Shimlas stars lead Bok charge
No less than five former Shimlas were part of the Springbok team that got the better of the All Blacks in Tri-Nations action at Bloemfontein’s Vodacom Park this past Saturday.
Jannie du Plessis (2002-2004), his brother Bismarck (2003), Ruan Pienaar (2003), Heinrich Brüssow (2005) and Juan Smith (2000 and 2002) have all donned the famous blue Shimla jersey during the last decade.
The latest of this Shimlas quintet, Cheetahs flanker Brüssow, is the 65th Springbok to emerge from the club. The industrious No.6 was named Man of the Match on Saturday after getting the better of none other than All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.
Last week – before the Test against the Kiwis – Bismarck handed his Springbok jersey to the club in appreciation of what it meant for his career, with legendary coach Tat Botha the recipient of his kind gesture.
Pictured from left to right are: Jannie du Plessis (prop), Juan Smith (flank), Ruan Pienaar (flyhalf), Bismarck du Plessis (hooker) and Heinrich Brüssow (flank).
Of course, both Du Plessis brothers, flanker Smith and utility back Pienaar were all part of the 2007 World Cup-winning Springbok squad.
* FNB Shimlas finished in sixth position in the 2008 and 2009 Varsity Cup tournaments, but they boasted the second highest points tally (202) after the league phase this past season – one point less (203) than eventual winners, the Maties.
By Ruan Bruwer in Bloemfontein
