Here is what Gabriel David wrote about Dirk when he played for Western Transvaal against the 1970 All Blacks:
…. the little-fancied Western Transvaal side this afternoon was the toughest game of the tour so far. Superbly coached by the national selector Mr. Johan Claassen, Western Transvaal played some magnificent rugby and actually took the All Blacks on at their own game – driving in the forwards and putting the ball behind the tourists with skilful tactical kicking.
Western Transvaal played some inspired rugby at times with the springbok halfback, Dirk de Vos, in brilliant kicking mood as he placed the ball in the exact position he wanted.
Dirk de Vos made a good impression on the touring All Blacks. Not only did he play an outstanding game, but in his post match speech he indicated that in his opinion the All Blacks were hard but fair rugby players and that he did not for one moment believe current stories that they are a punch happy bunch using illegal tactics (such as obstruction).
Dirk de Vos and Albie Bates both played in this game against the AB’s. They moved to NTvl the following year and played in the Currie Cup final that NTvl won in 1973. Here they are with the CC in 1973. Bates was the captain and De Vos the man of the match and essentially won the match for NTvl that day with a brilliant individualistic performance, including a few drop kicks.
Dirk loved the little chip kicks over the scrum. Here is a video showing him playing for the Springboks in 1969 against Australia. Watch how he makes a try for Piet Visagie with one of his little chip kicks.
[youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZijzOh2Sl5E&feature=related [/youtube]
Ahhhh, McLook… I see you’ve mastered the Video thing now as well… good on you, friend.
It’s easy, hey!
@ grootblousmile:Wouldn’t say I’ve mastered it but picked up on it awhile back by copying what you’ve done one of my posts (you posted a youtube video on my post on the flour bomb test).
I was trying to post a video the other day -as you picked up on- without downloading it first to youtube.
Nice footage here on Dirk playing in the umbrella test though. Real classic video footage they showed in the drive-ins when we were kids.
Albie Bates’s First wife was my Std 1 teacher and Daan du Plessis’s first wife was my Gr1 teacher!!!
Sad thing is, Mandy Bates died of cancer very suddenly when I was in std 5 and Caroline du plessis also passed away as a result of a brain tumour.
2@ McLook:
Very lekker footage!
3@ Tripples:
Articles like this makes one wonder what’s happened to a lot of the old guard…
For instance, where is Piet Greyling, Jan Ellis, Thys Lourens now… what do they look like now and what’re they up to?
I know Jan Ellis had an Auctioneering business near Bronkhorstspruit or Cullinan…
I also know that Thys Lourens was in the Insurance business….
…. but what became of them all?
Yep I know, Daan du Plessis is still an orthopedic surgeon in Pta, apparantly one of the best Knee specialists around, Jan Ellis has an auction at the Cullinana offramp of the N4 (Witbank)…apparantly he is a chop!!! baie verwaand and has no people skills 🙂 not that he had any on the field either hehehehe
dont know where Albie Bates, Thys etc are, know Ulli is in Aus practicing meds somewhere
I grew up with Albie, Daan and Thys and them, my mom and their wives all taught together at Waterkloof Primary which is where I also went to school
@ Tripples:
Jinne Tripples jy klink na ‘n gevaarlik aansteeklike man.
@ grootblousmile@5:
Yes that would be an very interesting TV series or book. Following-up on all the Springboks of yesteryear, having a chat with them about tours, games, what they think of the modern game and players and so forth.
I have a book written by Warwick Rodgers about the 1956 tour to NZ written in 1989 called “Old heroes”. He actually went out and found most of the 1956 Springboks in the mid 1980’s and interviewed them for the book and wrote about it. Fascinating stuff. I’ll write about it when I cover the 1956 tour.
8 & 9@ McLook:
You’re our main History man…. gaan mal…. find the folks for us!
If needed, we will phone or visit some of the fellas and interview them…. get the latest low down on them.
7@ McLook:
O…. en Tripples is ‘n platte, sonder ‘n lat….. hehehe
SY is ‘n ou skooltjommie, ons was saam in Matriek.
