Book Review: Junior Springboks in Argentina
Of course, it is a valuable contribution, a great resource to those who believe that the story of South African rugby is worth telling, and it certainly is worth telling, an integral part of South Africa's history.
The Junior Springboks of this book are not the same as the Junior Springboks of today. Today's Junior Springboks are the national Under-20 side. In those days they were top players who had not yet become Springboks. It is a pity if the change should produce confusion.
These two teams, the Junior Springboks of 1932 and 1959, played a large part in building up the great respect, bordering on hero worship, that the Argentinians have had down the years for the Springboks.
The foundation for this adulation was laid by Fairy Heatlie, a Springbok and a Puma, the visits of 1932 and 1959, the coaching of Izak van Heerden and the Puma victory over the Junior Springboks of 1965. Above all it was those twoJunior Springbok teams that drew huge crowds to their matches, playing superb rugby.
The 1932 teams was the first Junior Springbok team, chosen to give an opportunity to the talented players who had not quite made it into the 1931-32 team that toured Europe so successfully. Joe Nykamp's 1932 team, with Paul Roos as it manager, played and won eight matches, scoring 268 points to 24. Five of the players became Springboks in 1933 – Nykamp, Jack Gage, John Apsey, George D'Alton and Lappies Hattingh.
Of the 1959 side 16 became Springboks – Peter Allen, who was the captain, Dave Stewart, who wrote the foreword to the book, Doug Hopwood, John Gainsford, Giepie Wentzel, Mannetjies Roux, to whom Saestad dedicates the book, Jannie Engelbrecht, Mannetjies Gericke, Fanie Kuhn, Dick Putter, Lofty Nel, Piet van Zyl, Doug Holton, Ormie Taylor, Nelie Smith and Robert Twigge.
Both books have a similar modus operandi. The basis is the match report, one on every match with players and scorers. The reports are mostly from the Star and the Rand Daily Mail. The 1932 tour has additional recollections from the diary of player Mike Rest, report by the travelling referee Jock Findlay, and an article by HL Lyall of the Buenos Aires Herald. The 1959 team has pen pictures of the Junior Springboks.
Then both teams have exceptionally interesting illustrations, many from the great collection of Hymie Sibul of Gordon's Bay, an exceptional collection.
Thanks, Hans, for adding to our rugby literature.
Title: Junior Springboks in Argentina
By Hans Saestad
Published by Hans Saestad
133 pages
Soft cover
2015
Illustrated throughout, partly in colour
* For copies, contact: Hans Saestad on hanz@absamail.co.za
