of 600 points in twenty-nine games, statistics that would establish them as one of the world’s leading rugby nations. The historic tour would also introduce the term ‘Springbok’ into the language of international rugby.
In Belfast, Basil Maclear was selected to play on the wing, although he was a versatile back, and could also play as an out-half and a centre. He was known for his turn of pace, his kicking and his handling, but also for the fact that he wore white gloves, which helped him to grip the ball. He always brought two pairs to each game, and religiously changed them at half-time. The young soldier was also renowned for the way in which he ‘handed off ’ opponents, and his technique was greatly admired.
If much was expected from Maclear, there was also a lot resting on the shoulders of another talented Irish back who had a reputation for winning games. James Cecil Parke, or JC as he was often known, was a centre from County Monaghan who had won his first Irish cap in 1903 while he was still a student at Trinity College. He was an excellent place kicker and a natural sportsman who excelled at athletics and golf. Parke had recently won a series of Irish tennis titles, and in later years would take part in the Olympics and at Wimbledon. Parke, Maclear and the rest of the Irish team received a great reception when they ran out onto the pitch, which, despite the time of year, was in perfect condition. There were also sporting cheers for the South Africans, who had forsaken their traditional green shirts and wore their change strip of white. It was the visitors who got the game underway, and after a signal from the Scottish referee, J. D. Tulloch, the Springbok half back, Paddy Carolin, kicked off.
The opening minutes did not go well for Ireland, and the team appeared disjointed and slightly overawed. At half-time the South Africans were in control, and had established a 12–3 lead.
In the second half, Parke successfully kicked a penalty and brought the score back to 12–6, but there was little to inspire the home crowd.
Halfway through the second half the game changed when Ireland won a scrum in the shadow of their own posts. The ball was passed to the right, and as it came loose Maclear gathered it up. He could have kicked it to safety, but instead decided to run with the ball. Still in his own 25-yard line, he evaded a tackle from the South African centre, Jack Hirsh, and palmed off winger Bob Loubser. Maclear appeared to stumble, but then managed to fend off the attentions of the half back, Jackson. By now Maclear was picking up speed, and as the crowd sensed a try was possible he approached the Springbok full back, Steve Joubert, on the halfway line.
Joubert, who was making his test debut, was the tourists’ last line of defence, and knew that he must halt Maclear at all costs. However, the Cork soldier was out of his reach. Maclear outpaced him, but the Springbok, who was also speedy, was determined to bring Maclear down, so he tried again, but with no luck. He gave chase to Maclear, trying for a third time to halt the Irish player. Maclear was stronger and faster, and he evaded Joubert with a strong push on his shoulders. Then, with a final burst of pace, Maclear crossed the line in a flourish and grounded the ball. He had run almost the entire length of the pitch at speed, and scored an 80-yard try. The compact arena erupted in an explosion of noise. Hats, scarves and umbrellas were hurled skywards. The breathtaking score had lifted the gloom of the crowd, and Maclear’s dramatic run would go down in history as one of the finest tries ever scored by an Irish player.
The reporter from The Irish Times was suitably impressed:
It was one of those magnificent episodes which make football matches worth going to see. It raised the hopes of the Irish from the dull slough of despair to the biggest pinnacle of ambition.
From the South African kick-off, Maclear nearly repeated the trick. As the crowd continued to celebrate his try, he received the ball and ran at speed towards the South African defence. Like before, using his pace and a series of his trademark handoffs, he evaded numerous tackles. It seemed that he was about to score again, but was finally pushed into touch. From this position Ireland continued to pressurise, and moments later Harold Sugars crossed the line to level the score at 12 points all. Many in the crowd probably hoped that the full-time whistle would follow, but South Africa had a response in store. Winger Anton Stegman crossed the line for the final score of the match, which meant that South Africa won by 15 points to 12. A converted try was worth 5 points, and the narrow margin of victory ended one of the most dramatic games ever witnessed in Ireland.
As the spectators headed for their trains and trolleybuses there was much talk about what might have been. It had been a bittersweet occasion. Defeat was at least tempered by the fact that they had witnessed a moment of genius from Basil Maclear. Understandably, he was singled out for much praise by the press. One reporter wrote:
Basil Maclear stood out as the commanding figure, and his try obtained after running three-fourths the length of the ground, would in itself have sufficed to have made the match memorable in the annals of great games.
The South African match marked Maclear’s eighth International game for Ireland, and his fourth try for the national team.
His route to becoming an Irish international was not a conventional one, and had things been different he would have worn an English shirt. He was not Irish by birth, having been born in Portsmouth on 7 April 1881 to Henry and Mary Maclear. He did have some Irish blood, however, as his grandfather, Sir Thomas Maclear, the famous Astronomer Royal at the Cape Town Observatory, was born in Newtownstewart in County Tyrone.One of five brothers, Basil Maclear was educated at Bedford Grammar School, where his ability in sport first became apparent. The young student was a natural athlete and excelled at many sporting disciplines. At one sports day in 1898 he triumphed in eight different athletic events, and won prizes for hurdling and sprinting. He developed a love of cricket, which was encouraged at the school, and with his pace was a promising fast bowler. He captained the school eleven, and they remained undefeated for a season. He was also handy with the bat, and on one occasion made 133 runs. Rugby was another early love, and his talent was spotted by the London club Blackheath, which selected him when he was just fifteen. Even as a raw teenager he was viewed as ‘strong and fast and a resolute tackler’.
Such was his talent that the school sent word to officials of the English Rugby Football Union, letting them know about Maclear’s ability. Popular, likeable and well thought of by the teaching staff, he was made deputy head boy. Away from sport he had time for music, and was accomplished on the penny whistle, as well as being a keen actor in school productions.
As the youngest son of an army major, Basil Maclear was always destined for a career in the army, so after Bedford Grammar School he went to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He excelled in his new surroundings, and in his spare time continued to play rugby and cricket. Quick to learn new skills, he was regarded as a model student, and on passing out in 1900 was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’.
In the summer of that year, organised county cricket was just beginning in Bedfordshire, and Maclear was chosen to play in the county team’s opening game against the Surrey second eleven. The match was held at a pitch at the grammar school, so the debutant felt at home. He showed few nerves, and in his first innings knocked up a creditable score of 20 runs. He followed this in the second innings with 39 runs, which was the second highest batting score. It was an excellent county debut and sparked glowing tributes in the local press, which described his performance as ‘admirable’, one correspondent saying that his fielding was ‘exceptionally smart’.
Maclear was nineteen years old, and was enjoying his sport. In the summer he alternated between playing cricket for his college and for Bedfordshire. In the winter he concentrated on the game of rugby, and he invariably got a match with a club team, or played with his friends at Sandhurst. He was young and fit and was enjoying life to the full. His carefree days, however, would soon come to an end.
In August 1900 life got a little more serious for the student soldier when he left the comfortable confines of Sandhurst upon being commissioned as a second