#7 refer to comment # 11 hahahahahaha
@ grootblousmile:
Sorry Tripples no harm intended. Always good to hear the female opinion on these rugby blogs.
@ grootblousmile:
Jan Ellis was hijacked and shot a few years ago, I dont think he survived.
Thys Lourens had to have a big back operation, I dont know what he is doing now. Pietman will know they are friendly.
Piet Visagie I think is in Australia.
Jan Ellis
Full names: Jan Hendrik
Date of birth: 5 Jan 1942
Place of birth: Brakpan, South Africa
School: Gobabis
Debut test province: South West Africa
Physical: 1.85m, 97.5kg
Current age: 69
@ Tripples:
6
This confirms your view of him
Jan Ellis by Eddie Grieb & Stuart Farmer
Jan Hendrik Ellis was born in the Transvaal but lived in South West Africa since childhood. He made his first-class debut for South West Africa (now Namibia) on 12 June 1962 against the British Lions at lock, but his rugby career for South West Africa had been turbulent and controversial. Bluntly outspoken, he was often at loggerheads with the selectors and rugby administrators and they in turn, struck back by not considering him for the provincial side on several occasions. That is why he only played in 50 games for his province from 1962 to 1974.
Enjoyed watching the video.
I think any team today would run over these teams from the 60’s.
Saw Rod Kelleher playing for Oz, perhaps his son is Byron? I know Byron was born in Ireland and came out to ANZAC land when he was a year old.
Rodney James “Rod” Kelleher (born 8 November 1947) was a rugby union player who represented Australia.
Kelleher, a flanker, was born in Wellington and claimed a total of 2 international rugby caps for Australia.
@ superBul:
Was related to my Dad 3rd cousin or something. Bluntly outspoken pretty much describes Saffers of German origin. I probably don’t mind guys who are outspoken, but when it comes to team sports, you have to keep your mouth shut….but certainly not for the selectors….you should be judged on your merits. Selectors often have an overblown opinion of themselves.
@ 4man:
17
there was even back then a lot of kicking, nothing new. The speed they charged into the rucks and mauls was quite impressive to me.
But if those harde manne had the time like the modern players they would have been hard to beat.
@ superBul:
I think thats what we settled on last time we raised this…given the time, money and conditioning of todays players, probably on par…..in my opinion would have been better as they were properly motivated. There is no loyalty these days and that is the price we pay of the last two decades of players coming through being motivated by something else above loyalty. Sign of the times I’m afraid.
I enjoyed the rucking….should bring it back and also scrums should be a free for all again….but we have discussed this ad infinitum.
Ek moet maar seker die honde se koppe gaan bietjie vryf en met Mama praat terwyl sy die kos klaar maak. goooooobye
@ 4man@21:Jan was attacked at his sevice station business by two muggers and shot. He charged them and got hold of the one with the gun, the other one ran away. Jan picked-up the guy with the gun and carried him gun and all to the office and got his wife to phone the police and medics. He held on to the guy until the police arrived. He was in intensive care for a while but survided. This happened about two years ago. I might have some of the finer detail wrong but that is more or less what I read in the newspapers at the time.
Piet Visagie was living in Potchefstroom the last I heard.
Must thank you again McLook, a picture of the Bulls with the CC must be one of the most enjoyable photos for a Bulls supporter to see.
Do you have more?
There are bloggers here with us who runs a Bulls chat site, it is new and a lot is added every day. You have just developed a great looking site, they can learn a lot from you. May i bring you in contact with them?
We talked the other day that we would love to get Bulls history up to date on that site, a massive task and i know you can help with a lot of information.I like the look of your site , so fitting to a history book. Anyone who missed it here is the McLook site
The McLook rugby collection
A personal collection that tells the story of Springbok rugby
http://springbokrugby.webs.com/
@ superBul@23:
You asked: “There are bloggers here with us who runs a Bulls chat site, it is new and a lot is added every day. You have just developed a great looking site, they can learn a lot from you. May i bring you in contact with them?”
Definetely I would like share thought and infromation with them.
So, old Jan Ellis was born in Brakkenjanpan…. explains exactlywhy he was so hard and full of shit!
Also heard that Jan Ellis was shot, at the time, and that he survived it.
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