# 1931–32 South Africa rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland

The 1931–32 South Africa tour of Britain and Ireland was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national team against the four British Home Nation teams. The tour also took in several matches against British and Irish club, county and invitational teams. This was the fourth South Africa tour and the third tour of the Northern Hemisphere.
The tour was extremely successful for the South Africans, as the team only lost a single match. In the tests played the team beat all four home nations. The only team to beat the Springboks was the invitational East Midlands county team. The final tour record saw 26 matches played, with South Africa winning 23, losing one and drawing two.

## Criticism of playing style

Although very successful on the pitch, the touring South Africans were unloved by their hosts and the press back home. Bennie Osler, the South African captain, introduced a style of play which centred on a continual kicking game; either into touch in an attempt to support his large pack or diagonally across the pitch for his wings to chase. This was seen by many critics of the time as 10-man tactics, with the backs taken out of the match, and thus the entertainment brought by previous South African tours removed.
Welsh journalist 'Old Stager' stated "The Africans, by adherence to ten-man rugby, are winning their matches, but are not capturing the hearts and the imagination of rugby followers...". O.L. Owen in his History of the RFU concurred with these thoughts, "The least spectacular and, so far as back play was concerned, the most disappointing of the South African touring sides..."

## Results

| | Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Score |
| Match 1 | | Gloucester and Somerset | Bristol | Won | 14–3 |
| Match 2 | 8 October | Newport RFC | Rodney Parade, Newport | Won | 15–3 |
| Match 3 | 10 October | Swansea RFC | St Helens, Swansea | Won | 10–3 |
| Match 4 | 14 October | Abertillery and Cross Keys | Abertillery Park, Abertillery | Won | 10–9 |
| Match 5 | | London | Twickenham, London | Won | 30–3 |
| Match 6 | | Midland Counties | Villa Park, Birmingham | Won | 13–3 |
| Match 7 | | Durham and Northumberland | Roker Park, Sunderland | Won | 41–0 |
| Match 8 | 28 October | Glasgow | Anniesland | Won | 21–13 |
| Match 9 | 31 October | South of Scotland | Melrose, Scotland | Drawn | 0–0 |
| Match 10 | | Cambridge University | Cambridge | Won | 21–9 |
| Match 11 | | Combined Services | Twickenham, London | Won | 23–0 |
| Match 12 | | Oxford University | Oxford | Won | 24–3 |
| Match 13 | 14 November | Leicestershire and East Midlands | Welford Road, Leicester | Lost | 21–30 |
| Match 14 | | Devon and Cornwall | Devonport | Drawn | 3–3 |
| Match 15 | 21 November | Cardiff | Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff | Won | 13–5 |
| Match 16 | 24 November | Llanelli | Stradey Park, Llanelli | Won | 9–0 |
| Match 17 | 28 November | Neath and Aberavon | The Gnoll, Neath | Won | 8–3 |
| Match 18 | 5 December | Wales | St Helens, Swansea | Won | 8–3 |
| Match 19 | | Lancashire and Cheshire | Waterloo | Won | 20–9 |
| Match 20 | | Ulster | Ravenhill, Belfast | Won | 30–3 |
| Match 21 | 19 December | Ireland | Dublin | Won | 8–3 |
| Match 22 | | London | Twickenham, London | Won | 16–8 |
| Match 23 | 2 January 1932 | England | Twickenham, London | Won | 7–0 |
| Match 24 | | Cumberland and Yorkshire | Workington | Won | 27–5 |
| Match 25 | 9 January 1932 | North of Scotland | Aberdeen | Won | 9–0 |
| Match 26 | 16 January 1932 | Scotland | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | Won | 6–3 |

## Touring party
### Management

* Manager: Theo Pienaar
* Captain: Bennie Osler

### Full backs

* Gerry Brand (Western Province)
* J.C. Tindall (Western Province)

### Three-quarters

* B.G. Gray (Western Province)
* Jock van Niekerk (Western Province)
* F.D. Venter (Transvaal)
* F.W. Waring (Western Province)
* J.C. van der Westhuizen (Western Province)
* J.H. van der Westhuizen (Western Province)
* Jimmy White (Border)
* M Zimerman (Western Province)

### Half backs

* Danie Craven (Western Province)
* Murray "Tiny" Francis (Orange Free State)
* Bennie Osler (Western Province)
* P. de Villiers (Western Province)

### Forwards

* W.F. Bergh (South Western Districts)
* J.N. Bierman (Transvaal)
* George Daneel (Transvaal)
* John Dold (Eastern Province)
* H.M. Forrest (Transvaal)
* V. Geere (Transvaal)
* H.G. Kipling (Griqualand West)
* Matthys "Boy" Louw (Western Province)
* S.C. Louw (Western Province)
* J.A.J. McDonald (Western Province)
* A.J. van der Merwe (Western Province)
* P.J. Mostert (Western Province)
* Philip Nel (Natal)
* L.C. Strachan (Transvaal)
* S.R. du Toit (Western Province)

