Gabriël Frederick “Abie” Malan
Former Springbok hooker and captain Gabriël Frederick Malan, otherwise known as Abie, has passed away at the age of 78 on Thursday.
Malan played for the Springboks in the infamous 1965 Test against the All Blacks at Athletic Park in Wellington, which the Springboks won 6-3.
He wore the Green and Gold for 18 Tests, scoring one try, between 1958 and 1965, captaining the team in four matches, whilst playing in another 26 tour matches for the Springboks.
Gabriël Frederick “Abie” Malan
Malan did many things in rugby – played for and captained the Springboks, became a national selector and managed the Springboks at home and on an overseas tour, a strong, decisive but genial man. His achievements came a long way from his birthplace, Kenhardt in the Northern Cape, a small town in a sheepfarming area about 120 miles from Upington.
While still at Hoërskool Kenhardt, Malan played for the town team and for the Oranje Subunion. School finished, he went down to Stellenbosch in 1954 and stayed a Matie for the rest of his life. His last visit was to Ian Kirkpatrick’s funeral when he made the long journey from Upington and back by bus – to be there for his team-mate’s funeral. Malan was the loyalest of men.
In 1955 Malan, a hooker with the attributes of a tough loose forward, played for the Stellenbosch 1st XV, was in the Southern Universities team that lost 20-17 to the British & Irish Lions and made his debut for Western Province for whom he played till 1960. After that he moved up to Vereeniging and played for Transvaal from 1961 to 1965, an established Springbok by then.
At the age of 22 he made his Springbok debut against France. It was a good year for him. He played for South African Universities against France and then, after the drawn Test at Newlands, he played in the second Test at Ellis Park when France won 9-5 and so won the series. He ended the year on a tour to Europe with the Southern Universities team.
In 1960 he played in three Tests against the All Blacks, toured with the Springboks on their Grand Slam tour to the UK, Ireland and France. On the tour he hurt the knee that was operated on this year. Despite his injured knee and the arrival of a replacement, Malan played on in five more matches, including the Tests against Scotland and France. In 1962 he played in three Tests against the British & Irish Lions and then in 1963 captained the Springboks in the first two Tests against a great Wallaby side, was dropped for the third Test in a series when Tommy Bedford was the only forward to play in all four Tests, and then captained them again in the fourth Test when the Springboks saved the series. He was captain again against Wales in 1964 and then went under Dawie de Villiers on the 1965 tour to Australasia when the Springboks won just one Test out of six. Malan played in two in Australia and the first two in New Zealand. In all he played in 18 Tests, a large number for those times, and in 26 tour matches for the Springboks. He was South Africa’s 29th Test captain.
Waratahs and Wallaby prop, Benn Robinson, earlier this year returned Abie’s 1963 playing jersey to its owner from his 1963 opponent, Jim Miller with whom he had swapped at the time.
Playing days over, Abie was a Transvaal selector and team manager, then a national selector and in 1992 the manager of the Springbok team that came on wobbly legs out of isolation to play at home against the All Blacks and the Wallabies and overseas against France in two Tests and England. It was not an easy time. The Springboks won one of those five Tests. For the manager the French part of the tour, which included nine matches, was a difficult experience indeed.
After that Malan went back to his Orange River oasis and farmed.
Statistics:
Date of Birth: 18 November 1935
Place of birth: Kenhardt
School: Kenhardt
Springbok No: 345
Debut Province: Western Province
Physical: 1.82m, 86.2kg
Date of Death: 23 October 2014 (Age 78)
Test summary: 18 Tests, 1 Test try
First Test: 16 August 1958 Age:22 Hooker against France at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Last Test: 21 August 1965 Age:29 Hooker against New Zealand at Carisbrook, Dunedin
Test history:
What Doc Danie Craven said about Abie Malan:
I spotted Abie together with Piet du Toit in the Stellenbosch Under 19 team. Abie came from the Northwest-Bushmanland, and it was obvious from the outset that he had a wonderful fighting spirit.
