Best ever S.A. Team
Jowett, Garth S.
I see that we have started to emulate our comrades on the
rec.sport.cricket list, and are now compiling "best ever" lists. I
hope this does not become an epidemic as it is over there. However,
there is one significant difference between the two newsgroups, and
that is that cricket fans seem to have a firm sense of history,
something almost absent from RSRU. Several months ago I posted
something about South African rugby players who were boyhood heroes of
mine in the 1950s, and had no responses. In looking at what has been
posted up to now on the above thread, it makes me wonder if South
Africa had any significant rugby players before 1965? We must have won
all of those series against the All Blacks, and the Lions with
unmemorable individuals whose fate it is to be condemned into
oblivion.
Does anyone in South Africa even mention the name of Gerry Brandt (I
had a pair of his rugby boots!), one of the greatest fullbacks in the
history of the sport? What about those heroes of my period -- Hennie
Muller, Stephen Fry, Clive Van Ryneveld and others? Were they just
chopped liver to today's fans? (Who was the fly-half of the 1952
team?)
I left SA in 1958; I wonder if there is any sort of heritage of the
sport available to fans today. Is there a rugby equivalent of Wisden's
to at least provide a basis of comparison? What about old films, now
available on videotape -- of the great 1952 unbeaten Springbok team
for example? (SA44 - Scotland 0 !!!).
As I hope to return to SA one day soon, I would like to believe that
some memories remain of my childhood heroes.
Garth Jowett,
Houston.
Dawid & Lois Kriel
In article <27FEB199...@rosie.uh.edu> com...@rosie.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.) writes:
>From: com...@rosie.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.)
>Subject: Re: Best ever S.A. Team
>Date: 27 Feb 1997 23:59 CST
>I see that we have started to emulate our comrades on the
>rec.sport.cricket list, and are now compiling "best ever" lists. I
>hope this does not become an epidemic as it is over there. However,
>there is one significant difference between the two newsgroups, and
>that is that cricket fans seem to have a firm sense of history,
>something almost absent from RSRU. Several months ago I posted
>something about South African rugby players who were boyhood heroes of
>mine in the 1950s, and had no responses. In looking at what has been
>posted up to now on the above thread, it makes me wonder if South
>Africa had any significant rugby players before 1965? We must have won
>all of those series against the All Blacks, and the Lions with
>unmemorable individuals whose fate it is to be condemned into
>oblivion.
>Does anyone in South Africa even mention the name of Gerry Brandt (I
>had a pair of his rugby boots!), one of the greatest fullbacks in the
>history of the sport? What about those heroes of my period -- Hennie
>Muller, Stephen Fry, Clive Van Ryneveld and others? Were they just
>chopped liver to today's fans? (Who was the fly-half of the 1952
>team?)
I believe the flyhalf was Hansie Brewis.And to coment on Gerry Brand,he still
holds the record for the longest penalty kick ever recorded.And if I am not
mistaking he died last year.Hennie Muller is up till today still rated as the
fastest number 8 ever to play the game."Windhond" Just ask the ozzie Garth
Jones.
>I left SA in 1958; I wonder if there is any sort of heritage of the
>sport available to fans today. Is there a rugby equivalent of Wisden's
>to at least provide a basis of comparison? What about old films, now
>available on videotape -- of the great 1952 unbeaten Springbok team
>for example? (SA44 - Scotland 0 !!!).
After this match the Scottish captain said, the Boks played so good today ,we
the Scotts,were lucky to get 0
>As I hope to return to SA one day soon, I would like to believe that
>some memories remain of my childhood heroes.
All the memories are still there
>Garth Jowett,
>Houston.
Koos
<<All the memories are still there>>>
Yes.
The Welsh Wizard
ddk...@neosoft.com (Dawid & Lois Kriel) wrote:
>In article <27FEB199...@rosie.uh.edu> com...@rosie.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.) writes:
>>From: com...@rosie.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.)
>>Subject: Re: Best ever S.A. Team
>>Date: 27 Feb 1997 23:59 CST
>
>
I can remember Hannis Brewis at the Arms Park dropping the Ball on a
Sixpence just in front of his pack when the Boks were defending a
narrow half-time lead into the teeth of a rain-ridden gale.
Or Van Ryneveld as part of a Rhodes Scholar's threequarter line at
Oxford - remember Murray Hofmeyer.
I remember the sheer power of Andy MacDonald when he propped for the
Boks and years later when he took his shirt off in Livingstone seeing
the scars from the claws of the Lion that he dealt with bare handed
when he was attacked.
The great thing about this game is the memories it has given us all.
I worry sometimes that the tinkering with the laws is diluting the
real essence of the game. All too often now I watch a game which
excites me but is not memorable because the legislation is producing
something which is often more akin to sevens
>
>
>>Garth Jowett,
>>Houston.
>
>
The Welsh Wizard
ddk...@neosoft.com (Dawid & Lois Kriel) wrote:
>In article <27FEB199...@rosie.uh.edu> com...@rosie.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.) writes:
>>From: com...@rosie.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.)
>>Subject: Re: Best ever S.A. Team
>>Date: 27 Feb 1997 23:59 CST
>
>
>>As I hope to return to SA one day soon, I would like to believe that
>>some memories remain of my childhood heroes.
>
>All the memories are still there
>
>>Garth Jowett,
>>Houston.
>
>
>I trust you will find that there are - our memories and our heroes are part of the magic of the game.
Brewis I remember in Cardiff kicking Wales to death in the teeth of a
gale and defending a narrow half-time lead
My favourite was Andy MacDonald a mighty man on the field and off it
I can remember marvelling at the scars left on his body by the Lion he
killed bare-handed when he turned out at a very mature age in a
frienly match in Livingstone where he was farming
rick boyd
Jowett, Garth S. wrote:...
> In looking at what has been posted up to now on the above thread,
> it makes me wonder if South Africa had any significant rugby
> players before 1965?
It all depends on the age of the person involved. Generally people
selecting "best ever" teams select players they have personally seen
perform. You have been around for a long time -- you have a much greater
field to select from.
I myself have much less knowledge of players before the mid-1960s
because that is as far back as I can remember as a boy. There are very
few videos of pre-seventies matches, so most information would have to
come from the very subjective written reports of those games. It makes
it very difficult to compare pre-WWII players with modern players. And
the game has changed markedly since then, in rules, fitness, tactics and
preparation.
A lot of people on the Internet are young, and don't have the knowledge
of older players to accurately comment on them. This shouldn't discount
their opinions, just bear in mind they don't have your experience.
- Rick Boyd