

half-backs who played that day. Some teams used to play with three halves, one acting as rover. This is the only

occasion that any of our teams has ever used such a combination against a touring team. Another Marthinus played

for Stellenbosch against the British team, but he was Marthinus Daneel, father of our world famous loose forward,

George Daneel. This Marthinus, like the other one, also had the honour of crossing the goal-line of the visitors - but

without scoring! On his way to the goal posts to score the try he was collared and held by Maclagan and “a maul in

goal” ensued, i.e. all the other players looked on while the two players concerned battled for possession. Unfortunately,

Maclagan won the maul and pressed down. The same fate befell Jimmy Anderson when playing for Transvaal, and

also in a maul against Maclagan.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT

THE TOUR IN 1891

In 1889 the newly-formed South African Rugby

Board gave a cup to the winners of the inter-center

tournament held in those days. (Prior to that, i.e. since

1884, an inter-town tournament took place.) A team

in 1891 comprised of three, three-quarters, one centre

and two wings, with nine forwards. The try was not as

important as the goal. As a matter of fact, goals at one

time decided the issue and not tries. Had Griqualand West

played against the visitors three years earlier the result

would have been a draw, for the Britons scored only three

tries, i.e. no goals.

Only in 1889 was it laid down that points and not goals

decided the issue. It will be noticed that quite a few

players also acted as referees. In 1890 it was laid down

that “in all matches two umpires and two touch judges

shall be appointed and a referee”. Even during this tour it

so happened that five officials were needed for matches!

Fourteen members of the touring team were students.

One member of the team, B. G. Roscoe, remained behind

in this country and in 1892 represented Western Province

when they competed for the Currie Cup brought to us

by his former team. A. A. Surtees joined the team at

Port Elizabeth. He started off by playing against Eastern

Province and two days later played against South Africa.

A. Rotherham was a brother of the first ever half-back

who passed the ball out to his co-halfback. Prior to this it

was looked upon as “bad form” to do so.

The team contained no Irishmen or Welshmen. The

captain of the team, W. Maclagan, was a distinguished

Third International, Cape Town

Scottish International who was the first full-back to play

alone in that position for Scotland. Prior to that, three,

and later two,full-backs were used. At school he did not

excel at rugby and it was only after he left that he really

made his mark. When he came out to South Africa he was

already past his best, but still too good for us.

The President of the Rugby Board was Percy Ross

Frames, who in one of his speeches ex-pressed the hope

that South Africa would benefit so largely from the tour

that she would in the very near feature send a strong team

to Britain. Percy Frames himself refereed three matches

against the visitors: Griqualand West, Cape Colony and

SOUTH AFRICA. Another President of later years, Jack

Heyneman, refereed the Western Province match and

Cape Colony matches. Talking of referees, H. H. Castens,

our first national rugby captain (he was also the first South

African cricket captain to take a national team overseas)

refereed the last test in 1891. He was a double Springbok

and Springbok captain and he learned his rugby at Rugby

and Oxford, where he got his blue. He led his cricket team

to victory against the redoubtable W. G. Grace’s M.C.C.

team when we for the first time in our history, played on

the famous Lords ground.

We only scored one try, 1 point, against the British

Team, in the opening match of the tour when

“Hasie” Versfeld succeeded in crossing their line. “Hasie”,

therefore, occupies a unique place in our history. His

brother, Marthinus, is one of four players who represented

us in all three international matches, the others being Ben

Duff, Alf Richards and Chubb Vigne. Marthinus played

against the visitors no less than seven times. Two of his

other brothers also played against them, viz. J. and R. L. 0.

and M. Versfeld, therefore, became the first of many pairs

of brothers to represent our country. Forwards in those

Alf Richards captained our team in the last international match and also captained our national cricket team in

1896. 1891, therefore, produced two double captains, something unique in our sporting history. Alf’s brother, W. H.,

also represented us at cricket in 1889. A brother of W. H. Bissett, who represented us in two international matches,

Murray also represented South Africa at cricket In 1898 and 1899 and in 1902 he captained our national cricket team.

In the same year (1902) another brother, A. Bissett, also represented his country at cricket under the captaincy of his

brother, Murray. As will be noticed in the next chapter W. H. Bissett became South African manager of the next British

Team in this country. Players of 1891 who achieved fame are: C. F. Beyers, who represented the Transvaal Country

Districts, became General Beyers. W. E. C. Tanner who played for the Pietermaritzburg club, Savages, became General

Tanner who was in charge of the South African forces in Flanders during World War I. J. S. Louw, who represented the

Transvaal and South Africa in two international matches, became president of that Union and held the post for many

years.

