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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 10. July 16, 1947

Springboks and Us

Springboks and Us

Those who have been fortunate enough to watch the South Africans and know a little about soccer will have noticed their unusual combination. The full-backs mark the wings instead of the inside men and are thus often on attack; the wing-halves on the other hand, mark the opposing inside forwards and play more in the middle of the field. The centre-half instead of being the pivotal man of the game, as is usual for the type of combination used by the New Zealand team, becomes a "third full-back" and is, in fact, the outstanding defensive player on the field. This, however, leaves a gap in the middle of the field which must be covered by the inside forwards.

Strange as it may seem, the only other team in Wellington besides the South Africans which uses this particular type of combination is the VUC Soccer Eleven. Not, of course, with equal success. Generally it takes about a season of games—their only practice together—to get this combination in working order. The Tournament successes of the last two years are evidence that this skill is achieved in that time. Considering the team only managed to draw with Marist 1-1 last 'Saturday, this comparison with the South Africans might be good for morale.

B. Sutton-Smith.