While they were on tour of the UK and France in 1960 / 1961, the Bok management asked me to send Bobby Johns over as a replacement hooker; Abie’s knee was ‘completely finished’. I told them that I didn’t think Abie would give up his place in the team lightly, that he would play even if he had to put splints on his leg to keep his knee in place.
That is exactly what happened and poor Bobby Johns had to pay the price of this man’s grit and determination as he never did get into the side. These qualities show up in Abie today as a selector – outspoken, straight as a die, says what he wants to say, crawls to nobody.
He’s made a huge success of his life and career and he’s done it on his own. It’s that same grit and determination which he showed on the field that has made him the success he is today.
Abie was appointed manager of the Nampak tour to South America. With his natural ability to communicate easily with both players and administrators he made a wonderful impression.
@ Pietman:
I don’t remember him – I guess he is related to all the famous Kochs of Moorreesburg
Okay guys I’m out for now – chat again later !
Now this was quite a discussion by all the GERIATRICS on Rugby-Talk.com!
Youngtsers like MooooosaBul and his ilk must be saying “Fuddy-duddy donners”… maar julle is oud!”
Kry hierdie van supersport artikel:
Finals records:
Here are some of the more interesting finals records. Will some of them be broken this weekend?
Most tries by a team in a Currie Cup final: Seven by Transvaal against Orange Free State in Bloemfontein in 1994. Transvaal won 56-33.
Most points by a player in a Currie Cup final: Derick Hougaard scored 26 points for the Blue Bulls against the Lions in 2002.
Most drop goals by a player in a final: Naas Botha dropped four goals (two with the left foot and two with the right) for Northern Transvaal against Transvaal in 1987.
Most penalties in a final: Thierry Lacroix and Pat Lambie share the record having both kicked six penalties for the Sharks.
Represented the most teams in finals: Theuns Stofberg played finals for the Free State (1976, 1977, 1978), Northern Transvaal (1979, 1980) and Western Province (1982, 1983).
Most final appearances: This record is shared by Northern Transvaal’s Naas Botha and Burger Geldenhuys.who both played in 11 finals.
Youngest winning captain in a final: Naas Botha, 22 years 217 days.
Oldest winning captain in a final: Thys Lourens, 35 years 138 days.
Winning as a captain, manager and coach in a final: Naka Drotske (2005, 2006, 2007)
Most successful coach in finals: Buurman van Zyl won nine finals and drew a further two between 1968 and 1981.
Youngest coach to win a final: Rassie Erasmus was 32 years 351 days when the Cheetahs won in 2005.
Match facts courtesy of SA Rugby
Al wat jy sien is blou masjien ! 😉
Nou ja, as jou span nie meer die finals maak nie, dan geniet jy maar die goeie ou verlede !
56 @ BrumbiesBoy:
The score was 22 / 9… but don’t bother to ask MacroBull, he was still in nappies then, if not still in his dad’s scrotum!
grootblousmile wrote:
I must find a way through one of my Grootrivier buddies to download this thread as an ode to Uncle Abie and send it to the Malan family.
64: nou wonder ek hoekom het Supersport hierdie pragtige mooi rekord vergeet:
Grootste pakslae in ‘n CB finaal: iets soos NTVL 39 – WP 9 ? …. en onthou dit was toe ‘n drie net vier was …
67: watter jaar was dit, dink 1980 ?
59 @ charlesm:
Ta
@ BrumbiesBoy:
There used to be a clip on YouTube of that match, I recall, with Goggie van Heerden scoring those two tries in the final.
67 @ Ben-die-Bul:
Boy, am I looking forward to reading Ben_die_Leeu’s posts tomorrow!!!
Fuddy duddy donners!
71: ek is ‘n neutrale rugbyliefhebber, mag die beste span wen.
@ Ben-die-Bul:
maar veral die leeus 😀
robbie p has been called up to replace aaron pangiso to tour Nz.
Good riddance, should have been there instead anyway.
