1933 Australia rugby union tour of South Africa

The 1933 Australia rugby union tour of South Africa and Rhodesia was a series of 23 rugby union matches played by the Australia national team in 1933.

1933 Australia rugby union tour of South Africa
Summary	P W D L
Total	23 11 01 11
Test match	05 02 00 03
Opponent	P W D L
South Africa	5 2 0 3

Australia played a total of 23 matches, with a 5-Test series v South Africa, who won three of the five games.

Touring party

The tour manager was Dr. W. F. ('Wally') Matthews, who had previously been the team manager for the AIF rugby team which played in The King's Cup in 1919. A squad of 29 players was selected for the tour – 15 from New South Wales, 11 from Queensland, and 3 from Victoria.

With exception of two of the Victorians, the team departed Sydney aboard the "Ulysses" on Anzac Day, 25 April 1933. The remaining two players, O. J. Bridle and D. Cowper joined the vessel at Melbourne after the Wallabies had played a match against a Victorian team.

The Wallabies touring party consisted of:

• Manager: Dr. W. F. Matthews (NSW)

Playing squad:

• Captain: Dr. A. W. Ross (NSW)
• Vice-captain: S. J. Malcolm (NSW)
• F. McPhillips (NSW)
• B. A. Grace (NSW)
• J. Kelaher (NSW)
• J. Young (NSW)
• R. Biilmann (NSW)
• C. Campbell (NSW)
• R. B. Louden (NSW)
• W. Mackney (NSW)
• A. Hodgson (NSW)
• G. V. Bland (NSW)
• W. H. Cerutti (NSW)
• E. W. Love (NSW)
• M. F. Morton (NSW)
• D. McLean Jr. (QLD)
• W. Warlow (QLD)
• J. Steggall (QLD)
• G Bennett (QLD)
• J. Clark (QLD)
• M. White (QLD)
• W. G. White (QLD)
• G. Cooke (QLD)
• J. Ritter (QLD)
• B. Doneley (QLD)
• E. Bonis (QLD)
• G. S. Sturtridge (VIC)
• D. Cowper (VIC)
• O. J. Bridle (VIC)

Match summary

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.

Danie Craven scoring a try for South Africa in the first test v Australia on 8 July

Opposing Team	For	Against	Date	Venue	Status
Natal	14	3	3 June 1933	Durban	Tour match
Western Transvaal	20	3	7 June 1933	Potchefstroom	Tour match
Witwatersrand	6	13	10 June 1933	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Tour match
Combined Pretoria XV	8	13	14 June 1933	Pretoria	Tour match
Griqualand West	9	14	17 June 1933	Kimberley	Tour match
Rhodesia	24	5	20 June 1933	Salisbury	Tour match
Rhodesia	31	0	24 June 1933	Bulawayo	Tour match
Northern District	8	16	28 June 1933	Kimberley	Tour match
Western Province	9	13	1 July 1933	Cape Town	Tour match
South Africa	3	17	8 July 1933	Cape Town	Test Match
North East District	31	11	12 July 1933	Aliwal North	Tour match
Orange Free State	8	9	15 July 1933	Bloemfontein	Tour match
South Africa	21	6	22 July 1933	Durban	Test Match
Border	24	5	29 July 1933	East London	Tour match
Border	13	6	2 August 1933	Queenstown	Tour match
Transvaal	9	11	7 August 1933	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Tour match
South Africa	3	12	12 August 1933	Ellis Park, Johannesburg	Test Match
Western Districts	21	14	16 August 1933	Oudtshoorn	Tour match
Eastern Province	18	3	19 August 1933	Port Elizabeth	Tour match
South Africa	0	11	26 August 1933	Port Elizabeth	Test Match
South Africa	15	4	2 September 1933	Bloemfontein	Test Match
Combined University	3	3	6 September 1933	Cape Town	Tour match
Western Province	0	4	9 September 1933	Cape Town	Tour match

Match details

First Test

8 July

South Africa	17–3	Australia
Try: Bergh (2), Craven, Osler Con: Brand Pen: Brand	Report	Pen: Biilmann

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town Attendance: 20,000 Referee: V.H. Neser

Team details

South Africa Australia South Africa: Gerry Brand; Pat Lyster, Frank Waring, Jimmy White, Freddy Turner; Bennie Osler (c), Danie Craven; Paul Vissler, Bert Kipling, Joe Nykamp; Boy Louw, Manie Geere; Fanie Louw, Lappies Hattingh, Ferdie Bergh Australia: Jack Steggall; Doug McLean, Gordon Sturtridge, Dave Cowper (c), Jack Kelaher; Ron Biilmann, Walter Bennett; Bill Cerutti, Eddie Bonis, Max White; Bill White, Graham Cooke; Bob Loudon, Aub Hodgson, Geoff Bland Australia played in sky blue to avoid clash with South Africa.[1]

