Pieter Rossouw (rugby union)

Last updated

Pieter Rossouw
Birth namePieter Willem Gabriel Rossouw
Date of birth (1971-12-03) 3 December 1971 (age 52)
Place of birth Swellendam, South Africa
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
School Paarl Gimnasium
University University of Stellenbosch
Notable relative(s) Chris Rossouw
Occupation(s)Backline coach at Namibia national rugby union team
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1991
1994–2001
2002		 Boland Cavaliers
Western Province
London Irish 		5
121
7		 (0)
(345)
(5)
Correct as of 22 June 2014
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1996–2004 Stormers 75 (155)
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1997–2003 South Africa 43 (105)
Coaching career
YearsTeam
2007
2008–2015
2015–2016
2016–present		 Western Province u/19
Bulls (Backline coach)
Namibia (Backline coach)
Paarl Gimnasium

Pieter Willem Gabriel Rossouw (born 3 December 1971) is a South African former professional rugby player and current coach. Rossouw played wing for Western Province in the Currie Cup and the Stormers in the Super Rugby competition. He played a total of 43 times for the Springboks, making him one of the most capped Springbok wingers after South Africa's readmission to international rugby. He was also one of South Africa's most prolific try-scoring wingers, post-isolation, with only Breyton Paulse(26) and Bryan Habana(53) scoring more tries. He is 7th on the all-time try-scoring list for the Springboks. [1] Rossouw is currently the backline coach of the Bulls in Super rugby and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. [2] He was known as "Slaptjips" (Afrikaans for potato chips or french fries), apparently because the sight of his running legs was like potato chips slapping together. [3] Pieter is the older brother of Chris Rossouw, who played flyhalf for Western Province and the Free State Cheetahs.

Contents

Early life

Rossouw was born in Swellendam in 1971. He went to school in Paarl at Paarl Gimnasium before going to university at the University of Stellenbosch, where he played for the university's rugby team.

Playing career

1994 to 1998

Pieter Rossouw made his debut for Western Province in 1994. [4]

In 1996 Rossouw was selected for the Western Province team to compete in the Super 12.

In 1997, South African Rugby has not yet adopted the franchise system, which New Zealand has done. Instead, the four semi-finalists of the previous year's Currie Cup competition qualified for the Super 12. In 1996, Western Province was defeated in the quarter-finals by the Gauteng Lions and did not progress to the semi-finals. Their place in 1997's Super 12 was therefore taken by the Free State Cheetahs. This meant Pieter Rossouw did not play any Super Rugby in 1997.

Despite not featuring in the Super 12 in 1997, Rossouw was selected for the Springboks to face the touring British and Irish Lions in 1997. He made his Springbok debut against the Lions in the second test of the tour on 28 June 1997 at Kings Park in Durban. South Africa lost the game 15-18. Rossouw was again in the team to face the Lions in the third and final test, when he scored the first of his 21 [5] test tries. South Africa won 35-16, but lost the test series 2-1.

Rossouw was part of the Springbok team that played in the annual Tri-nations series in 1997. He was one of the try scorers when South Africa beat Australia with 61 points to 22. It remains the Springboks' highest score against the Wallabies.

At the end of 1997 the Springboks toured to Europe, playing test matches against Italy, France, England and Scotland. Pieter Rossouw was a member of this touring squad. On 22 November 1997 South Africa faced France at the Parc des Princes in Paris, which was the French's last game at the stadium before moving to the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The Springboks humiliated France by 52 points to 10. Rossouw became only the second Springbok in history to score 4 tries in one test. [6]

In 1997, Western Province won the Currie Cup by beating Free State in the final by 14 points to 12 at Newlands in Cape Town. Rossouw was the left wing for Western Province on the day. [7]

In 1998 South African rugby adopted the franchise system for the Super 12. New teams were formed located in Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Cape Town had again a team in the Super 12. They weren't called Western Province, but the Stormers. The Stormers were selected from players representing Western Province, Boland and South Western Districts. This gave Rossouw the opportunity to return to Super Rugby.

The Springboks won the 1998 Tri Nations Series, having not lost a single game. The away game for the Springboks against the All Blacks took place at Athletic Park in Wellington on 25 July 1998. Rossouw scored the only try of the game from either side, and South Africa ended up winning 13-3. This was the Springboks' first win on New Zealand soil since readmission and also their first since 29 August 1981 at the same venue. [8]

From the 1997 tour to Europe to the second last game of the European tour of 1998, South Africa played in 17 consecutive unbeaten tests, equalising the record set by the All Blacks between 1965 and 1970. The All Blacks eclipsed this record by winning 23 consecutive tests, starting with the World Cup in 1987. However, South Africa, who ended their unbeaten run in 1970, was not part of their opposition during this period, due to the sporting boycott. [9] Pieter Rossouw played in all 17 victorious tests for the Springboks in their unbeaten run from 1997 to 1998. [10]

1999

Rossouw continued to play Currie Cup rugby for Western Province and Super Rugby for the Stormers from 1999 until his retirement in 2004, except in 2002 when he joined London Irish for one season.

