Jonathan Ball

Springbok Miscellany brings you everything there is to know about the famous team, from the very first match played to the present. The authors’ meticulous research reveals records and facts never published before, while they also recount the popular stories involving South African rugby down the years. Tables, notes, facts and statistics make this book a treasure trove of everything a rugby fan will want to know about the Springbok team: the players, heritage, disasters and triumphs.

DID YOU KNOW?

South Africa played their first test in 1891 in Port Elizabeth against the British Isles, and lost 0-4.

Percy Montgomery is the first and so far only Springbok to have played in 100 tests. He retired in 2008 after a record 102 tests and 893 points in the Springbok jersey.

Ten sets of fathers and sons have played for South Africa, the most recent being Hennie and Andries Bekker.

The wives of twelve Springboks have represented South Africa in other sports, the most recent being Hannelie du Randt, wife of Os, as a swimmer.

The perfect gift for the Bokke supporter in your life this Christmas!

• Ook in Afrikaans verkrygbaar as SPRINGBOK ALLEGAARTJIE

About the Authors

Eddie Grieb has been the official statistician of SA Rugby since September 2006, after similar appointments with the Far North Rugby Union in 1992 and the Griqualand West Rugby Union in 1999. Eddie has been involved with the SA Rugby Annual since 1999 and became co-editor in 2008. He has also worked for Supersport over the past four seasons. He played flyhalf and fullback for Eastern Free State ‘B’ from 1987 to 1989 and flyhalf for Far North ‘B’ in 1991. Eddie lives in Pretoria with his wife, Alida, and children, Lee and Edrich.

Stuart Farmer is one of the leading statisticians in world rugby. His company, SFMS Limited, are the official statisticians for Premier Rugby in England and the communications department of the Magners League tournament played in Ireland, Scotland and Wales. His test match rugby statistics archive is freely available at www.scrum.com. Stuart is the only external researcher used by UK broadcasters BSkyB in their coverage of worldwide rugby, and he has been the statistician at Rugby World, the best selling monthly rugby magazine, since 1997. Stuart lives in Leicestershire, England, with his wife, Janet.

Book details

• Springbok Miscellany: From Earliest Days to the Modern Era by Eddie Grieb, Stuart Farmer
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9781868423415
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• Springbok Allegaartjie: Van die vroegste dae tot die morderne era deur Eddie Grieb, Stuart Farmer
  Boektuisblad
  EAN: 9781868423422
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!

At a recent lunch to publicise his new book, A Captain’s Diary, Proteas’ captain Graeme Smith humorously dodged some curveball questions about match fixing, player salaries, and the current battle between Cricket South Africa and Gauteng’s cricket authorities:

Proteas’ captain Graeme Smith declined to tell the Cape Town Press Club on Wednesday how much money he earns. “I take size thirteen shoes,” he allowed.

But he did say that for a test player representing his country on a number of occasions, “it’s financially great”.

He was also aware that there is a great deal of betting on the outcome of cricket games. He said there is probably more betting on cricket than on any other sport, but he insisted that the “whole Hansie era” and “the stuff we had to go through” is over.

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Sahara Computers representative Gary Naidoo had two important announcements to make at the launch of Graeme Smith’s A Captain’s Diary in Newlands last night: first, his company had renewed its relationship with the suburb’s famous cricket stadium, which will be known as Sahara Park Newlands for another five years; and second, Sahara had also extended its sponsorship of the man of the moment, in a deal that will see Smith continue to carry the brand forward in South Africa.

This did not, however, prevent Smith from reverting to the cricket ground’s older nomenclature during his opening remarks:

Video: It’s Sahara Park Newlands, Graeme

A busy roomful of friends and fans toasted the spectacular year that Smith and his Proteas had during the 2007-2008 seasons, when they became the first South African team since readmission to win test series in both England and Australia. Their road to dominance is chronicled in A Captain’s Diary, which is a collection of key moments narrated with the aid of cricket commentator Neil Manthorp, as Smith told his evening interlocutor, Matthew Pierce:
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Who will ever forget Graeme Smith striding to the wicket with a broken hand in the third Test Match Down Under?

If ever there was a moment to define the man, that was it.

Here’s your chance to meet Proteas captain and Cricketer of the Year 2009, Graeme Smith, and to get your copy of A Captains Diary signed.

Certain events require a booking to attend. Please RSVP to the number given where applicable:
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