Willie du Plessis
Full names: Willem
Date of birth: 4 Sep 1955
Place of birth: Somerset East
School: Gill College
Springbok no: 500
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.83m, 85kg
Current age: 68

Test summary: Tests: 14 Tries: 3
First Test: 26 Apr 1980 Age:24 Outside Centre against South America at Wanderers, Johannesburg
Last Test: 3 Apr 1982 Age:26 Outside Centre against South America at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
26 Apr 198024Outside CentreSouth AmericaWin: 24-9 Wanderers, JohannesburgWP
03 May 198024Outside CentreSouth AmericaWin: 18-9 Kingspark, DurbanWP
31 May 198024Outside CentreBritainWin: 26-221 tryNewlands, Cape TownWP
14 Jun 198024Outside CentreBritainWin: 26-19 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
28 Jun 198024Outside CentreBritainWin: 12-10 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
12 Jul 198024Outside CentreBritainLose: 13-171 tryLoftus Versfeld, PretoriaWP
18 Oct 198025Outside CentreSouth AmericaWin: 22-13 Wanderers Club, MontevideoWP
25 Oct 198025Inside CentreSouth AmericaWin: 30-16 Prince of Wales Country Club, SantiagoWP
08 Nov 198025Outside CentreFranceWin: 37-15 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaWP
15 Aug 198125Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 9-14 Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), ChristchurchWP
29 Aug 198125Inside CentreNew ZealandWin: 24-12 Athletic Park, WellingtonWP
12 Sep 198126Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 22-25 Eden Park, AucklandWP
27 Mar 198226Inside CentreSouth AmericaWin: 50-181 tryLoftus Versfeld, PretoriaWP
03 Apr 198226Outside CentreSouth AmericaLose: 12-21 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP

Willie du Plessis : Doc Craven

Also an artist. The eldest of the three brothers, and the easiest to handle, probably because he is the eldest son in this remarkable family and has learned that one cannot have everything in life.

He was one of my students at Stellenbosch and it was our duty to ensure that someone with such obvious Springbok ability achieved that goal.

He was one of the first Springboks that I coached at Stellenbosch and it was indeed a satisfying day when he gained his Springbok colours.

He gave South Africa wonderful service until his too early retirement.