Rossouw was part of the only Springbok team to have lost to Wales. On 26 June 1999 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales beat South Africa by 29 to 19. The first and, to date, only time Wales have beaten the Springboks. [11]

He remained a regular selection for the Springboks in 1999, which included the World Cup, hosted by Wales. He was selected for the pool games against Scotland and Uruguay as well as the quarter-final against England and the semi-final against Australia. His only try of the tournament came against England in the quarterfinal.

2000 to 2003

From 2000 Rossouw played less frequently for the Springboks. He played his last Tri-nations game against Australia in Sydney on 29 July 2000. He was selected for the Springboks for seven more tests with his final Springbok test on 28 June 2003 at Boet Erasmus Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Rossouw continued to be a regular starting selection for Western Province and the Stormers and he won two successive Currie Cups with Western Province in 2000 and 2001, beating the Sharks in both finals and scoring a try in the 2000 final. [12]

In 2002 it was announced that Rossouw did not renew his contract with the Stormers and SARFU and elected to sign with English Premiership team, London Irish. Arriving at London Irish, Rossouw struggled with a hamstring injury and ended up playing only eight games for the team, scoring one try. London Irish did not have a very good season, which prompted coach Brendan Venter to make himself available to play again. At the time Premiership teams were only allowed to field to overseas players, with the other being Naka Drotske. Rossouw was therefore released from his contract towards the end of 2002. [13]

Rossouw returned to Cape Town and again played Currie Cup for Western Province and Super Rugby for the Stormers.

2004

Although Rossouw formed part of the Stormers squad for the 2004 Super 12 season and the Western Province squad for the Currie Cup, he was eventually dropped from the team by coach Carel du Plessis before a game against the Bulls in August 2004. This led him to announce his retirement at the beginning of October 2004.

In total Pieter Rossouw scored 31 Super Rugby tries, placing him at 27th on the all-time highest try-scorers in Super Rugby competition history. He holds this position jointly with Ben Tune of the Reds and Lelia Masaga of the Chiefs. [14]

Coaching career

Pieter Rossouw started his coaching career at Majuba residence at the University of Stellenbosch in 2006. After being involved in coaching with the Western Province Vodacom Cup team as well as the Western Province under 19 team in 2007, Rossouw was signed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union as backline coach for the Bulls and Blue Bulls in February 2008. [15] A position he has held since. As part of the Bulls' coaching set-up, Rossouw has won a Currie Cup trophy in 2009 and Super Rugby trophies in 2009 and 2010. He resigned from the job in June 2015 and started as Backline coach with the Namibia national rugby union team. [16]

Honours

Playing career

SA Rugby Player of the Year nominee, 1997

Western Province
South Africa

Coaching career

Blue Bulls
Bulls

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percy Montgomery</span> South Africa international rugby union player

Percival Colin Montgomery OIS is a Namibian-South African former professional rugby union player. When he ended his international career in August 2008, he held the all-time records for both caps and points for South Africa's national team, known as the Springboks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Bulls</span> South African rugby team

The Blue Bulls is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament and the United Rugby Championship. They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Habana</span> Rugby player

Bryan Gary Habana OIS is a South African former professional rugby union player. Playing mainly as a wing, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He played for the Golden Lions, the Blue Bulls and Western Province in South Africa, for the Bulls and the Stormers in Super Rugby, and for Toulon in the French Top 14, and won 124 caps for the South Africa national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Skinstad</span> Rugby player

Robert Brian Skinstad is a former rugby union professional player who has represented the South African national team, the Springboks. He played in the positions of flanker and number eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean de Villiers</span> Rugby player

Jean de Villiers is a South African former professional rugby union player. He started his career at wing, but played most of his career as an inside centre. De Villiers previously played for Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super Rugby, Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby and internationally for South Africa, for whom he was named captain in June 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danie Rossouw</span> Rugby player

Daniel Jacobus Rossouw is a South African former professional rugby union footballer who played as a second row forward or back row forward. He played for the Bulls in the Super Rugby competition. Rossouw made his provincial debut during 1999 for the Blue Bulls in a match against the North Western Province in the Currie Cup competition. In 2001 he made his Super 12 debut for the Bulls against the Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CJ van der Linde</span> South Africa international rugby union player

Christoffel Johannes van der Linde is a South African former professional rugby union player and currently the scrum coach at French Top 14 side Montpellier. He played first class rugby between 2002 and 2015 in South Africa, Ireland, England and France and also made 75 test matches for South Africa, which included winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup. His usual playing position was prop.

