Morne du Plessis
Encyclopedia
Morne du Plessis is a former South African rugby union
player. He is often described as one of the Springboks'
most successful captains. Playing at number 8, his national career spanned ten years, five of which he was captain. He was also the manager of the 1995 Springboks which won the famous 1995 Rugby World Cup
final. He is the co-founder with Tim Noakes of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town and the co-founder of Bioenergetics of Exercise Research Unit of the University of Cape Town
and the Medical Research Council. His father was also a Springbok captain, and to date, they are the only father-son combination to both captain the Springboks.
He made his test debut with the 1971 Springboks touring party that went to Australia to play in a three test series. The series was a great success for the Springboks who won all three tests; 18-6, 14-6 and 19-11. When the Springboks took to the international stage again, in 1974, they faced the British Lions
who swept through South Africa, only drawing the one match, winning all the other games. The draw was in their last test, which resulted in a 13-all score. he did not actually play in the drawn game though, playing the first two tests, before being dropped for the third. Though the series was noted for its use of players, with only four men playing in all three tests.
At the end of the season, he played twice for the Springboks, in two tests against France. South Africa won both, 10 to eight and 13 to four. The French toured South Africa the following season, and du Plessis was selected to lead the Springboks. He made a successful start as skipper with the Springboks defeating the French 38-25 in Bloemfontein in the first test, and winning 33-18 in Pretoria in the second.
In 1976 he was to lead the Springboks into a tough four-test series against the All Blacks
. The Springboks won the first test 16-7, but lost the second 15-9. However, du Plessis and his men bounced back in the third test, winning 15-10. The Springboks took the victory in a 15-14 win over the New Zealanders in the fourth and final test. The following year he led the Springboks to victory, 45-24, over a World XV side in Pretoria. Although the sports boycotts of South Africa were really starting to isolate the side, the Springboks played two matches against the South American Jaguars
, made up mainly of Argentinian players. South Africa won 24-9 in Johannesburg
and 18-9 in Durban
.
In total he played 22 times for South Africa, winning 18 times. Under his captaincy the Springboks won thirteen times, and lost only twice. His contribution to South African rugby
was not over however, as he managed the 1995 Springbok World Cup
victory in what is recognized as one of the greatest moments in South African sporting history. He was recognised by the Laureus World Sports Awards. He was also elected a member of the World Sports Academy. He has also been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
.
He also played five first-class cricket
matches for Western Province as a medium pace bowler, taking 16 wickets at 25.62.
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. He is often described as one of the Springboks'
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...
most successful captains. Playing at number 8, his national career spanned ten years, five of which he was captain. He was also the manager of the 1995 Springboks which won the famous 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
final. He is the co-founder with Tim Noakes of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town and the co-founder of Bioenergetics of Exercise Research Unit of the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
and the Medical Research Council. His father was also a Springbok captain, and to date, they are the only father-son combination to both captain the Springboks.
He made his test debut with the 1971 Springboks touring party that went to Australia to play in a three test series. The series was a great success for the Springboks who won all three tests; 18-6, 14-6 and 19-11. When the Springboks took to the international stage again, in 1974, they faced the British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
who swept through South Africa, only drawing the one match, winning all the other games. The draw was in their last test, which resulted in a 13-all score. he did not actually play in the drawn game though, playing the first two tests, before being dropped for the third. Though the series was noted for its use of players, with only four men playing in all three tests.
At the end of the season, he played twice for the Springboks, in two tests against France. South Africa won both, 10 to eight and 13 to four. The French toured South Africa the following season, and du Plessis was selected to lead the Springboks. He made a successful start as skipper with the Springboks defeating the French 38-25 in Bloemfontein in the first test, and winning 33-18 in Pretoria in the second.
In 1976 he was to lead the Springboks into a tough four-test series against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. The Springboks won the first test 16-7, but lost the second 15-9. However, du Plessis and his men bounced back in the third test, winning 15-10. The Springboks took the victory in a 15-14 win over the New Zealanders in the fourth and final test. The following year he led the Springboks to victory, 45-24, over a World XV side in Pretoria. Although the sports boycotts of South Africa were really starting to isolate the side, the Springboks played two matches against the South American Jaguars
South American Jaguars
The South American Jaguars was an international rugby union team consisting of South American players that played during the early 1980s against the South African Springboks. South Africa invited South America to tour there as a way of counteracting its sporting isolation which was due to the...
, made up mainly of Argentinian players. South Africa won 24-9 in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and 18-9 in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
.
In total he played 22 times for South Africa, winning 18 times. Under his captaincy the Springboks won thirteen times, and lost only twice. His contribution to South African rugby
Rugby union in South Africa
Rugby union is a popular team sport played in South Africa. Along with cricket and football it is one of the most popular ball sports in South Africa...
was not over however, as he managed the 1995 Springbok World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
victory in what is recognized as one of the greatest moments in South African sporting history. He was recognised by the Laureus World Sports Awards. He was also elected a member of the World Sports Academy. He has also been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame
International Rugby Hall of Fame
The International Rugby Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for rugby union. It was created in 1997 in New Zealand and is run as a charitable trust with an address at Chiswick in London. Most of the trustees are also inductees. IRHOF accepts new inductees every two years...
.
He also played five first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches for Western Province as a medium pace bowler, taking 16 wickets at 25.62.