SOURCE LIST

A, C. Parker: The Springboks, 1970

D.H. Craven - Springbok Annals, 1964

Chris Greyvenstein - Springbok Saga, 1989

Teddy Shnaps - A Statistical History of Springbok Rugby


1891

Page 12 Page 13

Johan Jooste is a very enthusiastic and passionate Springbok rugby supporter of the

amateur era. Like most like-minded enthusiasts who grew up long before the advent of

television, he used to listen to radio commentary when he was still a teenager. And as

many young kids of the time in the middle sixties, did not have the opportunity to go and

watch the Springboks play, they collected pictures and stories of their heroes for their

scrapbooks which was very popular in those days for young and old.

The idea to compile a record of all Springbok international matches into one document

which should include video and audio clips, was very appealing as there was and still is

as far as we know, not something like that available for the public. Now every test match

can be admired as it is compiled in a series of the years that the Springboks played international

rugby from 1891 up to 1996 when the game turned professional.

The document is available as individual series (like 1891, 1896, 1903 etc.) or in Chapters

which from 1949 onwards is compiled as decades. When completed, all the series’ will

also be available as PDF files in

1891

one digital book. At this stage there is no plan to make a

printed book.

Mobile No: +264812156536

EMail: info@oubokrugby.com

https://www.oubokrugby.com

CHAPTER

SPRINGBOK RUGBY

HISTORY

1891 - 1996

1896

The SECOND Test Series

in South Africa

vs

British Isles

CHAPTER

THE SECOND TOUR TO SOUTH AFRICA

BY AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM

South African Team, First Test

The British Isles - 1896

BACK: C.G. van Renen, F.H. Guthrie, J. J.Wessels, P.J. Meyer, B.H. Heatlie, F.W. Douglass, M. Bredenkamp. SEATED: E.

Olver, H.C. Gorton, D.Lyons, F.T.D. Aston (Captain), P. Scott, J.H. Anderson, H.R. Kemsley (Referee). FRONT: P.S. Twentyman-Jones,

F.R. Myburgh.

Johnny Hammond, captain of the team, was vicecaptain

of Maclagan’s team. P. F. Hancock was

also a member of the two teams. Scotland and Wales

were not represented in the team. Eleven of the players

were students, but this time Dublin University was well

represented. The S.A. manager was W. M. Bissett who

had played for S.A. in 1891 and this time also acted as

referee at East London, against Cape Colony and South

Africa in the second international match. Alf Richards

who captained S.A. in the last international match in

1891, this time refereed the last international match, the

first international match ever won by us. Several British

players acted as referees. W. J. Carey returned to S.A. after

the tour and became Bishop of Bloemfontein, and R. C.

(Cuth) Mullins was actually a South African who qualified

at Guy’s Hospital and later returned to Grahamstown

where he practised for many years.

It was Carey, himself an old Babarian, who gave the

famous motto to the Baa-Baas, viz.: “Rugby is a game for

gentlemen of all classes, but never for a poor sportsman

in any class.” He was an Oxford Blue and was responsible

for the good display of his alma mater when he returned

there in 1908 and taught them the same basic principals

of forward play.

FIRST TEST

4 Tests

(4) South Africa, Thursday, July 30, 1896

Crusader Ground, Port Elizabeth


Spectators 7 500

Referee: H.R. Kemsley

Tries: Carey, Bulger. Conv. Byrne

It is a strange coincidence that the first international

match in 1896, just like the first in 1891, took place at

Port Elizabeth, and also on the 30th July, which happened

to be a Thursday in both cases!The last in both years

took place at Newlands on a Saturday and on the 5th

September.

The writer of one of the articles consulted was not at all

complimentary in his remarks concerning the display

of the South African forwards in the first international

match. They are described as “worthless”, one of them

being “worse than useless” ! They did not “have a ghost

of a show” and the visitors “were never really pressed”.

“It was sickening to watch players with a big name as

well as a big body loafing round the scrums”!

The result of the poor display by the South African

forwards was that the backs got very few chances and

had to defend more than was good for them. Particularly

the two half-backs, Myburgh and Guthrie, had to fall on

the ball time after time. This they did so successfully that

the Britons could not put up a big score against them.

After the Britons had been mostly on the attack, mainly

as a result of good play by Mackie, Myburgh brought

temporary relief when he broke cleanly from a scrum

and when he was confronted by a Briton he passed to


1903

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Aston. From him the ball went to Anderson on the wing

who looked very dangerous before being stopped. Soon

afterwards Myburgh broke again, and again passed to

Aston, to Olver who was stopped by Johnston. After these

two onslaughts the British team camped in the South

African “25”, where the two halves did yeomen work in

defence, as also did Wessels, Aston and Heatlie. Crean,

time after time, led dangerous rushes which were stopped

in the nick of time. If the ball went to the British backs

Jones and Anderson were always there to stop them. But

when a lineout was formed near their line, Carey caught

the ball, dropped it on the ground to dribble it along, and

then went like a steam roller over all opposition, scoring

a good try. Halftime came soon afterwards with the score

3-0 in favour of Britain.

