Basie van Wijk
Full names: Christiaan Johannes
Date of birth: 5 Nov 1923
Place of birth: Vryburg
School: JJ Pienaar
Springbok no: 304
Debut test province: Transvaal
Physical: 1.86m, 94.35kg
Date of death: 29 Aug 2002 (Age 78)

Test summary: Tests: 10 Tries: 6
First Test: 24 Nov 1951 Age:28 Flank against Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Last Test: 6 Aug 1955 Age:31 Flank against Britain at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
24 Nov 195128FlankScotlandWin: 44-01 tryMurrayfield, EdinburghTvl
08 Dec 195128FlankIrelandWin: 17-52 triesAviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinTvl
22 Dec 195128FlankWalesWin: 6-3 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffTvl
05 Jan 195228FlankEnglandWin: 8-3 Twickenham, LondonTvl
16 Feb 195228FlankFranceWin: 25-31 tryStade Olympique, Colombes, ParisTvl
22 Aug 195329FlankAustraliaWin: 25-3 Ellispark, JohannesburgTvl
05 Sep 195329FlankAustraliaLose: 14-181 tryNewlands, Cape TownTvl
19 Sep 195329FlankAustraliaWin: 18-81 tryKingsmead, DurbanTvl
26 Sep 195329FlankAustraliaWin: 22-9 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port ElizabethTvl
06 Aug 195531FlankBritainLose: 22-23 Ellispark, JohannesburgTvl

Basie van Wyk : Doc Craven

The English used to call him "Basie van Wick", this likeable, witty man. Balding at an early age, Basie had a bump on the back of his head, and he used to tease: "If you want me, press the bump and I'll be there." A superb team man, he certainly always responded to any call on his services. His hands were not wonderful; it was almost as if he first fumbled the ball when it came to him, but he never dropped it.

Like his great partners Hennie Muller and Stephen Fry, Basie had speed, flair and the will to win.

When I talk of the one I have to talk of the other two. They formed a great looseforward combination, the best in the world in their era.