Legendary South African forward Frik Du Preez was an archetypal player. He loved the game beyond all else. Not even the oppressive shadow of Apartheid, which darkened the game during his career, could snuff out the candle he held for the noble sport of rugby union. Du Preez played in the Test at Headquarters in 1961, a demonstration-free match that was also, according to contemporary reports, free of anything remotely resembling exciting and expansive rugby. South Africa won the match 5-0. But as unmemorable as the game might have been for England and their fans, Du Preez certainly had every reason to remember it with fondness: it was his international debut. "I am not afraid to admit it," said Du Preez recently. "When I learned that I had been selected for the team to play England at Twickenham, I did cry, out of pride and joy. It was my first Test. I was a surprise selection, because I hadn't been playing for my Province when I was picked. I had played for the Combined Forces against New Zealand and I played myself into the squad in that match." His first impressions of the Stadium were indelible. "For every rugby player to play at Twickenham is something special," he recalled, "especially when, like me, you are winning your first cap. I remember the match. We beat England 5-0. "When I ran on to the pitch I remember thinking that the crowd was very close to the touchline, and that is what made the atmosphere there so great. At Ellis Park you are far from the pitch, but at Twickenham the crowd is almost on top of the players. That's why I could feel how disappointed they were when we were winning in 1961." That proximity of the crowd had its disadvantages as well. Du Preez, a goal-kicker of some note, found himself being slow-handclapped in a most un-Twickenham-like manner when preparing to kick the odd penalty. One contemporary commentator suggested that the 6ft 2in Du Preez was completely put off with one attempt, and he did miss a couple of kicks in each half, although his memory fails him as to exactly how many attempts at goal he had in the whole match. [caption id="attachment_222" align="aligncenter" width="304" class=" "]
Frik du Preez kicks towards the South Terrace, Twickenham 1961
"I don't think any home crowd is always nice to the visiting team," Du Preez explained, "but it is part of the game I think. That didn't bother me. I had two shots at goal which I missed, but when they slow hand-clapped it did not put me off. I was just concentrating, so I won't blame the crowd for missing those kicks. I can't remember whether I had any penalty attempts in the second half."
What mattered most to Du Preez was that he enjoyed success with one very important kick - his conversion of fellow back rower Doug Hopwood's try shortly before half-time. "It was nice just to put over the conversion. For every rugby player to play at Twickenham is something special, but when you are winning your first cap and you contribute to the score then it is even more so." In fact, according to Du Preez, he could have made an even greater contribution to the Springbok cause. He was on the brink of scoring a try when his moment of glory was rudely extinguished by the England scrum half Dickie Jeeps. "The ball went out to the wing. I was playing on the flank, I received the ball but I was half asleep, otherwise I could have scored a try. The wing gave me the ball, but as I went over the goal line Dickie Jeeps, the England scrum half, managed to slap the ball out of my hand. If he hadn't done that I would have scored. It would have made my debut even better." It was still a pretty impressive start to an international career that spanned 11 years, in which time Du Preez, who ended up in the second row, won 38 caps. He was to appear at Twickenham again eight years later, on the Springboks' troubled 1969-70 tour of the British Isles. The jet-lagged Boks had scarcely landed before they opened their campaign against Oxford University. This match had been switched from Iffley Road because the police felt they would be unable to guarantee the safety of spectators and players in view of the anti-Apartheid demonstrations that had been threatened. So the University authorities and the Rugby Football Union decided to switch the fixture to Twickenham, a decision made at the last minute in the hope that it would disrupt the protestors' plans. Du Preez merely remembers losing the match 6-3. "In 1969-70 we did lose to Oxford University, but I can't remember that tour very well." It was remarkable that the Dark Blues and the tourists were able to complete the match, given the presence in the ground of the spectators. Only the West Stand was opened up to the public and some of the more militant demonstrators were among these spectators. There were scuffles with police - 400 constables were on duty that day at a cost of some £4,000 to the RFU - a couple of arrests, a pitch 'invasion' by two protestors at half-time, but the main attempt to disrupt the game was the blowing of referees' whistles, to try to make it difficult or even impossible for match official Mike Titcomb's genuine article to be distinguishable from the general cacophony. Fortunately the players coped and the South African management did not try to use the bizarre playing conditions and various distracting activities as excuses for what was a shock defeat. The tourists, including Du Preez, had a far happier time on their return to the ground a fortnight or so later when they beat London Counties 22-6. He was spared the misery of the 11-8 defeat, the Springboks' first in the short history of fixtures between these two countries, against England just before Christmas. But Du Preez was back in action on the ground when the South Africans played, and won handsomely, their swansong of the tour against the Barbarians at the end of January 1970. His final match at Twickenham came just over a year later when Du Preez was invited to partner another legendary lock, All Black Colin Meads, in the second row of the RFU President's XV against England, who were awarding caps for this prestigious match in April 1971 as part of the RFU's Centenary celebrations. Once more Du Preez was on the winning side - the glittering All Stars, who included such luminaries as Jo Maso (France), Dawie de Villiers (South Africa), and Meads' New Zealand colleagues Brian Lochore and Ian Kirkpatrick.
About the Author- Dai Llewellyn is a freelance sports reporter. This article is an extract from his book 'A Century of Twickenham Legends' which is available from Amazon and through publishers Troubador.