Halftime

On resumption the South African forwards played much

better. Britain again started the game vigorously, but

Myburgh sent Anderson away, who in turn passed to

Jones who ran very well and was only stopped deep inside

the British “25”. Here Van Renen, receiving from Gorton,

actually went over, but was recalled for an infringement.

From a good movement Olver was sent away, but kicked

when it looked as if he could have gone for the line. England

then went over to the attack, especially since the South

African forwards were tiring. The prettiest movement of

the day came when Magee, Mullineaux, Mackie, Bulger

and Byrne participated in short, quick passes for Bulger

to score and Byrne to convert, making the final score 8-0.

SECOND TEST

4 Tests


Wanderers, Johannesburg


Spectators 5 000

Referee: G. Beves

For the second international match “the ladies were

present in full force, quite outnumbering the sterner

sex in the ropes, and they emulated the latter in their

enthusiasm”. The first half was definitely South Africa’s.

This was largely due to some fine runs by Samuels who

was brought in at the eleventh hour to fill the vacancy

on the wing, caused by the inability of Maxvell to play.

Samuels proved to be a great find, for he scored two great

tries.

The man who was always leading the attacks launched

against the South Africans was the powerful Hancock.

He was here, there and everywhere, stopping the South

Africans whenever they attacked, and then leading his

men in dangerous rushes. The crowd had an early thrill

when Bulger and Johnston broke away on to the youthful

fullback, Cope, who first tackled Bulger and then Johnston

before either could get far. From this position Devenish

and Scott got away and took play into British territory.

When the Britons tried to clear,

Samuels caught a mark, from

which Cope narrowly missed.

From here the Britons, taking

advantage of a kick which was

charged down, launched an

attack which led to a try. It was

Crean who picked up and ran

well before sending Todd over

for a try which Byrne converted

from far out. Actually this try

was scored against the run

of play, for the South Africans

A.F. Todd

were far more dangerous than the Britons. Wessels, in

particular, led a very dangerous rush in which Smith

eventually picked up to send Aston away, who after a

great run sent the ball out inside the British “25”, where

the South Africans all but scored. Just before the interval

it was Forbes and Samuels who were dangerous.

Halftime

After the interval the British forwards changed their

tactics, because they relied on the wheel as a surprise

method of attack. One of these wheels put them on the

attack, and notwithstanding grand work by Cope, Forbes

and Aston, Bell got away “chucked” the ball to Johnston

who in turn gave to Mackie. He ran well and then slung a

long pass to Crean who scored a good try. Byrne converted

with a beautiful kick from the corner. 10-0.

South African Team, Second Test

BACK: D. Cope, A. M. Beswick, J.H. Crosby, J.J. Wessels, T.A. Samuels, G.St.L. Devenish, P. Scott, W.S. Taberer.

SEATED: J.B. Andrews, C.E. Devenish, A. Lalard, F.T. D. Aston (Captain), H.H. Forbes, C.W. Smith, T.B. Mellet.


1903

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After this try Wessels, Scott, Smith and Devenish

dribbled the ball a long way and everything was set for

a dangerous movement, when Hammond and Hancock

stopped it, and started a counter-dribbling rush which

ended inside the South African’s twenty-five. Here a

line-out was formed in which Hancock obtained and by

sheer weight and strength forced his way over for an

unconverted try.

South Africa was not to be gainsaid, for Toski Smith

kicked the ball away from a scrum. Tiger Devenish,

following up, picked it up and passed to Aston, to

Forbes, to Samuels, who, with a great turn of speed, beat

opponent after opponent to score a great try, the first ever

to be scored by South Africa in a international match. The

next try came soon afterwards when George Devenish

passed to Aston who drew the opposition before passing

to Samuels who scored his second try, and one which

Cope converted. 13-8. The Britons now cracked on the

pace, and when Bell and Byrne broke through Cope and

Samuels Â· pushed them out in touch-in-goal.Then just

on time Mackie dropped a neat drop to make the final

score 16-8.

South African Team, Third Test

THIRD TEST

4 Tests


Kimberley


Spectators 2 000

Referee: W.M. Bisset

The third international match was played at a

tremendous pace, and the result remained in the

balance until the last ten minutes of the game. The ball

was given plenty of air, enabling the three-quarters to

show their mettle. “Jones was pronounced the best

three-quarter on the ground. So he is when Byrne has

been mentioned! The British team attacked right from

the start, and only a grand tackle by Bertie Powell saved

the situation when he downed Bulger

near the line. Away sped the South

Africans, and Jones narrowly missed a

drop. Next the forwards took the game

in hand and only a smart defensive

play by Mackie saved the line. Again

it was the forwards who rushed the

line, Beswick being prominent. Here

Cotty obtained and gave to Jones P. Jones

who rounded off the movement with a

pretty try. Halftime: South Africa 3, Britain 0.

Second Half

Britain attacked vigorously from the kick-off, but Bertie

Powell, intercepting, broke away, and was tackled

by Mackie on the halfway line. From here he broke away

again to take play into the “25”. The British team now

started attacking with their backs and took play back

to the South African line where

Mackie obtained and scored

a good try. 3-3, converted by

Byrne ( 5-3) .

