'Hendrik Scholtz Vosloo Muller' (born
26 March,
1922 in
Witbank), usually known as 'Hennie Muller' is a former
South African rugby union footballer. Muller is considered one of the greatest South African footballers, captaining the national side, the
Springboks in nine tests, and is a member of the
International Rugby Hall of Fame. His usual position was at number 8.
Muller made his international debut for the Springboks on July 16, 1949, in the starting lineup in the first a four matches against the touring
All Blacks. The South Africans won the first test, 15 points to 11, which was played at
Newlands. The Springboks' winning ways continued at
Ellis Park, when the won the second test 12 points to six. South Africa made it 3 games to nil with another win in
Durban. The series was tied up as a four to nil whitewash of the All Blacks, as the Springboks won the fourth encounter 11 to eight in
Port Elizabeth.
In 1951 Muller skippered South Africa in
Edinburgh, which saw the Springboks run away 44 to nil winners, with Muller scoring one
try. After defeating Scotland, the Springboks had the tough task of playing the other three home nations, as well as
France on the rest of the tour. The Springboks made it two from two at
Lansdowne Road, defeating
Ireland 17 to five. Muller guided the team to a closer victory in the subsequent match against
Wales in
Cardiff, which saw the Springboks keep the clean winning record on tour 3-0, winning the game six points to three, a South African drop-goal proving the difference between the two sides.
The tour had now entered early January, and the next assignment for the Springboks was to face the
English at
Twickenham. The Springboks came a step closer to getting a grand slam, defeating England eight to three, with Muller adding five of South Africa's nine points, with a conversion and penalty goal. Having defeated all four home nations, the final task to achieving a grand slam waas to defeat the French in
Paris. The Springboks ran in six tries to defeat France 25 to three, Muller scoring one of the tries, as well as adding a conversion, and thus, South Africa completing a grand slam tour of Europe.
Muller captained the side against the
Wallabies for a four test series in South Africa in 1953. Muller scored a try in the opening exchange at Elils Park, which saw the home side win 25 to three. The Wallabies hit back in
Cape Town, taking the second test 18 to 14. However South Africa won the next test, 18 to eight in Durban. In Muller's final match for the Springboks, played in Port Elizabeth, South Africa won 22 points to nine. Muller would go onto coach the Springboks in 1965. In 2001, he was inducted into the
International Rugby Hall of Fame.
External links
★
Hennie Muller on
International Rugby Hall of Fame
★
Hennie Muller on genslin.us