Basie van Wijk
Full names: Christiaan Johannes
Date of birth: 5 Nov 1923
Place of birth: Vryburg
School: JJ Pienaar
Springbok no: 304
Springbok debut province: Transvaal
Physical: 1.86m, 94.4kg
Date of death: 29 Aug 2002 (Age 78)
Test summary: Tests: 10 Tries: 6
First Test: 24 Nov 1951 Age 28 - Flank against Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Last Test: 6 Aug 1955 Age 31 - Flank against Britain at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Tours Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England & France 1951-52 Australia & New Zealand 1956
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
24 Nov 1951 28Flank Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 44-01 try Tvl
08 Dec 1951 28Flank Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 17-52 tries Tvl
22 Dec 1951 28Flank Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 6-3  Tvl
05 Jan 1952 28Flank England Twickenham, London Win: 8-3  Tvl
16 Feb 1952 28Flank France Stade Olympique, Colombes, Paris Win: 25-31 try Tvl
22 Aug 1953 29Flank Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 25-3  Tvl
05 Sep 1953 29Flank Australia Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 14-181 try Tvl
19 Sep 1953 29Flank Australia Kingsmead, Durban Win: 18-81 try Tvl
26 Sep 1953 29Flank Australia Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 22-9  Tvl
06 Aug 1955 31Flank Britain Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 22-23  Tvl

The English used to call him "Basie van Wick", this likeable, witty man. Balding at an early age, Basie had a bump on the back of his head, and he used to tease: "If you want me, press the bump and I'll be there." A superb team man, he certainly always responded to any call on his services. His hands were not wonderful; it was almost as if he first fumbled the ball when it came to him, but he never dropped it.

Like his great partners Hennie Muller and Stephen Fry, Basie had speed, flair and the will to win.

When I talk of the one I have to talk of the other two. They formed a great looseforward combination, the best in the world in their era.