With the score even both

teams put everything into the

game and a very stern battle

ensued, luck favouring the

visitors when the redoubtable

Byrne put his side further in the

lead with a good drop which

won the match. 9-3.

FOURTH TEST

Broekies van Broekhuizen

South Africa’s First Win in an

International Match

The South African captain for the fourth international

match at Newlands in Cape Town, Barry “Fairy”

Heatlie, decided that his team will play in green jerseys

like those of his club “Old Diocesan Club” and it is from

this decision of his that the green jersey of the Springbok

was born which came in 1906-07 on the tour of Britain.

Barry “Fairy” Heatlie

BACK: T. Mellet (reserve), A.W. (Bertie) Powell, D.J. Theunissen, T.A. Samuels, C.W. Smith.

SEATED: M. Bredenkamp, P. Scott, A.M. Beswick, F.T. Aston (Captain), C. Kelly, P. Dormehl, J.J. Wessels.

ABSENT: P.S.T. Jones.

JF_Byrne

4 Tests

(7) South Africa, Saturday, September 5,

1896

Newlands, Cape Town


Spectators 3 500

Referee: A.R. Richards


1903

Page 20 Page 21

South African Team, Fourth Test

In the fourth and last international match the South

African forwards gave a very fine display of good

scrummaging and good dribbling rushes. The first solid

of these came when Samuels, playing fullback, was

tackled on the line and when things looked dangerous

for South Africa, Heatlie, Van Renen, Jones and Etlinger

dribbled the ball away into the British ‘’25’’. Next it was

Van Broekhuizen and Van Renen who broke away. England

attacked again and Byrne missed with a penalty.

South Africa then started one of the finest movements

of the day when Larard, Aston, Anderson and Hepburn, in

a pretty inter-passing movement,

carried play into the British “25”.

Here Bulger kicked out and Byrne

obtained from the throw-in. He

was tackled and Anderson took

the ball out of his hands to run

right through. When tackled by

Meares he led out to Larard who

ran over under the goal posts.

‘’England raised objection

Larard

but the try was allowed’’, and

Hepburn converted to make the

halftime score 5-0.

Half Time

The second half was full of penalties which fell short of

the posts, drops which frequently missed the posts by

inches and kicks which were charged down: In between,

fine dribbling rushes and good backline movements kept

the crowd in the throes of excitement. Frirst Jones broke

through, then Van Broekhuizen dribbled through and

Aston carried on before passing to Hepburn.

Every time the danger was repelled by deadly tackling.

‘’Hitherto England had only once visited Africa’s ‘25’.

When they got there a second time, Byrne had a chance

to score from a penalty on the ‘25’. Amid dead silence the

ball was placed, and when he missed the crowd could not

suppress their joy. From this stage onwards it was Britain

all the way, but a dire defence held ‘ and thus South Africa

won an international match for the first time in history.”

In 1896 Thomas Crean was

a member of the British Isles

squad on their tour to South

Africa. He was part of strong

Irish contingent, being one of

nine Irishmen selected. The

others included Robert Johnston,

Louis Magee, James

Magee, Larry Bulger, Jim Sealy,

Andrew Clinch, Arthur Meares

and Cecil Boyd. He played in

all four tests against South

Africa and scored a try in the

second.

Some of the other players that took part in the

international matches on tour in 1896.

J.F. Byrne

Froude Hancock

R. Johnstone

INTERESTING FACTS

OF THE TOUR

• Johnny Hammond, captain of the team, was vicecaptain

of Maclagan’s team. P. F. Hancock was also

a member of the two teams.

• Scotland and Wales were not represented in the

team. Eleven of the players were students, but this

time Dublin University was well represented.

• The S.A. manager was W. M. Bissett who had

played for S.A. in 1891 and this time also acted as

referee at East London, against Cape Colony and

South Africa in the second international match.

• Alf Richards who captained S.A. in the last

international match in 1891, this time refereed

the last international match, the first international

match ever won by us. Several British players acted

as referees.

• W. J. Carey returned to S.A. after the tour and

became Bishop of Bloemfontein, and R. C.

(Cuth) Mullins was actually a South African who

qualified at Guy’s Hospital and later returned to

Grahamstown where he practised for many years.

It was Carey, himself an old Babarian, who gave

the famous motto to the Baa-Baas, viz.: “Rugby is

a game for gentlemen of all classes, but never for

a poor sportsman in any class.” He was an Oxford

Blue and was responsible for the good display of

his alma mater when he returned there in 1908 and

taught them the same basic principals of forward

play.

• The tour was considerably shorter than the

previous one and was more or less mapped out

along the same lines.

• The spectators for the international matches

increased from 12,000 to 18,000, therefore by 50

per cent.

