The Jewish Fact

[Jowett, Garth S.]

I was wondering if anyone was going to raise the point about Okkie
Geffen. I was 9 at the time, but the Springboks won all four of those
tests against and all-white, All Black team. As I remember it, Geffen
won two of those tests entirely with his kicking. He was the hooker, I
believe. Of course, the Jewish players in the S.A. side have largely
been from the University of Cape Town (whose politically incorrect
nickname used to be "The Ikies" (is this still true? I left SA in
1958), and the University of Witwatersrand. How many other Jewish
players have worn the Springbok rugby jersey?

Garth Jowett,
Houston.

[F. Jacot Guillarmod]

In <5JUL1995...@elroy.uh.edu> com...@elroy.uh.edu (Jowett, Garth S.) writes:

>How many other Jewish
>players have worn the Springbok rugby jersey?

From fairly recent times, Syd Nomis.

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F.F. Jacot Guillarmod PO Box 94 \ | cc...@hippo.ru.ac.za
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[Brian Byala]

Jowett, Garth S. (com...@elroy.uh.edu) wrote:
: I was wondering if anyone was going to raise the point about Okkie

: Geffen. I was 9 at the time, but the Springboks won all four of those
: tests against and all-white, All Black team. As I remember it, Geffen
: won two of those tests entirely with his kicking. He was the hooker, I
: believe. Of course, the Jewish players in the S.A. side have largely
: been from the University of Cape Town (whose politically incorrect
: nickname used to be "The Ikies" (is this still true? I left SA in

: 1958), and the University of Witwatersrand. How many other Jewish

: players have worn the Springbok rugby jersey?

: Garth Jowett,
: Houston.

Okey was actually a prop.

Other Jewish SA team members include:
Sid Nomas
Zimmerman
Louis Babrow
Wilf Rosenberg
Cecil Moss

There were a number more, but my memory fails me right now.

Cheers,

Brian

[Paul Waite]

In article <5JUL1995...@elroy.uh.edu>,

Jowett, Garth S. <com...@elroy.uh.edu> wrote:

>I was wondering if anyone was going to raise the point about Okkie
>Geffen. I was 9 at the time, but the Springboks won all four of those
>tests against and all-white, All Black team. As I remember it, Geffen
>won two of those tests entirely with his kicking. He was the hooker, I
>believe. Of course, the Jewish players in the S.A. side have largely

'Okey' Geffin (Transvaal) played for the 'Boks in the 1949 test series
which was, as you say, won 4-0 in a sorry year for the All Blacks. He
played at prop, not hooker.

Geffin's kicking won the Boks the first test 15-11, the second was
won 12-6 by a fine 40 yard drop goal by Hannes Brewis, the third, a
nail-biter, was won 9-3 by Geffin penalties, and the last test was
won 11-8 by the Boks with a converted try from Fonnie du Toit, and
a drop goal by Brewis.

So you are correct, Geffin won the first and third tests in this
series with his kicking. This Springbok side was an awesome one
alright, with players like Geffin, and Hennie Muller, a No.8 for
whom the All Blacks had the very greatest respect.

>1958), and the University of Witwatersrand. How many other Jewish
>players have worn the Springbok rugby jersey?

Sorry Garth, waded in with the historical crap and got carried away
before getting to the punch-line. I don't know the answer to this
one :-)

Actually, looking back at the stories of the titanic clashes which
have occurred between the All Blacks and Springboks over the last
century or so, it's evident that they are quite often very tight,
close-fought contests similar to the one we witnessed in the
rugby world cup final. Nice to see the tradition still carries
on!

Cheers,
Paul.
--
____________________________________________________________________________
Paul Waite d...@docdevl.actrix.gen.nz
Wellington, New Zealand +64-4-233-1764
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