Boy Morkel
Full names: William Herman
Date of birth: 2 Jan 1885
Place of birth: Somerset West
School: Hottentots-Holland
Springbok no: 128
Springbok debut province: Western Province
Physical: 1.85m, 88.9kg
Date of death: 6 Feb 1955 (Age 70)
Test summary: Tests: 9 Tries: 2
First Test: 3 Sep 1910 Age 25 - Forward against Britain at Newlands, Cape Town
Last Test: 17 Sep 1921 Age 36 - Eighthman against New Zealand at Athletic Park, Wellington
Tours Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England & France 1912-13 Australia & New Zealand 1921
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentVenueResultScoreProvince
03 Sep 1910 25Forward Britain Newlands, Cape Town Win: 21-5  WP
23 Nov 1912 27Forward Scotland Inverleith, Edinburgh Win: 16-01 try WP
30 Nov 1912 27Forward Ireland Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Win: 38-0  WP
14 Dec 1912 27Forward Wales Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), Cardiff Win: 3-0  WP
04 Jan 1913 28Forward England Twickenham, London Win: 9-3  WP
11 Jan 1913 28Forward France Le Bouscat, Bordeaux Win: 38-51 try WP
13 Aug 1921 36Eighthman (C) New Zealand Carisbrook, Dunedin Lose: 5-13  Tvl
27 Aug 1921 36Eighthman (C) New Zealand Eden Park, Auckland Win: 9-5  Tvl
17 Sep 1921 36Eighthman (C) New Zealand Athletic Park, Wellington Draw: 0-0  Tvl

Due to a great misunderstanding and a change of procedures after test matches, the Springboks failed to turn up at the cocktail party after the first test at Newlands in 1949.

I was the manager of the side and naturally got the blame. The man who attacked me most vigorously was "Oom" Boy, many years my senior, and we went for each other hammer and tongs.

Eventually our differences were sorted out but during our tiff I had gained a valuable insight into this remarkable man. He obviously had a grand passion for the game and deeply respected its traditions.

To this day I remember him uttering these words: "The game and its spirit dictates - nothing else - everything should be done according to that spirit."

How true!