• In the second international match South Africa

scored for the first time in a international match

and one man, T. A. Samuels, scored both times.

• Dave Cope, who converted one try, was killed in a

railway accident in 1898 at Mosterts-hoek, near

Matjiesfontein, when he and A. M. (Boy) Tait were

on their way to join the Transvaal Currie Cup team

at Cape Town. Cope was only 18 years when he

gained his Western Province Colours a few years

before.

• The “first shove” was used for the first time in

South Africa, and was actually started by the Irish

team of 1895-1896 when they swept the boards.

Strangely enough, the land of its birth later lost this

art, as the 1931 Springboks experienced on their

tour.The screw or wheel was also used extensively.

When the wheel was not used the ball was hooked

in contrast to what took place a few years earlier.

Then the ball had to be pushed through the

opponents (at their feet). The forwards naturally

became accustomed with all the arts of pushing

and the wheel was evolved (with “foiking” as its

origin, started by Oxford). After the screw period

came the hooking period: Thus: Push, Screw and


1903

Page 22 Page 23

Hooking Periods in that sequence.

• With more three-quarter movements, the Gould

brothers of Newport found that with four threequarters

less passes went astray. In time to come

the game copied this trait.

• A try counted for 3 points, a goal from a try 5 and a

dropped goal 4 points.

• Ferdie Aston (S.A.) was a brother of R. L. Aston,

the crack centre of Maclaglan’s team who scored

so many tries and later served on the Rugby

Union (Eng.) and the Selection Committee. This

time Byrne followed suit and scored in practically

every match. Aston and Paul Scott were the only

two players who played in all the international

matches.

• This tour yielded the most double Internationals in

our history. In brackets is given the cricket date: P.

S. T. Jones (1902), Biddy Anderson (1902, when he

was captain); Bertie Powell (1899). Alf Richard’s

brother, W. H. played cricket for S.A. in 1889 and

W. S. Taberer’s brother, H.M. (and Oxford Blue),

in 1902 when he captained S.A. W. M. Bissett’s

brother, Murray, played cricket in 1898, 1899 and

in 1901 - when he captained South Africa’s touring

team and had with him in that side his brother, A.

Bissett. Fairy Heatlie, Jackie Powell, Charlie van

Renen, George Devenish, Toski Smith and Guthrie

also played for S.A. in 1891. Jim H. Crosby and

‘Long George’ Devenish represented Transvaal

twice and South Africa, and both became S.A.

selectors.

• It was appropriate that, when for the first time

in South Africa’s history, that they wore green

jerseys, in the last international match, they also

gained their first international match win.

SOURCE LIST:

A, C. Parker: The Springboks, 1970

D.H. Craven - Springbok Annals, 1964

Chris Greyvenstein - Springbok Saga, 1989

Teddy Shnaps - A Statistical History of Springbok Rugby


1903

Page 24 Page 25















1891


printed book.

Mobile No: +264812156536



CHAPTER

SPRINGBOK RUGBY

HISTORY

1891 - 1996

1903

The third Test Series

in South Africa

vs

British Isles

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL

SERIES WIN BY SOUTH AFRICA

The British Isles Conquered At Long Last

1903 British Isles Team

Interesting Facts of the Tour

The British Team disembarked in Cape Town on

Wednesday, and played their first match the next day

against Western Province Country, followed by a second

on Saturday against Western Province Town Clubs and a

third on Monday against, Western Province.

The Manager of the British Team was none other than

Johnny Hammond who came to South Africa for the third

time.

W. McEwan who played for Transvaal and South Africa

had previously represented Scotland, and his brother was

also a Scottish International. Dr. A. Frew who captained

Transvaal against the visitors and also South Africa in

the first international match had also played for Scotland

previously. As a matter of fact, he was one of the

few schoolboys ever to have played for their country

while still at school. We, therefore, have our first double

internationals ever, i.e. W. McEwan and Dr. A. Frew.

Jimmy Sinclair also became a double Springbok and

not only that but played cricket for South Africa with every

double Springbok except H. H. Castens. S. Ashley also

became a double Springbok and his brother also played

cricket for South Africa.

B. H. (Fairy or Ox) Heatlie and Jackie Powell played for

South Africa for the third time against touring teams, i.e.

since 1891. This is the longest period anybody has ever

represented South Africa. Fairy’s brother “S.G.” was also

selected to play for South Africa but an injury debarred

him from playing and getting this distinction.

Tom van Renen suffered a similar fate in 1896; but two

of his brothers got their caps, viz. Charlie (1891 and 1896)

and Willie (1903). Brothers who had so far in our history

represented South Africa were M. and C. (Hasie) Versfeld,

Charlie and Willie van Renen, Jackie and Bertie Powell.

Reg Skrimpshire scored in every match for the British

except two and later played for Western Province in the

Currie Cup Tournament. D. R. Bedell-Sivright, a year

after this tour, captained the British Team which toured

Australia and New Zealand.