75: rossouw en miller sukkel, kort nog 2 spelers daar vir die Proteas.
Wie kan ons daar kies in hulle plek ?
Most drop goals by a player in a final: Naas Botha dropped four goals (two with the left foot and two with the right) for Northern Transvaal against Transvaal in 1987.
Kyk, daai dag was darem iets spesiaals, al het jou span verloor. Nog nooit iemand gesien wat ‘n game so op sy eie gewen het as ou Baas Notha daardie dag nie. Naaste daaraan was Morne Steyn wat die AB geklop het 31 iets, 2009 ?
According to Ashfak Mohammed of the Cape Times Nizaam Carr is still only “50-50” for the final and spent yesterday’s practice session sporting an ice pack on his right hip.
If he is out WP’s chances of success will be considerably less.. in fact it will then be a 50-50 game imo.
@ Ben-die-Bul:
Naas was die beste losskakel wat ooit vir SA gespeel het..ek kan nie aan iemand anders dink wat eers naby aan hom kom nie.Peter Kirsten en Herchelle Gibbs kon dalk as hulle rugby gekies het, maar dit is net bespiegeling.
{korling, korling, korling BrumbiesBoy}
I guess you know full well that your stance on sport puzzles & perturbs me (as do the CapeSaders).
I think I speak on behalf of all, but if not, then assuredly most:
On a line through that parable of the prodigal son, this rugby community will warmly welcome you back to the ranks of loyal supporters of the Golden Lions, the Lions & the Springboks. This is where you belong. You can be a loyal & proud Gautengelenger & South African, & proudly support YOUR representative teams without necessarily supporting/endorsing the ruling national and/or sports politics of the day.
Politics change, loyalty is enduring.
Think on these things … I hope you’ll see your way open to join us.
78: jip, Carr is een van julle 5 sleutelspelers in die span. WP goed gedoen sonder hom laasweek, maar dit was teen een van die stadigste lostrios ooit in die Bulle se geskiedenis. Leeus se loosies in ‘n heel ander klas.
79: ja, hy nog ‘n klassieke loskakel in die Johny Wilkinson tradisie. Die feit dat hy met altwee voete kon drop en balle in hoekies plaas, asook sy voorgevoel om die game te lees, het hom laat uitstaan. Natuurlik was sy verdediging nie goed nie, maar waarom jouself afskryf, in die NTVL dae het hy sulke goeie voorspelers gehad het, wat vir hom verdedig het, hehe.
Honiball en Pollard is meer hardlopende losskakels, soos Carter, sal moet sien waar Pollard se loopbaan hom vat.
@ Ben-die-Bul:
@82
Ja, Honiball was goed ten spyte daarvan dat hy relatief swak skopper was… hy was amper soos Steven Larkham… net n bietjie mindeer flair
Ek reken Pollard het alles en as dinge vir hom reg loop kan hy een van die grotes word. Die 2 losskakels in more se finaal is nie naby sy klas nie.
first bok test i ever watched was 1971 in bloemfontein versus france.
free entry courtesy on my temporary employers at the time, sa weermag.
@ grootblousmile@63:
Ek sal ook vir julle almal moet oom noem van nou af.
85: mooi so, en as oupa Puma weer bykom, dan is dit Grumpy Old Men
😆
80 @ Angostura:
Hi Ango, thanks for the kind words; my “one-man crusade” has been going on for 14 years now and I speak from the bottom of my heart when I say that my “loyalty” to SA sporting teams ended years ago.
As much as I hear you (& others) say it is “wrong” I cannot go against the principles I believe in and how I wish that the powers that be could see how they are ruining so many peoples’ hopes and aspirations just as the previous regime did in the past.
I’m an easy-going placid guy & can’t see any other passive way to express my absolute hatred & objection to such a sad state of affairs. Having said that, “variety is the spice of life” and each to their own.
I hope you understand.
Regards
@ BrumbiesBoy:
So be it then, BB
Ciao
@ Angostura:
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