Frik du Preez

Veels geluk ou grote met jou verjaardag gister. Best wishes to my hero with his 86th birthday.

Klop...Howzit Blikman...keep well and keep safe!

Today Frik would probably play a Duane Vermeulen role rather than lock…and be fantastic. Others who could have played today include John Gainesford. Mannetjies Roux was the Kolbe of the day….Hopwood was another big loosie in the Vermeulen mode….Jannie Englebrecht the Reece-Zammit. Dawie de Villliers a Faf in his early days with a brilliant break.

But maybe Frik was the greatest of that era,

Agree with Mozart here about the Du Preez issue. here - his stats in his playing days would have ruled him out in the present scenario insofar as locks is concerned  - height 1,89 meter, weight 106 kgs,    That is even small compared to present day loosies at 7 and 8.  

As far s I can remember - and I saw him playing in tests in both Johannesburg and Pretoria - he did play in at least one test at 8 and was very good.   

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First I would like to wish Frik a very happy birthday and trust he will be blessed with good health, happiness and a long life.

Secondly I want to thank him for his skill and strength he brought to SA Rugby though his play for Northern Transvaal and the Springboks.

He was one of the greatest locks in my opinion to ever play for the BOKKE.

Dankie Frik.

God Bless.

His debut was on the flank in 1961 for the Boks. Also I didn't know he could kick or drop kick. Maybe the greatest all round rugby player ever. In this video below....he wins a line-out....scores a try...kicks a drop goal and a penalty.John Eales could kick and win line-outs....run like Frik..never.

Stats mean nothing when it comes down to Oom Frik, one of the icons of rugby...he could do amazing things like catch a leather rugby ball in one hand in line outs, out jump opposition easily (without lifting in those days) and drop kick a ball through the posts from half way..

Happy birthday Oom Frikkie.