André Pretorius
Encyclopedia
André Pretorius is a South African rugby union
footballer. His usual position is at fly-half, where he is currently under contract at the Lions. He has been capped by his country's national side, the Springboks
and was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup
squad that was crowned world champions. He has also played at fullback.
Pretorius made his international debut for the Springboks on 8 June 2002 at fly-half against Wales
at the Free State Stadium
in Bloemfontein
. The Springboks won 34-19, with Pretorius kicking three conversions and one penalty goal. He played in the subsequent 19-8 victory over the Welsh. He notched up one try
, five conversions and three penalty goals in his third match as a Springbok against Argentina
.
After playing in another Test against Samoa
, in which he again played a large role with his kicking ability, Pretorius was included in the Springboks 2002 Tri Nations Series
squad. He played in three Tri Nations matches, two against the All Blacks
and one against Australia
, with South Africa losing all three. He earned a further three caps for the Springboks that year in November against Northern Hemisphere sides, playing matches against France
, England
and Scotland
, all of which South Africa lost.
He returned to international duties in July 2003 as a reserve in the 52-16 loss against the All Blacks during the 2003 Tri Nations Series
. He was moved to fullback for the following match against Australia which the Springboks lost 29-9. He next played for the Springboks on 23 July 2005 as fly-half against Australia during the 2005 Tri Nations Series
, which the Springboks won 22-16, with Pretorius landing a drop goal. He played a fly half for the subsequent matches. He earned another international cap in November in the 34-23 in over Argentina in Buenos Aires
.
After undergoing major surgery, Pretorius turned out for the Lions in the 2006 Currie Cup
season. Putting the surgery setbacks behind him, he guided the Lions to a 74-15 win over the Pumas
in round seven. Pretorius himself scoring a try, as well as eight conversions and a penalty goal - 24 of the Lions' total 74 points.
In 2007, he returned to the national side and became Jake Whites 2nd choice fly half to Butch James
, playing an extensive reserve role in the RWC campaign, playing as a replacement in the final won 15-6 against England.
On 19 June 2009, Perth-based Super 14 franchise the Western Force announced Pretorius as its international marquee-signing for the forthcoming season. A pre-season injury will see Pretorius miss the entire season.
During the 2010 Super Rugby Tournament he returned to the Lions in South Africa.
In May 2011 he signed up with French club Toulon.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer. His usual position is at fly-half, where he is currently under contract at the Lions. He has been capped by his country's national side, the Springboks
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
and was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad that was crowned world champions. He has also played at fullback.
Career
Pretorius is known for being a creative fly-half with a good sidestep, superb vision and good distribution skills in addition to being a reliable goalkicker. However, he has also been criticised for his average defensive skills, which may be down to his small stature.Pretorius made his international debut for the Springboks on 8 June 2002 at fly-half against Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
at the Free State Stadium
Free State Stadium
The Free State Stadium , also known as Vodacom Park, is a stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, used mainly for rugby union and association football...
in Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
. The Springboks won 34-19, with Pretorius kicking three conversions and one penalty goal. He played in the subsequent 19-8 victory over the Welsh. He notched up one try
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
, five conversions and three penalty goals in his third match as a Springbok against Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
.
After playing in another Test against Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
, in which he again played a large role with his kicking ability, Pretorius was included in the Springboks 2002 Tri Nations Series
2002 Tri Nations Series
The 2002 Tri Nations Series was contested from 13 July to 17 August between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. The All Blacks won the tournament.-Table:-Results:...
squad. He played in three Tri Nations matches, two against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
and one against Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
, with South Africa losing all three. He earned a further three caps for the Springboks that year in November against Northern Hemisphere sides, playing matches against France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
, England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
, all of which South Africa lost.
He returned to international duties in July 2003 as a reserve in the 52-16 loss against the All Blacks during the 2003 Tri Nations Series
2003 Tri Nations Series
The 2003 Tri Nations Series was contested from 12 July to 16 August between the Australia, New Zealand and South Africa national rugby union teams. The All Blacks won the tournament.-Table:-Results:...
. He was moved to fullback for the following match against Australia which the Springboks lost 29-9. He next played for the Springboks on 23 July 2005 as fly-half against Australia during the 2005 Tri Nations Series
2005 Tri Nations Series
-Round Two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:-External links:* at Rugby.com.aurugby union schedule for 2005...
, which the Springboks won 22-16, with Pretorius landing a drop goal. He played a fly half for the subsequent matches. He earned another international cap in November in the 34-23 in over Argentina in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.
After undergoing major surgery, Pretorius turned out for the Lions in the 2006 Currie Cup
2006 Currie Cup
The 2006 ABSA Currie Cup season was contested from June through to October. The Currie Cup is an annual domestic competition for rugby union clubs in South Africa...
season. Putting the surgery setbacks behind him, he guided the Lions to a 74-15 win over the Pumas
Pumas (rugby team)
The Ford Pumas are a South African rugby union team that competes in the Premier Division of the 2011 Currie Cup. Based at Puma Stadium in Witbank as well as the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, the team draws their players from Mpumalanga Province .The Pumas won the Currie Cup First Division The...
in round seven. Pretorius himself scoring a try, as well as eight conversions and a penalty goal - 24 of the Lions' total 74 points.
In 2007, he returned to the national side and became Jake Whites 2nd choice fly half to Butch James
Butch James
Andrew David "Butch" James is a South African rugby union player. He has represented 40 times and was a member of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He also played for Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership...
, playing an extensive reserve role in the RWC campaign, playing as a replacement in the final won 15-6 against England.
On 19 June 2009, Perth-based Super 14 franchise the Western Force announced Pretorius as its international marquee-signing for the forthcoming season. A pre-season injury will see Pretorius miss the entire season.
During the 2010 Super Rugby Tournament he returned to the Lions in South Africa.
In May 2011 he signed up with French club Toulon.
External links
- André Pretorius on sarugby.com
- André Pretorius on genslin.us