## The matches
### Newport

* 8 October 1931
| Newport | 3–15 | South Africa |
| Try: Richards | | Try: Zimerman SC Louw van der Merwe Osler Pen: Brand |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 70,000 Referee: RW Barry (Cardiff)
Newport: WA Everson, Jack Morley (capt.), K Richards, JR Edwards, K Watkins, Dicky Ralph, R Tovey, JC Slade, J Hughes, JA Addison, Harry Peacock, R Newton, DA Jones, P Hordern, Sam Danahar
South Africa: GH Brand, M Zimerman, JH van der Westhuizen, JC van der Westhuizen, FW Wearing, BL Osler, P de Villiers, MM Louw, PJ Mostert, SC Louw, JN Bierman, SR du Toit, PJ Nel, AJ van der Merwe, GM Daneel

### Swansea

* 10 October 1931
| Swansea | 3–10 | South Africa |
| Try: Davey | | Try: Brand JC van der Westhuizen Con: Brand |
* St Helens Attendance: 40,000 Referee: TH Phillips (Pontypridd)
Swansea: Iorrie Herbert, Rhys Evans, Jack Rees (capt.), Claude Davey, Jim Dark, Dennis Manley, Idwal Rees, Bryn Evans, Tom Day, Glyn Jones, Gwynfor Lewis, Dai Thomas, Will Davies, Joe White, Edgar Long
South Africa: JC Tindall, JH van der Westhuizen, JC van der Westhuizen (capt.), FW Wearing, GH Brand, MG Francis, DH Craven, MM Louw, HG Kipling, SC Louw, AJ van der Merwe, V Geere, HM Forrest, GM Daneel, JAJ McDonald

### Abertillery and Cross Keys

* 14 October 1931
| Abertillery and Cross Keys | 9–10 | South Africa |
| Try: Thomas (2) Pen: O'Neill | | Try: Du Toit van der Merwe Con: Osler (2) |
* Abertillery Park Attendance: 25,000 Referee: WJ Llewellyn (Bridgend)
Abertillery/Cross Keys: Jimmy O'Neill (Abertillery) (capt.), Jim Bird (Abertillery), George Thompson (Cross Keys), Gerald Lewis (Cross Keys), JR Davies (Cross Keys), Syd Watkins (Cross Keys), Albert Hockey (Abertillery), Mel Meek (Abertillery), Lonza Bowdler (Cross Keys), Ken Salmon (Cross Keys), Steve Morris (Cross Keys), Trevor Thomas (Abertillery), Eddie Lloyd (Abertillery), RT Probert (Cross Keys), Albert Fear (Abertillery)
South Africa: JC Tindall, JH van der Westhuizen, BG Gray, J White, M Zimmerman, BL Osler (capt.), DH Craven, PJ Mostert, HG Kipling, SR du Toit, V Geere, PJ Nel, LC Strachan, JB Dold, AJ van der Merwe

### Glasgow

* 28 October 1931
| Glasgow District | 13–21 | South Africa |
| Try: Nicholson Murdoch Con Shaw Scott Pen Scott | Report | Try: Zimmerman (2) Louw Venter Con: Brand (3) Pen Brand |
* Old Anniesland Attendance: 12,000 Referee: JFC Moffat

### Leicestershire and East Midlands

* 14 November 1931
| Leicestershire and East Midlands | 30-21 | South Africa |
| Try: Slow (2) Hardwicke Beamish Buckingham Cons: Weston (4) Pen: Weston Drop Goal: Slow | | Try: Zimmerman (4) Gray Con: Francis Drop Goal: Francis |
* Welford Road Attendance: 25,000
Leicestershire and East Midlands:Bobby Barr (Leicester); Jeff Hardwicke (Leicester), Ralph Buckingham (Leicester), Charlie Brumwell (Bedford), Len Ashwell (Bedford); Charles Slow (Northampton), Bernard Gadney (Leicester); Henry Greenwood (Leicester), Doug Norman (Leicester), Ray Longland (Northampton), Thomas Harris (Northampton), Anthony Roncoroni (West Herts), Bill Weston (Northampton), George Beamish (Leicester), Eric Coley (Northampton) South Africa: Tindall; Venter, van der Westhuizen, Gray, Zimmerman; Francis, Craven; Louw, Mostert, du Toit, Nel, Strachan, Bierman, Dold, Daneel

