Michael du Plessis
Full names: Michael Josias
Date of birth: 4 Nov 1958
Place of birth: Somerset East
School: Gill College
Springbok no: 537
Springbok debut province: Western Province
Physical: 1.88m, 87.0kg
Current age: 66
Test summary: Tests: 8 Tries: 1
First Test: 20 Oct 1984 Age 25 - Outside Centre against South America at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Last Test: 2 Sep 1989 Age 30 - Inside Centre against World Invitation at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
20 Oct 1984 25Outside Centre South America Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 32-15  WP
27 Oct 1984 25Outside Centre South America Newlands, Cape Town Win: 22-13  WP
10 May 1986 27Inside Centre NZ Cavaliers Newlands, Cape Town Win: 21-15  WP
17 May 1986 27Inside Centre NZ Cavaliers Kingspark, Durban Lose: 18-19  WP
24 May 1986 27Inside Centre NZ Cavaliers Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Win: 33-18  WP
31 May 1986 27Inside Centre NZ Cavaliers Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 24-101 dropgoal WP
26 Aug 1989 30Inside Centre World Invitation Newlands, Cape Town Win: 20-19  WP
02 Sep 1989 30Inside Centre World Invitation Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 22-161 try WP

The man they used to call "Malles" when he was at Stellenbosch. Crazy he may be but like his brother Carel he has an artist's temperament. It drives him and makes him creative.

The problem with an artist of his nature is that you have to treat him in such a way that his temperament dictates and not what your own or even the game dictates. That is the only way you will ever get the best out of Michael du Plessis.

He will not be disciplined on the field. He must be given a free hand, to play as he wants to play and only then will his artistry emerge and blossom. This he has proved on countless occasions.