Basie Vivier
Encyclopedia
Stefanus Sebastian "Basie" Vivier (1 March 1927 – 18 October 2009) was a South Africa
n rugby union
player. He was capped for South Africa
five times in 1956, though he was first selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; but was never selected for an international game on that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
, Limpopo province to Stefanus Vivier. The family name was spelt "Viviers" until it was discovered that the 's' had been appended to his father's name by his school, and the family changed their surname when it was established in 1955 that the true surname was "Vivier". He was educated at Kenhardt and Nylstroom. A member of the South African Police in Pretoria, he later went mining in the new Orange Free State gold town of Welkom
. after 1951 he became an insurance salesman before he was made marketing consultant for National Industries.
Vivier was known for his congeniality and sense of humour on tours. South African rugby journalist R. K. Stent, in his 1952 book The Fourth Springboks, described Vivier as the 'side's court jester' who possessed a fine tenor voice.
He married Eunice de Watt, with whom he had four children.
from 1947 to 1950, before moving to the Free State
where he played for Orange Free State
. His 28 points scored in the 1950 match between Northern Transvaal and North Eastern Districts set a South African record, beating the 24 points scored by Gerry Brand 26 years earlier.
In 1951 he attended the Newlands' trials, set to determine the squad for the fourth Springboks tour of Britain. Vivier was selected as a utility back. He played 14 games on the tour, nine at centre, five at full-back and in the match against North of Scotland an injury to Johannes Oelofse saw Vivier switch from centre to scrum-half. Despite only playing 14 of the 31 matches, and not playing in any of the five international games, Viviers ended as the tour's second highest scorer with 58 points. His first match in the Springboks jersey was on 13 October 1952, in a win against a combined South-Western counties team. He followed this the very next match with his first points for South Africa, scoring a penalty as full-back in an encounter with a joint Pontypridd
/Newbridge
team in Wales. Through-out the tour when not playing, Vivier was often used as one of the touch judges.
On his return to South Africa, Vivier continued to turn out for Orange Free State, but was still unable to break into the international side. Two touring sides came to South Africa before Vivier won his first international cap, the 1952 Australian tour and the 1955 British Lions
. Neither saw Vivier selected, therefore it was a surprise when Vivier was chosen to captain the Springboks
on their 1956 tour of Australia
and New Zealand
. The season before Vivier had played the three opening games for Orange Free State, but had then been dropped for the next eight, he also had no international experience. Despite this, Vivier was then chosen for the 1956 tour ahead of in form fullback Jack van der Schyff. The first choice captains for the tour were Salty du Rand
, captain of North Transvaal, and Jan Pickard
, captain of Western Province; but the two men brawled with each other during the trials. This led the selectors to find an alternative choice, a player who would have the ability to unite the team; they chose Vivier.
The tour took in 29 matches, including two Tests against Australia
and four against the New Zealand 'All Blacks'. The first Test of the tour was against Australia at Sydney on the 26 May 1956. Viviers was selected at full-back, winning his first international cap, and scoring his forst international points, with a penalty goal in a 9-0 victory. The second Test against Australia saw Vivier switch from full-back, Johnny Buchler
taking that position, to half-back. South Africa won 9-0.
The first Test in New Zealand saw du Rand take the captaincy when Vivier was indisposed; South Africa lost 6-10. The second Test, played at Wellington, saw Vivier back in the team at full-back. The game was won by South Africa 8-3, with Vivier again on the score sheet converting one of the two tries
. He continued in his position as full back for the final two Tests of the tour, both loses. Vivier scored in both Tests converting both South African tries in the third and Dryburgh's try in the fourth. The New Zealand defeat of South Africa in the Test series was the Springboks' first series defeat since 1896. He never represented South Africa again.
After retiring from playing, Vivier became a selector for Western Transvaal and then Northern Transvaal.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n rugby union
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...
player. He was capped for South Africa
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...
five times in 1956, though he was first selected to play for the Springboks on the 1951-52 South Africa rugby tour of Great Britain, Ireland and France; but was never selected for an international game on that tour. The touring team of 1951/52 is seen as one of the greatest South African teams, winning 30 of the 31 matches, including all five internationals.
Personal history
Vivier was born Stefanus Sebastian Viviers in 1927 in PietersburgPolokwane
Polokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name, Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population...
, Limpopo province to Stefanus Vivier. The family name was spelt "Viviers" until it was discovered that the 's' had been appended to his father's name by his school, and the family changed their surname when it was established in 1955 that the true surname was "Vivier". He was educated at Kenhardt and Nylstroom. A member of the South African Police in Pretoria, he later went mining in the new Orange Free State gold town of Welkom
Welkom
Welkom is a city in the Free State province of South Africa, located 160 kilometres northeast of Bloemfontein, the provincial capital. Welkom received municipal status in 1961 and was declared a city in 1968 on the 14th of February...