### Cardiff

* 21 November 1931
| Cardiff | 5–13 | South Africa |
| Try: Boon Con: Stone | | Try: Zimerman Gray McDonald Con: Brand (2) |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 34,000 Referee: WH Harris (Risca)
Cardiff: Tommy Stone, Ronnie Boon, Graham Jones, Bernard Turnbull, John Roberts, Harry Bowcott (capt.), Maurice Turnbull, Tom Lewis, Don Tarr, Tom Gadd, Archie Skym, Viv Osmond, Colin Ross, Bob Barrell, Iorrie Isaacs
South Africa: GH Brand, M Zimerman, BG Gray, JC van der Westhuizen, DO Williams, BL Osler (capt.), P de Villiers, MM Louw, PJ Mostert, SR du Toit, AJ van der Merwe, WF Bergh, V Geere, JN Bierman, JAJ McDonald

### Llanelli

* 24 November 1931
| Llanelli | 0–9 | South Africa |
| Try: | | Try: van der Westhuizen Gray Williams |
* Stradey Park Referee: Albert Freethy (Neath)
Llanelli: Bryn Howells, Wattie Lewis, Sid Howells, Tom Evans, Horace Fairhurst, Dai John, Bert Jones, Bryn Evans, Jack Williams, Edgar Jones, Cliff Treharne, Alf Parker, Will Lang, Jim Lang, Ivor Jones (capt.)
South Africa: GH Brand, DO Williams, BG Gray, JH van der Westhuizen, FW Waring, MM Louw (capt.), DH Craven, MG Francis, HG Kipling, V Geere, GM Daneel, PJ Nel, WF Bergh, JN Bierman, LC Strachan

### Neath and Aberavon

* 28 November 1931
| Neath & Aberavon | 3–8 | South Africa |
| Try: Hopkins | | Try: Mostert Con: Osler Pen: Osler |
* The Gnoll Attendance: 20,000 Referee: J Megins (Pontyclun)
Neath & Aberavon: Phil Lloyd (Neath), Dan Jones (Neath), Glyn Daniels (Neath), Gwyn Moore (Neath), Fred Nicholas (Aberavon), Wilf Selby (Aberavon), Tal Harris (Aberavon), Tom Arthur (Neath), Miah McGrath (Aberavon), Ned Jenkins (Aberavon), Walter Vickery (Aberavon), Gordon Hopkins (Neath), Arthur Lemon (Neath), Cyril Griffiths (Aberavon) (Capt.), Glyn Prosser (Neath)
South Africa: JC Tindall, M Zimerman, J White, JC van der Westhuizen, FD Venter, BL Osler (capt.), DH Craven, SR du Toit, HG Kipling, PJ Mostert, AJ van der Merwe, PJ Nel, WF Bergh, JB Dold, JAJ McDonald

### Wales

* 5 December 1931
| Wales | 3–8 | South Africa |
| Try: Davies | | Try: Daneel Bergh Con: Osler |
* St Helens Attendance: 70,000 Referee: E. Holmes (England)
Wales: Jack Bassett (Penarth) (capt.), Jack Morley (Newport), Claude Davey (Swansea), Frank Williams (Cardiff), Ronnie Boon (Cardiff), Dicky Ralph (Newport), Wick Powell (London Welsh), Tom Day (Swansea), Lonza Bowdler, (Cross Keys), Archie Skym (Cardiff), Ned Jenkins (Aberavon), Tom Arthur (Neath), Arthur Lemon (Neath), Watcyn Thomas (Swansea), Will Davies (Swansea)
South Africa: GH Brand, M Zimerman, BG Gray, J White, FD Ventor, DH Craven, PJ Mostert, BL Osler (capt.), HG Kipling, MM Louw, AJ van der Marwe, WF Bergh, PJ Nel, GM Daneel, JAJ McDonald

### Ireland

* 19 December 1931
| Ireland | 3–8 | South Africa |
| Pen: McMahon | | Try: Waring Zimerman Con: Osler |
* Lansdowne Road Attendance: 35,000
Ireland: Major Egan, Ned Lightfoot, Eugene Davy, Morgan Crowe, Jack Arigho, Laurence McMahon, Paul Murray, Hal Withers, Victor Pike, Jimmy Farrell, Jack Russell, Jack Siggins, Noel Murphy, George Beamish (c), Jammie Clinch
South Africa: Gerry Brand, Morris Zimerman, Franky Waring, C van der Westhuizen, Ponie van der Westhuizen, Bennie Osler (c), Danie Craven, Boy Louw, Bert Kipling, Phil Mostert, Flip Nel, Ferdie Bergh, Nick Bierman, Andre McDonald, George Daneel

### England

* 2 January 1932
| England | 0–7 | South Africa |
| | | Try: Bergh Drop: Brand |
* Twickenham Attendance: 70,000

### Scotland

* 16 January 1932
| Scotland | 3–6 | South Africa |
| Try: Lind | | Try: Osler Craven |
* Murrayfield Attendance: 65,000