Western Province legend Johan Walters dies
NEWS: Johan Walters, great Western Province center, has died.
Many said he should have been a Springbok. He was in action for Western Province against the All Blacks in 1970, a game the Kiwis won 29-7.
He also played for the Combined Southern Universities against the visiting All Blacks in Cape Town.
This side was made up of UCT and Stellenbosch players. By direction of the South African Rugby Board, Ikey legend Ian McCallum and Matie Gert Muller were removed from the Southern University team to play the All Blacks.
The University team had quite a formidable side. The team was: O Jaekel; Andy van der Watt; Johan Walters; Johann van der Merwe; Jannie Engelbrecht (Captain); Dawie Snyman; François de Villiers; Piet le Roux; John le Roux (UCT), G Watt (UCT); Frik Burger; J Coetzee; Rampie Stander; S van Straten; Derek van den Berg (UCT). Reserves: Barry Clements (UCT); Bruce Butler (UCT); Morne Du Plessis.
The coach was Doctor Danie Craven and the manager Dr Cecil Moss (UCT).
The team featured a young and baby faced Morne Du Plessis who went on to be Springbok Captain, Johann van der Merwe who played for the Springboks in one test on the 69/70 end-year- tour.
Walters was already regarded as one of the top centres in the country; the wings were both former Springboks namely Andy van der Watt and Jannie Engelbrecht. Dawie Snyman – not a Springbok yet but soon to be – was the flyhalf; the two props Rampie Stander and Derek van den Berg both later become Springboks as did Jan Boland Coetzee.
The All Blacks one 20-3.
