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Pro6,974 posts
06 Aug 2021, 07:47
#1
06 Aug 2021, 07:47#1
British Lions: South Africa Tour Records
Started by Augenöffner4 REPLIES1,492 VIEWS· 06 Aug 2021, 07:47
Pro6,974 posts
06 Aug 2021, 07:53
#2
06 Aug 2021, 07:53#2
THEUNS BRIERS
Doc Craven:
Theuns Briers could, and did win matches from the wing position because he was so strong and powerful.
On our way to Johannesburg for the 1955 trials, I told Frank Mellish that we had to get Briers to Johannesburg because I believed he was Springbok material. Some believed that I had Theuns invited to the trials as the Maties were down to play Paarl that same day and it was no secret that we were wary of this powerful farmer.
The fact is that we got Theuns to the trials in Johannesburg and he played himself into the Springbok team with a brilliant performance.
Theuns went on to score five tries in seven test matches and proved to be utterly fearless on the field.
TOM VAN VOLLENHOVEN
Doc Craven:
Tom first attracted my attention because of his speed, but he had weak hands. Many will disagree, but it is my belief that the further away from the scrum - in the three quarter line the less thinking there is to be done.
When you're on the wing you don't have to think about much except going for the corner. You have to concentrate your entire attention on running, on going for that line, and it is just coincidental if there's anybody in your way.
When Tom played in the first test in 1955 we saw that he was not a natural centre and selected him on the wing for the second test. But, which wing? We had Theuns Briers in the side and Tom certainly couldn't take his place. Eventually we put him on the left wing.
Tom had the ability to push off on his left foot and theoretically from there he would cut in and link up with his forwards.
It worked splendidly and at Newlands. Tom ran in three wonderful tries which helped South Africa to a well-deserved victory over a very good side one of the most outstanding wins in our history.
Later Tom joined rugby league in England and when I was in London some while after, I phoned him and we got together at my hotel and spoke far into the night.
He told me that while he was in South Africa he was a member of the S.A. Police Force, where there was plenty of discipline. Then he went to Rhodesia where he thought he could make a lot of money but he missed the discipline in his life; and when the offer came from St. Helens, he accepted.
As it turned out Tom Van Vollenhoven became probably the finest wing in the history of Rugby League, eclipsing even his fame as a Springbok which was considerable.
Pro2,680 posts
06 Aug 2021, 11:04
#3
06 Aug 2021, 11:04#3
It is interesting to note that the first Springbok side to defeat the British Isles ( don't think they called them Lions then) was in 1910, just before WW1. The Boks won 2 of the series, the Br Isles one.
My great uncle Clifford played in 2 of the tests.
1910 Springboks vs British Lions (incoming)
The 1910 British Isles tour to South Africa was the eighth tour by a British Isles rugby union team and the fourth to South Africa. It is retrospectively classed as one of the British Lions tours, as the Lions naming convention was not adopted until 1950. As well as South Africa, the tour included a game in Bulawayo in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Led by Ireland's Tommy Smyth and managed by Walter E. Rees and W Cail the tour took in 24 matches. Of the 24 games, 21 were against club or invitational teams and three were test matches against the South African national team. The British Isles team lost two and won one test match against the Springboks.
Springboks - Home squad
· Percival Hugo Allport
· Wilhelm August George Burger
· Peter Maxwell Davison
· Frederick James Dobbin
· Noel Richard Frank George Howe-Browne
· Johannes Albertus Loubser
· Peter Archibald Marsberg
· William Alexander Millar
· Walter James Mills
· Tobias Mortimer Moll
· Douglas Francis Theodore Morkel
· Clifford Atherton Riordan
· Gideon Daniel Roos
· Reginald Clive Berrangé Van Ryneveld
· Arthur Ernest Williams
He is 3rd from left seated in 2nd row. His position is recorded simply as Forward in the old, old days.
See below.
Pro2,680 posts
06 Aug 2021, 11:59
#4
06 Aug 2021, 11:59#4
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