Chris Koch
Full names: August Christoffel
Date of birth: 21 Sep 1927
Place of birth: Moorreesburg
School: Dirkie Uys, Moorreesburg
Springbok no: 280
Springbok debut province: Boland
Physical: 1.86m, 94.4kg
Date of death: 21 Mar 1986 (Age 58)
Test summary: Tests: 22 Tries: 5
First Test: 13 Aug 1949 Age 21 - Loose-head Prop against New Zealand at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Last Test: 23 Jul 1960 Age 32 - Loose-head Prop against New Zealand at Newlands, Cape Town
Tours Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England & France 1951-52 Australia & New Zealand 1956
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
13 Aug 1949 21Loose-head Prop New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 12-6  Boland
03 Sep 1949 21Loose-head Prop New Zealand Kingsmead, Durban Win: 9-3  Boland
17 Sep 1949 21Loose-head Prop New Zealand Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 11-8  Boland
24 Nov 1951 24Loose-head Prop Scotland Murrayfield, Edinburgh Win: 44-02 tries Boland
08 Dec 1951 24Loose-head Prop Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 17-5  Boland
22 Dec 1951 24Loose-head Prop Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 6-3  Boland
05 Jan 1952 24Loose-head Prop England Twickenham, London Win: 8-3  Boland
16 Feb 1952 24Loose-head Prop France Stade Olympique, Colombes, Paris Win: 25-3  Boland
22 Aug 1953 25Loose-head Prop Australia Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 25-3  Boland
05 Sep 1953 25Loose-head Prop Australia Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 14-181 try Boland
26 Sep 1953 26Loose-head Prop Australia Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 22-91 try Boland
06 Aug 1955 27Loose-head Prop Britain Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 22-231 try Boland
20 Aug 1955 27Loose-head Prop Britain Newlands, Cape Town Win: 25-9  Boland
03 Sep 1955 27Loose-head Prop Britain Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Lose: 6-9  Boland
24 Sep 1955 28Loose-head Prop Britain Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Win: 22-8  Boland
26 May 1956 28Loose-head Prop Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Win: 9-0  Boland
04 Aug 1956 28Loose-head Prop New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Win: 8-3  Boland
18 Aug 1956 28Loose-head Prop New Zealand Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch Lose: 10-17  Boland
26 Jul 1958 30Loose-head Prop France Newlands, Cape Town Draw: 3-3  Boland
16 Aug 1958 30Loose-head Prop France Ellispark, Johannesburg Lose: 5-9  Boland
25 Jun 1960 32Loose-head Prop New Zealand Ellispark, Johannesburg Win: 13-0  Boland
23 Jul 1960 32Loose-head Prop New Zealand Newlands, Cape Town Lose: 3-11  Boland

The first match I attended in my capacity as a Springbok selector was when Boland played at Wellington and early on the Sunday morning the phone rang;

It was Mr Markotter: "Danie, what did you see?"

I said: "Oubaas, I saw two brothers."

He replied: "Especially the younger one." I said: "Yes."

He replied: "You'll do," and put the phone down.

Chris Koch was an unknown quantity at the time and when I mentioned his name at the selection committee meeting they were astounded, as they didn't know him at all. But they put him in the trials match of the day at Voortrekkerhoogte. The ball was kicked off and Chris knocked on from the kick-off.

All the selectors turned to me with raised eyebrows. "Hold on - its only the start. Give him a break. He's all nerves at the moment." I replied.

When we selected the short list of 32, Chris Koch was among them and played in so many tests after that.

He adorned Springbok rugby. I was astounded to hear that Chris, of all people had died of a heart ailment. I couldn't understand it. He was the epitome of the cleancut, honest, hard-working person whom I admire so much.