Ernst Dinkelmann
Encyclopedia
Ernst Erich Dinkelmann was a South Africa
n rugby union
player, most often playing as a lock. Dinkelmann played club rugby for Ermelo and provincial rugby for Northern Transvaal
. He won six caps for the South African
national team (the Springboks) and was part of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France which lost only once in 31 matches, winning all five international Tests.
, South Africa in 1927. He was schooled at Ermelo High School before matriculating to the University of Pretoria
. He was a medical practitioner by profession. Dinkelmann was married to Lucy and they had a daughter and five sons. He died of a stroke in Nelspruit in 2010.
In 1951 Dinkelmann was selected for the fourth South African tour of Great Britain. Dinkelmann was one of the more regular members of the squad, playing 19 games of the tour and scoring nine points through three tries
. Although a regular presence in the team, South African sports journalist R.K. Stent stated that Dinkelmann's form fluctuated throughout the tour. Dinkelmann played in the first game of the tour against a South East Counties combined team, and shared half of the first 12 games of the tour with the other three South African locks Dannhauser, Pickard and Barnard.
On 24 November 1951, Dinkelmann won his first international cap, when he was selected to face Scotland
. The match was a one-sided affair with South Africa in complete control; every member of the pack, apart from Stephen Fry
finishing on the score sheet. Dinkelmann scored a single try
, his first international points, in a 44-0 win. Rested for the next game, against North of Scotland, Dinkelmann was back in the team for a win over Ulster before facing Ireland
at Lansdowne Road. After a slow start, the South Africans dominated to win 17-5.
As with the Scotland game, Dinkelmann was rested for the following game after the Irish match. He was then re-selected for an encounter with Swansea
the warm up game before facing Wales
. Although South Africa were victorius over Swansea, the management were unhappy with the line-out play in both that match and the game against Ireland. One change was made for the encounter with Wales, Dinkelmann was dropped to bring in Barnard, a specialist in the line. South Africa won by a narrow 6-3 scoreline. Despite being dropped for the Welsh game, Dinkelmann was a near constant presence in the team after that match, playing in nine of the eleven remaining fixtures. This included the wins over England
, the Barbarians
and the final fixture in Paris to France
. The 25-3 win over the French, also saw Dinkelmann score his second international try, barging over the line on the 54th minute.
On his return to South Africa, Dinkelmann played in two more internationals, the first two fixtures against Australia on the Wallabies 1953 tour. The first match, held at Johannesburg, saw the Sprinboks win by a 25-3 scoreline, but the very next game saw Australia rally to win 14-18 and level the series. This was South Africa's first loss in 15 years, and was attributed to the team trying to run with the ball in an attempt to play to the crowd. With two games left to win the series, the South African selectors reacted by making six changes. Dinkelmann was one of those dropped and never represented his country again.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player, most often playing as a lock. Dinkelmann played club rugby for Ermelo and provincial rugby for Northern Transvaal
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
. He won six caps for the South African
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
national team (the Springboks) and was part of the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France which lost only once in 31 matches, winning all five international Tests.
Personal history
Dinkelmann was born in ErmeloErmelo, Mpumalanga
Ermelo is the educational, industrial and commercial centre of the 7,750 km² Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province, Republic of South Africa. Mixed farming and anthracite, coal and torbanite mining take place here...
, South Africa in 1927. He was schooled at Ermelo High School before matriculating to the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
. He was a medical practitioner by profession. Dinkelmann was married to Lucy and they had a daughter and five sons. He died of a stroke in Nelspruit in 2010.
Rugby career
Dinkelmann played rugby from a young age, and he represented his local town team of Ermelo while still a schoolboy, but as a fly-half. He later moved into the scrum, and was selected to represent province team North Transvaal. In his time with Northern Transvaal he played 49 matches and was captain on five occasions.In 1951 Dinkelmann was selected for the fourth South African tour of Great Britain. Dinkelmann was one of the more regular members of the squad, playing 19 games of the tour and scoring nine points through three tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
. Although a regular presence in the team, South African sports journalist R.K. Stent stated that Dinkelmann's form fluctuated throughout the tour. Dinkelmann played in the first game of the tour against a South East Counties combined team, and shared half of the first 12 games of the tour with the other three South African locks Dannhauser, Pickard and Barnard.
On 24 November 1951, Dinkelmann won his first international cap, when he was selected to face Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
. The match was a one-sided affair with South Africa in complete control; every member of the pack, apart from Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry (rugby player)
Stephen Perry Fry was a South African rugby union player, most often playing as a flanker. Fry played rugby for his home town of Somerset West and provincial rugby for Western Province...
finishing on the score sheet. Dinkelmann scored a single try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
, his first international points, in a 44-0 win. Rested for the next game, against North of Scotland, Dinkelmann was back in the team for a win over Ulster before facing Ireland
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
at Lansdowne Road. After a slow start, the South Africans dominated to win 17-5.
As with the Scotland game, Dinkelmann was rested for the following game after the Irish match. He was then re-selected for an encounter with Swansea
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
the warm up game before facing Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
. Although South Africa were victorius over Swansea, the management were unhappy with the line-out play in both that match and the game against Ireland. One change was made for the encounter with Wales, Dinkelmann was dropped to bring in Barnard, a specialist in the line. South Africa won by a narrow 6-3 scoreline. Despite being dropped for the Welsh game, Dinkelmann was a near constant presence in the team after that match, playing in nine of the eleven remaining fixtures. This included the wins over England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
, the Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
and the final fixture in Paris to France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
. The 25-3 win over the French, also saw Dinkelmann score his second international try, barging over the line on the 54th minute.
On his return to South Africa, Dinkelmann played in two more internationals, the first two fixtures against Australia on the Wallabies 1953 tour. The first match, held at Johannesburg, saw the Sprinboks win by a 25-3 scoreline, but the very next game saw Australia rally to win 14-18 and level the series. This was South Africa's first loss in 15 years, and was attributed to the team trying to run with the ball in an attempt to play to the crowd. With two games left to win the series, the South African selectors reacted by making six changes. Dinkelmann was one of those dropped and never represented his country again.