. after 1951 he became an insurance salesman before he was made marketing consultant for National Industries.
Vivier was known for his congeniality and sense of humour on tours. South African rugby journalist R. K. Stent, in his 1952 book The Fourth Springboks, described Vivier as the 'side's court jester' who possessed a fine tenor voice.
He married Eunice de Watt, with whom he had four children.
Rugby career
Vivier played provinical rugby for Northern TransvaalBlue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
from 1947 to 1950, before moving to the Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
where he played for Orange Free State
Free State Cheetahs
The Free State Cheetahs , currently named the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, for sponsorship reasons, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. They are governed by the Free State Rugby Union and are based at the 37,076-capacity Vodacom Park in...
. His 28 points scored in the 1950 match between Northern Transvaal and North Eastern Districts set a South African record, beating the 24 points scored by Gerry Brand 26 years earlier.
In 1951 he attended the Newlands' trials, set to determine the squad for the fourth Springboks tour of Britain. Vivier was selected as a utility back. He played 14 games on the tour, nine at centre, five at full-back and in the match against North of Scotland an injury to Johannes Oelofse saw Vivier switch from centre to scrum-half. Despite only playing 14 of the 31 matches, and not playing in any of the five international games, Viviers ended as the tour's second highest scorer with 58 points. His first match in the Springboks jersey was on 13 October 1952, in a win against a combined South-Western counties team. He followed this the very next match with his first points for South Africa, scoring a penalty as full-back in an encounter with a joint Pontypridd
Pontypridd RFC
Pontypridd Rugby Football Club, known as Ponty, are a rugby union team from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, currently playing in the British and Irish Cup, Principality Premiership, and are the current SWALEC Cup champions....
/Newbridge
Newbridge RFC
Newbridge RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and gained admission to the WRU in 1911...
team in Wales. Through-out the tour when not playing, Vivier was often used as one of the touch judges.
On his return to South Africa, Vivier continued to turn out for Orange Free State, but was still unable to break into the international side. Two touring sides came to South Africa before Vivier won his first international cap, the 1952 Australian tour and the 1955 British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. Neither saw Vivier selected, therefore it was a surprise when Vivier was chosen to captain 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...
on their 1956 tour of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The season before Vivier had played the three opening games for Orange Free State, but had then been dropped for the next eight, he also had no international experience. Despite this, Vivier was then chosen for the 1956 tour ahead of in form fullback Jack van der Schyff. The first choice captains for the tour were Salty du Rand
Salty du Rand
Jacobus Abraham Du Rand is a former South African rugby union footballer. He played numerous times for South Africa, including on their 1951-52 Grand Slam tour of Europe, as well as captaining them once against the All Blacks.He made his debut for the Springboks in 1949 in a Test against the All...
, captain of North Transvaal, and Jan Pickard
Jan Pickard
Jan Albertus Jacobus Pickard was a South African rugby union international who played as a lock. Born in Paarl and a product of Stellenbosch University, Pickard made his provincial debut for Western Province in 1951. He is the grandfather of Francois Louw, who also played for Western Province and...
, captain of Western Province; but the two men brawled with each other during the trials. This led the selectors to find an alternative choice, a player who would have the ability to unite the team; they chose Vivier.
The tour took in 29 matches, including two Tests 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...
and four against the New Zealand 'All Blacks'. The first Test of the tour was against Australia at Sydney on the 26 May 1956. Viviers was selected at full-back, winning his first international cap, and scoring his forst international points, with a penalty goal in a 9-0 victory. The second Test against Australia saw Vivier switch from full-back, Johnny Buchler
Johnny Buchler
John Ulrich "Johnny" Buchler was a South African rugby union player, most often playing as a fullback. Buchler played club rugby for West Rand and provincial rugby for Transvaal. He won ten caps for the South African national team , appearing in just one losing game...
taking that position, to half-back. South Africa won 9-0.
The first Test in New Zealand saw du Rand take the captaincy when Vivier was indisposed; South Africa lost 6-10. The second Test, played at Wellington, saw Vivier back in the team at full-back. The game was won by South Africa 8-3, with Vivier again on the score sheet converting one of the two tries
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...
. He continued in his position as full back for the final two Tests of the tour, both loses. Vivier scored in both Tests converting both South African tries in the third and Dryburgh's try in the fourth. The New Zealand defeat of South Africa in the Test series was the Springboks' first series defeat since 1896. He never represented South Africa again.
After retiring from playing, Vivier became a selector for Western Transvaal and then Northern Transvaal.