The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 98
SPORT
was against Paarl Boys High.
Bishops was competing with
them to be the top side in the
country, and it was the only game
we lost that year. I remember,
they would leave a gap between
the lineout and the first defender,
so every time I got the ball from
the lineout, I tried to take that
gap – and I got shut down every
single time by the same guy
flying in. My first interaction
with Corné Krige. Fun times.
A favourite memory from
your professional career?
And your worst memory?
Being vice-captain for the
Springboks for one or two games
was a huge honour, and playing
in the 1999 Rugby World Cup was
a massive highlight of my career,
with that semi-final against
Australia at Twickenham [when
Stephen Larkham kicked a drop
goal in extra time to win the
match]… It was a nailbiter, and
obviously we were disappointed
we lost – but we gave it everything,
and that was a helluva Test match.
I don’t really have a worst sporting
memory, to be honest.
I still can’t play touch rugby.
If I tried for more than half
an hour, I’d be in trouble.
How do you keep active these days?
Did you have a nemesis in your
career? Corné Krige in 1992?
No, not really… But locally there
were guys like Japie Mulder, who
were tough, tough players. And
internationally Tim Horan was
a phenomenal centre and rugby
player, probably the best I ever
played against. I wouldn’t call
him a nemesis, but definitely
a quality player who made me
look silly at times.
When and why did you retire?
Unfortunately, I had to retire
at 29. I injured my calf playing
for Bath, and back then they had
no medical solution for it. Modern
medicine can fix the injury now,
but at the time they didn’t know
how. I had one or two operations,
but eventually the body just
packed in – so I had to find a job.
Lots of surfing, lots of swimming,
some trail running. On the trails,
you don’t run fast enough to hurt
the calf. But mostly, lots of surfing
and swimming.
Which old teammates do you stay
connected with – from Springbok
and First XV days?
From the Boks, I see Monty and
Corné every now and then, but
Bob Skinstad is probably the one
I’m regularly in touch with. And
then I see most of the school guys.
On a weekly basis, it’s Garron
Williams (1994B), Craig Lorden
(1993F), Gary Skeeles (1993O),
Dougie Boyes (1992F). But in the
new role, I’m in touch with lots of
guys who spent time on the Piley,
from Ian Marr (1988S) and Rowan
Belchers (1989S) to Francois Louw
and the First XV players this year.
ABOVE LEFT Future Springbok Selborne Boome and future Protea Herschelle Gibbs race for the ball
in the titanic School vs Ogilvie house match of 1991. Rory Viljoen (1991O) and Rob Fleck are admiring
the chase (back right). Ogilvie would go on to win it 19-6, with the performance of Rob – in Standard 8
that year, and languishing in the U16C team – catching the eye of Basil Bey. ABOVE CENTRE Rob on the
run against Rondebosch in 1993, with future Bok Dave von Hoesslin in support and Basil’s assistant coach
Andy running interference. ABOVE RIGHT A photo in the Bishops archives of Rob scoring in the Springboks’
46-29 win over Scotland at Murrayfield, at Rugby World Cup 1999. Bok wing Pieter Rossouw, celebrating in
the background, followed a similar coaching path to Rob; he is the current director of rugby at Paarl Gim.
94 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