Johan "Rassie" Erasmus is a South African rugby union coach and former player. He was the head coach of the South African national team from 2018 to the end of their 2019 World Cup campaign, doubling up on his duties as the first ever SARU Director of Rugby, to which he was appointed towards the end of 2017. He led South Africa to win the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and he subsequently won the 2019 World Rugby Coach of the Year award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefan Terblanche</span> Rugby player

Carl Stefan Terblanche is a South African former rugby union player. He played wing, centre and fullback.

Chris Rossouw is a South African rugby union player, born 14 November 1976 in Bellville. He has played for the South Africa national rugby union team and plays as fly half for the Free State Cheetahs. He is the brother of ex-Springbok wing and current backline coach of the Bulls, Pieter Rossouw.

McNeil Hendricks, also known as "Maccie", is a former South African rugby union player who played primarily as a wing. He starred in the movie Invictus, in which he played the role of Chester Williams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duane Vermeulen</span> Rugby player

Daniel Johannes "Duane" Vermeulen is a former South African professional rugby union player who previously played for the South Africa national team. He also previously played for Ulster Rugby in the United Rugby Championship, Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Pumas, Free State Cheetahs and Western Province in South African domestic rugby, the Cheetahs, Stormers and Bulls in Super Rugby and Toulon in the Top 14. He was an instrumental part of South Africa winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup and received the Man of the Match award in the final. Vermeulen played as a Number eight but he was equally adept at playing both blindside and openside flanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gio Aplon</span> South African rugby union player

Gio Giaan Aplon is a former South African rugby union player. In 2010 he scored two tries in a 42–17 triumph against the Six Nations winner – France. The match was also his debut playing as a South African winger number 14. He is considered to be one of the first small wings in South Africa after the likes of Breyton Paulse. These players are the inspirations of guys like Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and many more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nizaam Carr</span> South African rugby union footballer

Nizaam Carr is a South African rugby union footballer who plays either as a flanker, loose forward or number 8 and back rower. He is renowned for his athleticism and linking play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allister Coetzee</span> Rugby player

Allister Coetzee is a South African rugby union coach and former player, currently in charge of the Namibian national team on a part time basis, whilst also head coach of Rugby Rovigo in Italy. He served as the head coach of the South African national team from April 2016 to February 2018.

Johan Tertius "Gus" Theron is a South African former professional rugby union player. Theron played mainly on the wing and at centre.

Dean Bradley Hall is a South African former professional rugby player. He played on the wing. He played the majority of his career for the Johannesburg based teams, the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup and the Cats in Super Rugby. Later in his career he moved to Durban and played for the Sharks in the Currie Cup, the Natal Wildebeest in the Vodacom Cup and the Sharks in Super Rugby. He was also capped thirteen times for the Springboks and scored four test tries. His career was hampered with injury and he never reached his full potential. He was quite large for a wing, but in the wake of Jonah Lomu's sensation at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, it was hoped that Dean Hall would become the Springbok's massive wing.

Marthinus "Tinus" Linee was a South African rugby player. Linee played predominantly at centre. He played all his provincial rugby for Western Province. He represented Western Province and the Stormers in Super Rugby. He played nine tour games for the Springboks between 1993 and 1994, but never played in a test for South Africa.

Jacques Nienaber is a South African rugby union coach who is currently the senior coach at Leinster. He led South Africa to their 4th World Cup title in 2023.

Dick John Muir is a South African former rugby union player, and now the interim head coach of Netherlands national rugby union team.

References

  1. ↑ Springbok Records - SuperSport - Rugby. SuperSport. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  2. ↑ "Vodacom Blue Bulls - Backline coach".
  3. ↑ The Craic www.londonirish.org - Player Nicknames. Rugbynetwork.net (2006-02-15). Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  4. ↑ So long, Slaptjips!. News24 (2004-10-08). Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  5. ↑ Pieter Rossouw | Rugby Union | Players and Officials. ESPN Scrum. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  6. ↑ Super Rugby | The day Springboks embarrassed France (1997) Archived 16 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine . SA Rugby Mag. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  7. ↑ TL_614393.jpg - currie cup final cape town free. Gallo Images (1997-10-25). Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  8. ↑ Springbok Rugby Tests. Genslin.us. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  9. ↑ 'World champions' of the past, the record Test-winning run and the most ex-rugby league players in a | Live Rugby Features. ESPN Scrum. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  10. ↑ Springbok Rugby Tests. Genslin.us. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  11. ↑ Why Wales once beat the Boks - Springboks. IOL.co.za (2013-11-07). Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  12. ↑ Currie Cup Finals: Sharks v WP. Rugby365. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  13. ↑ Gallagher, Brendan. (2002-12-14) Irish release Rossouw. Telegraph. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  14. ↑ About Super Rugby - Official SANZAR Site. Sanzarrugby.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  15. ↑ Bulls appoint Russouw - IOL Rugby. IOL.co.za (2008-02-13). Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
  16. ↑ ‘Slaptjips’ to assist Namibia at RWC. Sport24, 29 June 2015
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.