Percy Day who refereed two matches, viz. when Griquas

played against the visitors, in 1919 was the South African

Manager of the New Zealand Services Team and of the

1937 Springbok Team.

Three men who later became South African selectors

played against Mark Morrison’s team, viz. A. F. Markotter,

captain of the first team (outside an international team) to

ever beat a touring team, viz. Western Province Country, S.

A. Townsend (Pretoria), and Arthur Barlow ( Orange River

Colony).

The first South African selectors known to us selected

the South African team for the final international match.

They were Fairy Heatlie, Percy Jones, and Biddy Anderson,

all from Western Province, Villagers, and Diocesan College.

In the last international match our team wore green

jerseys for the second time. Fairy Heatlie gave the jerseys

of his old club, the Old Diocesans, which had become

defunct, to his team. Dressed in these jerseys South Africa

also won the rubber for the first time in their history.

Bob Loubser was only 19 years and one month old

when he first played for South Africa. A few others were

also 19 years when they played, but in terms of months,

Bob was the youngest.

In 1891, 1896 and 1903 double Springboks acted

as referees at Newlands, viz. H. H. Castens (1891), Alf

Richards (1896), and J. H. (Biddy) Anderson ( 1903).

Mark Morrison

Captain of the 1903 British Isles Team

He played for Scotland twenty three times

between 1896 and 1904, and captained the team

fifteen times, a record which stood until the era of

Arthur Smith, sixty years later.

He first played for Scotland against Wales in

1896, while a teenager playing for Royal HSFP.

He continued to play for Scotland until 1904, and

captained them a total of 15 times. With Scotland

he won three Home Nations Championship with

them in 1901, 1903 and 1904. Two of those

Championship victories were Triple Crown wins

(1901 and 1903).

He was chosen to captain the British Isles on the

1903 rugby tour to South Africa. They lost the

Test series 1–0 with two drawn. In 2002 he was

inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

Jimmy Sinclair, the Springbok forward described

Morrison as “a real roughouse of a man, and a

great leader.”


1903

Page 28 Page 29

British Isles Team - 1903

BACK: Patrick Hancock, Alfred Hind, Robertson Smythe, Edward Harrison, James Wallace, Reg Skrimshire, J.C. Hosack,

Robert Neill, William Cave, Edward Walker, Gilbert Collett. SEATED: John Gillespie, William Scott, Frank Stout,

Johnny Hammond (Manager), Mark Morrison (Captain), Alfred Tedford, Joseph Wallace, Ian Davidson, David Bedell-Sivright.

FRONT: Louis Greig, Thomas Gibson, A. Solomon (S.A. Manager).

TOURING PARTY

Manager: Johnny Hammond

Full Back - Edward Montague Harrison (England)

Three-Quarters - Alfred Hind (England), Ian Davidson

(Ireland), Gilbert Collett (England), Reg Skrimshire

(England.), Edward Forbes Walker (England)

Halfbacks - Louis Greig (Scotland), John Imrie Gillespie

(Scotland), Robert Miln Neill (Scotland), Patrick Hancock

(England)

Forwards - Mark Morrison (Scotland) (captain),

David Bedell-Sivright (Scotland), William Patrick

Scott (Scotland), William Cave (England), J.C. Hosack

(Scotland), Robertson Smyth (Ireland), Alfred Tedford

(Ireland), Joseph Wallace (Ireland), James Wallace

(Ireland), Frank Stout (England), Thomas Alexander

Gibson (England)


1903

Page 30 Page 31

FIRST TEST

3 Tests in Series - Test No. 8

South Africa, Wednesday, August 26, 1903



Spectators 5 000

Referee: W.P. Donaldson

SOUTH AFRICA - FIRST TEST TEAM

converted. From now onwards South Africa had to defend

for all they were worth. This they did so grandly that they

managed to keep the score level until the final whistle.

BACK: Klondyke Raaf, Willie McEwan, Willie van Renen, Charlie Jones, Charlie Brown, Birdie Partridge. SEATED: Japie Krige, Joe

Barry, PO Nel, Alex Frew, Barry “Fairy” Heatlie (Captain), Andrew Morkel, Jimmy Sinclair. FRONT: Jackie Powell, Uncle Dobbin.

1903

From the kick-off, the British team attacked convincingly

and in a manner that showed that they, notwithstanding

quite a few lost matches, were determined to win the

international matches. It took South Africa some time to

build up a combination, but apparently, this was achieved

rather suddenly, for we read that Frew broke away and

passed to Japie Krige who took play further. Again it was

Japie who did the damage for when he got possession

after his run he punted. The ball bounced right for “uncle”

Dobbin who scored for Heatlie to convert.

This try came very soon after the match started, but

nothing daunted, the Britons fought back gamely, and

soon Hancock, true to the Hancock tradition, took play

into the South African territory, where Andrew Morkel

saved brilliantly. From this position, Frew again broke

away, with all his forwards taking part in a brilliant rush.

