A Test match between the Springboks and Wallabies in 1937 has gone down in rugby folklore as one of the dirtiest Tests ever played. The Springboks, an exceptional team at the time, had won a series in New Zealand and were on a short tour of Australia. Their match against the Wallabies in Sydney was marked by a premeditated ambush of Springbok scrumhalf Pierre de Villiers, who was found unconscious and had to be carried off the field.
The ambush was led by Australian player Aubrey "Awesome Aub" Hodgson, who had a history with the Springboks from a previous series in South Africa. Hodgson had been chosen to nullify de Villiers, and his tactics involved drawing the ball to his chest and running forward towards de Villiers, allowing the Australian team to attack him. Springbok prop Harry "Kalfie" Martin was horrified by de Villiers' condition and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Martin tackled Hodgson, who elbowed him in the face, leading to a fight between the two players. The referee did not notice the fight as he was breaking up individual brawls that had erupted all over the field. The match ended with the Springboks winning 26-17, but the fight was considered honours even. Photographs of the "Battle of Sydney Oval" were published in newspapers the next day, showing players exchanging punches.
One photograph showed Boy Louw with his right arm pulled back, apparently about to unleash a punch. However, Louw claimed that he was not about to punch, but was instead trying to regain his balance after being flung out of a lineout. The Springboks and Hodgson had a history, with Hodgson and another Australian player, Wild Bill Cerutti, intentionally brought to South Africa to subdue the Springboks during a previous series.
The 1933 Wallabies had brought Hodgson and Cerutti to South Africa to rough up the Springboks. The two players had earned their nicknames through their battles with each other in Sydney club rugby. However, they had joined forces to subdue the Springboks. The Springboks won the first Test of that series 17-3, but it was another bad-tempered affair.
In an attempt to calm things down before the second Test, the two teams had dinner together on the eve of the game, with the backs at one hotel and the forwards at another. However, the effort was doomed, and the series continued in a Wild West fashion. The Springboks were 3-1 up going into the final match, but the Australians were determined to cause an upset.
In the final match, Fanie Louw was knocked unconscious, and his brother Boy helped carry him from the field. Boy Louw later pointed out a prone Wallaby player to the referee, matter-of-factly saying "Mr Ref, 13 is off," referring to the Australian hooker, Wild Bill Cerutti, who wore the number 13 jersey at the time.
Key points
- The 1937 Test match between the Springboks and Wallabies was marked by a series of fights and brawls, with players exchanging punches on the field.
- The match was part of a larger series of bad-tempered matches between the two teams, including a previous series in South Africa in 1933.
- The Springboks ultimately won the 1937 match 26-17, but the fight was considered honours even.
