Chris Koch
Full names: August Christoffel
Date of birth: 21 Sep 1927
Place of birth: Moorreesburg
School: Dirkie Uys, Moorreesburg
Springbok no: 280
Debut test province: Boland
Physical: 1.86m, 94.35kg
Date of death: 21 Mar 1986 (Age 58)

Test summary: Tests: 22 Tries: 5
First Test: 13 Aug 1949 Age:21 Loose-head Prop against New Zealand at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Last Test: 23 Jul 1960 Age:32 Loose-head Prop against New Zealand at Newlands, Cape Town
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
13 Aug 194921Loose-head PropNew ZealandWin: 12-6 Ellispark, JohannesburgBoland
03 Sep 194921Loose-head PropNew ZealandWin: 9-3 Kingsmead, DurbanBoland
17 Sep 194921Loose-head PropNew ZealandWin: 11-8 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port ElizabethBoland
24 Nov 195124Loose-head PropScotlandWin: 44-02 triesMurrayfield, EdinburghBoland
08 Dec 195124Loose-head PropIrelandWin: 17-5 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinBoland
22 Dec 195124Loose-head PropWalesWin: 6-3 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffBoland
05 Jan 195224Loose-head PropEnglandWin: 8-3 Twickenham, LondonBoland
16 Feb 195224Loose-head PropFranceWin: 25-3 Stade Olympique, Colombes, ParisBoland
22 Aug 195325Loose-head PropAustraliaWin: 25-3 Ellispark, JohannesburgBoland
05 Sep 195325Loose-head PropAustraliaLose: 14-181 tryNewlands, Cape TownBoland
26 Sep 195326Loose-head PropAustraliaWin: 22-91 tryCrusaders (St George's Park), Port ElizabethBoland
06 Aug 195527Loose-head PropBritainLose: 22-231 tryEllispark, JohannesburgBoland
20 Aug 195527Loose-head PropBritainWin: 25-9 Newlands, Cape TownBoland
03 Sep 195527Loose-head PropBritainLose: 6-9 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaBoland
24 Sep 195528Loose-head PropBritainWin: 22-8 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port ElizabethBoland
26 May 195628Loose-head PropAustraliaWin: 9-0 Sydney Cricket Ground, SydneyBoland
04 Aug 195628Loose-head PropNew ZealandWin: 8-3 Athletic Park, WellingtonBoland
18 Aug 195628Loose-head PropNew ZealandLose: 10-17 Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), ChristchurchBoland
26 Jul 195830Loose-head PropFranceDraw: 3-3 Newlands, Cape TownBoland
16 Aug 195830Loose-head PropFranceLose: 5-9 Ellispark, JohannesburgBoland
25 Jun 196032Loose-head PropNew ZealandWin: 13-0 Ellispark, JohannesburgBoland
23 Jul 196032Loose-head PropNew ZealandLose: 3-11 Newlands, Cape TownBoland

Chris Koch : Doc Craven

The first match I attended in my capacity as a Springbok selector was when Boland played at Wellington and early on the Sunday morning the phone rang;

It was Mr Markotter: "Danie, what did you see?"

I said: "Oubaas, I saw two brothers."

He replied: "Especially the younger one." I said: "Yes."

He replied: "You'll do," and put the phone down.

Chris Koch was an unknown quantity at the time and when I mentioned his name at the selection committee meeting they were astounded, as they didn't know him at all. But they put him in the trials match of the day at Voortrekkerhoogte. The ball was kicked off and Chris knocked on from the kick-off.

All the selectors turned to me with raised eyebrows. "Hold on - its only the start. Give him a break. He's all nerves at the moment." I replied.

When we selected the short list of 32, Chris Koch was among them and played in so many tests after that.

He adorned Springbok rugby. I was astounded to hear that Chris, of all people had died of a heart ailment. I couldn't understand it. He was the epitome of the cleancut, honest, hard-working person whom I admire so much.