Second Test

22 July

South Africa	6–21	Australia
Try: Waring Pen: Brand	Report	Try: Bennett, Cerutti, Loudon, Sturtridge Con: Biilmann (3) Pen: Biilman

Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban Attendance: 17,500 Referee: V.H. Neser

Team details

South Africa: Gerry Brand; Jack Gage, Frank Waring, Jimmy White, Freddy Turner; Bennie Osler, Danie Craven; Boy Louw, Bert Kipling, Fanie Louw; Flip Nel (c), Manie Geere; Fronie Froneman, George d'Alton, Ferdie Bergh Australia: Jack Steggall; Doug McLean, Gordon Sturtridge, Dave Cowper (c), Jack Kelaher; Ron Biilmann, Walter Bennett; Bill Cerutti, Eddie Bonis, Max White; Bill White, Graham Cooke; Jim Clark, Geoff Bland, Wal Mackney

Third Test

12 August

South Africa	12–3	Australia
Try: MM Louw, Turner Con: Brand Drop: Osler	Report	Try: Cowper

Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 40,000 Referee: V.H. Neser

Team details

South Africa: Gerry Brand; Floors Venter, Frank Waring, Jimmy White, Freddy Turner; Bennie Osler, Danie Craven; Boy Louw, Bert Kipling, Fanie Louw; Flip Nel (c), Ferdie Bergh; Manie Geere, Ginger Clark, Fred Smollan Australia: Jack Steggall; Doug McLean, Gordon Sturtridge, Dave Cowper (c), Jack Kelaher; Ron Biilmann, Walter Bennett; Bill Cerutti, Eddie Bonis, Max White; Bill White, Graham Cooke; Bob Loudon, Owen Bridle, Aub Hodgson

Fourth Test

26 August

South Africa	11–0	Australia
Try: SC Louw, White Con: Osler Pen: Brand	Report

Crusader's Ground, Port Elizabeth Attendance: 20,000 Referee: A.W. van der Horst

Team details

South Africa: Bunny Reid; Jimmy White, Frank Waring, Danie Craven, Gerry Brand; Bennie Osler, Pierie de Villiers; Manie Geere, Bert Kipling, Fanie Louw; Flip Nel (c), Ferdie Bergh; Boy Louw, Fred Smollan, John Apsey Australia: Jack Steggall; Doug McLean, Gordon Sturtridge, Dave Cowper, Jack Kelaher; Ron Biilmann, Syd Malcom (c); Bill Cerutti, Eddie Bonis, Max White; Bill White, Geoff Bland; Bob Loudon, Owen Bridle, Aub Hodgson

Fifth Test

2 September

South Africa	4–15	Australia
Drop: Brand	Report	Try: Bridle, Kelaher, Steggall Con: Ross Drop: Cowper

Springbok Park, Bloemfontein Attendance: 12,000 Referee: V.H. Neser

Team details

South Africa: Jimmy White; Pat Lyster, Frank Waring, Geoff Gray, Gerry Brand; Bennie Osler, Danie Craven; Manie Geere, Bert Kipling, Fanie Louw; Flip Nel (c), Ferdie Bergh; Boy Louw, Fred Smollan, John Apsey Australia: Alec Ross (c); Doug McLean, Jack Steggall, Dave Cowper, Jack Kelaher; Gordon Sturtridge, Syd Malcom; Bill Cerutti, Eddie Bonis, Max White; Bill White, Graham Cooke; Bob Loudon, Owen Bridle, Wal Mackney

Bibliography

• Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1979). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1979–80. Rothmans Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-354-09087-9.

The Sydney Morning Herald [2] Monday 26 April 1933 p 13 Monday 5 June 1933 p 7 Friday 9 June 1933 p 11 Monday 12 June 1933 p 6 Tuesday 15 June 1933 p 13 Monday 19 June 1933 p 6 Thursday 22 June 1933 p 10 Tuesday 29 June 1933 p 10 Thursday 17 August 1933 p 10

The Brisbane Courier [2] Monday 26 June 1933 p 10 Monday 3 July 1933 p 7 Monday 10 July 1933 p 7 Thursday 13 July 1933 p 12 Monday 24 July 1933 p 7 Monday 31 July 1933 p 7 Thursday 3 August 1933 p 16 Wednesday 9 August 1933 p 4 Monday 14 August 1933 p 7 Monday 21 August 1933 p 7 Monday 28 August 1933 p 11

The Courier-Mail [2] Monday 4 September 1933 p 6 Thursday 7 September 1933 p 6 Monday 11 September 1933 p 8