When Harrison, the British full-back, tried to stop them

the ball was kicked past him, and Frew, outstripping all

and sundry, scored an excellent try, which Heatlie again

converted.

At that stage, the South Africans seemed set for

great things, because they dominated play, and did

everything but score. The British team defended with

grim determination, and when they were allowed to break

away they always looked dangerous. It was obvious that

the slightest mistake would let them in. Again they foiled

South Africa when they were on the defensive. This time

they not only stopped the rush but took the ball into

the South African “25”. Here a scrum was formed from

which Skrimshire secured. He sold the dummy to his

first opponent and then went on to dodge his way right

through to score a beautiful try under the posts. Gillespie

converted, and halftime came with the score 10-5 in

South Africa’s favour.

Half Time

In the second half, it was a different story. The British

forwards were getting the ball to their backs regularly and

attacked whenever they could. Attack after attack was

launched, and South Africa had her hands full to stop

Skrimshire. Early in the second half Jones was tackled

when he had to pick up in front of the British pack. A

loose scrum was formed. Back went the ball, and Wallace,

obtaining, started a hand-to-hand movement with his

forwards which could not be stopped, Cave eventually

running over for a good try, which Gillespie again


1903

Page 32 Page 33

SECOND TEST


South Africa, Saturday, September 5, 1903



Spectators 5 000

Referee: P.W. Day

The second international match also ended in a draw.

This time neither team managed to score, although

they came very near doing so on several occasions. South

Africa was definitely unfortunate in not scoring during the

first half, for they had by far the better of the exchanges.

Jones missed a penalty very narrowly early in the first

half after Dobbin had put South Africa on the offensive.

Hancock was again prominent in saving his team’s line

on several occasions. Ashley saw to it that South Africa

remained on the attack, and De Melker was forced out on

the corner flag. Again it was Hancock who relieved the

pressure when he broke away, but it was not for long.

Metcalfe dribbled the ball over the British line but just

failed to get to the ball first. Half-time came with still no

score.

Half Time

The second half saw a much improved British team, and

they had by far the better of the exchanges. Only mistakes

and a deadly defence kept them at bay. Once Jones had

to kick the ball over the dead-ball line to save a try, and

shortly afterwards Skrimshire actually went over but was

recalled for a forward pass. Towards the closing stages

Collett, one of the visiting wings, was stopped at the

SOUTH AFRICA & BRITISH ISLES - SECOND TEST TEAMS

Back Row: H. D. Metcalf (S.A.), W. P. Scott (B.), J. Barry (S.A.), E. F. Walker (B.), J. W. E. Raaff (S.A.), W. T. Cave (B.), P. 0. Nel

(S.A.). Third Row: Mr. Weatherley (President, G.W.R.U.), J. S. Jackson (S.A.), J. I. Gillespie (B.), C. Brown (S.A.), R. S. Smyth (B.), G.

Crampton (S.A.), J. C ollett (B.), W. C. Mart heze (S.A .), F. M. Stout (B.), Percy Day (Referee). Seated: R. T. Skrimshire (B.), John

Hammond (Manager), James Wallace (B.), J. Powell (S.A.) (Captain), Mark Morrison (B.) (Captain), F. J. Dobbin (S.A.), A. Tedford

(B.), C. H. Jones (S.A.), L. L. Greig (B.), S. Ashley (S.A.). Front Row: P. S. Hancock (B.), C. Currie (S.A.), R. M. Neill (B.), S. C. de

Melker (S.A.), T. A. Gibson(B.), B. Gibbs (S.A.).

corner flag. Hancock played an outstanding game, and he

always had to be watched and was watching the South

Africans too well. The whistle saved the day for the South

Africans.

1903

Japie Krige

Japie Krige was the finest centre three-quarter of his

era and certainly the first South African rugby player

to capture the national imagination. Extremely quick

off the mark, Krige was extraordinarily agile and he could

weave and dodge his way through the toughest defense. At

the height of his powers, he was supremely individualistic

and difficult to combine with, but Markotter, his coach at

Stellenbosch, solved this problem by building the rest of

the backline around the genius, instead of attempting to

curb him into conformity.

Krige was an easy man to underestimate. He was quiet

and somewhat introverted but on the field, he was an

autocrat who refused to suffer fools gladly, if at all. Even

the feared Markotter could not intimidate him and on the

few occasions that he gave him a tongue-lashing, Krige

sulkily withdrew from the practice until the coach would

show in some way or other that he was sorry about his

outburst.

Markotter, who never did play for South Africa because

of a knee injury sustained in a cricket match, discovered

and forged too many Springboks during his long career

for anyone to deny claims that he was possibly the

greatest rugby authority of his time, nevertheless had a

soft spot for the temperamental ‘Witkoppie’, as he called

him. During Krige’s early years at Stellenbosch, it irked

Markotter that he could not find a wing fast enough to

keep up with the centre.

He tried out several partners for Krige, but no one could

quite manage to be on the spot when needed. Players

brilliant in their own rights had to suffer the humiliation of

having to take up their positions in front of Krige and even

then they lacked the pace to be there for the final pass

after he had ripped the defense apart.

Like Richard III offering his kingdom for a horse,

Markotter would wander around the rugby fields of

Stellenbosch looking for a suitable partner for Krige. One

afternoon he was again bemoaning his fate when Dietlof

Mare, himself later to become a member of the 1906

touring team to Britain, came within earshot.

‘All I need is someone with real speed and courage. For

the rest he can be the biggest fool in the world,’ Markotter

was grumbling in his usual gruff manner.

Mare remembered his roommate, an athlete who only

the previous year had beaten Krige at a track meet.

Considering Krige once came a close second to Reggie

Walker, later to win an Olympic Gold Medal over 100 yards,

this could not have been a mean feat. ‘Mark, I think I’ve

got the answer for you,’ Mare chipped in. ‘His name is Bob

Loubser.’

Loubser, short and stocky, was summoned to the

ground and from the moment Markotter saw him, he knew

that his search was over. Not only was Loubser incredibly

fast, but he was a ‘born footballer’, the highest accolade

Markotter ever cared to bestow on anyone. He prepared

Loubser himself for his role as Krige’s shadow and the

two students developed quickly into a superb center-wing

combination, soon to be the best in the world. Between

them, they scored dozens of brilliant tries and Loubser

rapidly developed to the stage where he was every bit as

dangerous on the attack as his quicksilver partner.

Anecdotes abound to illustrate Krige’s magnificence

during a career that spanned the decade 1896-1906.


1903

Page 34 Page 35

Some of the stories are no doubt apocryphal, but there

is more than enough in the official records to understand

why Japie Krige has not been forgotten. He was only 17

when he gained provincial colours and it is remarkable

that he never played in a losing match for Western

Province. More often than not it was only Krige’s genius

that stood between his team and defeat.

SOUTH AFRICA - THIRD TEST TEAM

THIRD TEST


South Africa, Saturday, September 12, 1903

Newlands, Cape Town


Spectators 6 000

Referee: J.H. Anderson

Barry “Fairy” Heatlie

BACK: Joe Anderson, Paul Roos, Willie van Renen, P.O. Nel, Hugh Ferris, Joe Barry, Alec Reid, Japie Krige. SEATED: Bob Loubser,

Willie McEwan, Barry “Fairy” Heatlie (Captain), John Botha, Charlie Brown. FRONT: Tommy Hobson, Paddy Carolin.

The third international match played at Newlands

can be looked upon as a milestone in South African

rugby. For the first time in its history did they win the

rubber against Great Britain that day. Prior to the match,

it had been raining incessantly, and there were strong

possibilities that the game could be cancelled. Newlands

was covered with water, and it was still threatening when

the teams took the field. Fortunately, it did not rain during

the match. Skrimshire put his side on the attack soon

after the kick-off, and twice the ball went over the South

African dead-ball line.

After this came a sparkling movement by the South

Africans, and one which inspired confidence in the team.

Loubser took play to the halfway line. Here Hobson broke

neatly before passing to Carolin, then to Barry who, after

a short run, transferred back to Carolin who was stopped

just short of the line. Here South Africa attacked with

might and main, and Hobson was twice stopped short

of the coveted line. Collett brought temporary relief, but

McEwan took play back, and again South Africa was very

dangerous. At last, the British team got away and a fine

movement by Wallace and Greig nearly ended in a try, the

last pass to Skrimshire being forward. Halftime came with

still no score.

Half Time

In the second half, South Africa were all over the British

team. The latter only got away sporadically. Carolin put

South Africa on the attack, and although Scott and Co,

brought play back, Krige stopped anything that might

have been dangerous. McEwan and Ferris took play back

and dribbled over the British line where they were beaten

in the race for the touchdown. South Africa remained on

the offensive until McEwan broke away from a line-out

and created an opening for Barry who did well to score.

3-0.

Shortly afterwards Ferris, Barry, Carolin and Loubser

started a beautiful movement which was stopped by Greig

when Loubser was all but over. The visitors then attacked

and with the help of Gillespie, J. Wallace and -Tedford

they transferred play to the other end. Here a penalty

brought relief. Krige transferred play back and inside the

British half, Hobson made an opening · for A. Reid who

ran past several opponents to score. The English team,

thinking it was a forward pass, virtually stood waiting for

the whistle to blow. The try, however, was awarded, and

Heatlie converted. After the kick-off, South Africa was

soon back and only grand· tackling by Neill kept them out.

Ferris once ran through, and it looked a certain try but

he slipped and fell. The final whistle found South Africa

worthy winners of the rubber.

Japie Krige

Bob Loubser


1903

Page 36 Page 37















1891


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CHAPTER

Springbok Rugby History, Chapter 1

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