Bennie Osler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Full name Benjamin Louwrens Osler
• Date of birth 1901-11-23
• Place of birth Aliwal North, South Africa
• Date of death 1962-04-28
• Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
• Weight 70 kg (150 lb)
• School Kingswood College, Grahamstown
• Rugby union career
• Playing career
  • Position Fly-half
• Provincial/State sides
  • Years Club / team Caps (points)
    • Western Province
• correct as of 2007-11-29.
• National team(s)
  • Years Club / team Caps (points)
    • 1924–1933 South Africa 17 (46)
• correct as of 2007-11-29.

Benjamin Louwrens Osler (23 November 1901 – 28 April 1962) was a rugby union footballer who played internationally for South Africa. Osler played mainly at fly-half for both South Africa, and his provincial team of Western Province.

Osler was born at Aliwal North. He was first selected to play on 16 August 1924 against Britain when they toured South Africa. This was the first of his 17 consecutive Test appearances for South Africa.[1] Osler played in the other three Tests of Britain's tour, and contributed to South Africa winning three of the four Tests.[2] The only Test of the series the Springboks did not win was their 3–3 draw in Port Elizabeth where Osler was temporarily knocked out.[3]

The next Springbok (as the South African team is known) series was hosting New Zealand's All Blacks in 1928. The teams had met once before in a Test series, drawn 1–1 (with 1 match drawn) in New Zealand in 1921. The first Test was played in Durban and the Springboks won 17–0, with Osler scoring a world record 14 points in the match.[4] Osler played in the remaining three Tests and the series was eventually drawn 2–2; just like in 1921.

Osler's first overseas tour was in 1931 when he captained the Springboks on their 1931-32 tour to the Home Nations. He captained the team and played in all four Tests; playing against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Osler's Springboks became the second South African team, and only second of all time, to win a Grand Slam—a win over all four Home Nations on one tour. The tour continued into 1932 and the team eventually played 26 matches, with only one loss.[1] In 1933 Osler played in his last ever Test series when Australia toured South Africa. They played a five match series and Osler played in all five Tests. During the series he scored a try, conversion and drop-goal. Osler is remembered as a fly-half who played a kicking game; that is, he would often kick for territory rather than run with the ball, or pass to his backs. His accuracy when kicking allowed South African teams he was in to play a forward oriented game, commonly referred to as ten-man rugby.[5] His contributions to international rugby were acknowledged with his induction into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007[1] and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2009.

Benjamin Osler also known as Bennie born in Aliwal North on 23rd November 1901 and died in Cape Town on 23rd April 1962, Springbok rugby player, was the son of Benjamin and Isobel Osler. Bennie’s ancestors have been traced back to Edward Osler, a prominent merchant and ship-owner, with a hint of piracy involvement.Bennie went to various schools, including the Western Province Preparatory School, Rondebosch Boys’ High School, and Kingswood College, Grahamstown. From 1921 he read law at the University of Cape Town, qualifying in 1925. During this period he represented the University on the rugby field, but from 1926 to 1930 played for Hamiltons and from 1931 to 1933 for Villagers. He acted as captain of all three clubs and on various occasions captained Western Province, which he represented from 1922 to 1933. He gained his Springbok colours in 1924, when he played against Ronald Cove-Smith’s British team in all four test matches. Four years later (1928) he also played in all four tests against Maurice Brownlee’s New Zealand touring side, and in 1931-32 captained the Springbok team (which went to the British Isles) in all the tests of that series. He rounded off his rugby career in 1933 by playing in all five tests against the visiting Australians, acting as captain in the second test. He had scored forty-six points in the seventeen consecutive tests in which he played Osler is generally regarded as the best fly-half South Africa has produced so far (1979), a man who could dictate play. The decade during which he was a Springbok is even called the ‘Osler Era’ by sports writers, owing to his influence on the game. While he played for South Africa the country won all the test series, his province carried off the Currie Cup throughout, and each club for which he played won the Grand Challenge Cup. He had no equal as a tactical kicker and it was in particular his almost perfectly-placed corner kicks to wings which gained many tries for the Springboks. He could launch long outside kicks from any corner and as a drop-kicker he often clinched matches. Nobody was more feared by opponents than Osler. He was also an attacking fly-half who could send his full-backs off with incredible speed when circumstances permitted or, if not, could himself shoot through an opening like lightning. Autocratic on the field, he would tolerate no passes from scrumhalfs that were above waist height; if the centres next to him blundered even once, he usually mistrusted them afterwards and would rather kick the ball – a course of action which can be regarded as one of his few weaknesses. As a captain he attached great value to tactical planning before a match, and he believed in strict team discipline. During the Second World War (1939-45) Bennie went with the South African forces to East Africa where he contracted both malaria and amoebic dysentery which probably contributed to his relatively early death. Unlike other great players Osler had little interest in coaching or the administration of the sport when he retired. After working as a salesman for a long time, he eventually went farming on a small scale, at first near East London and later near Bellville. The brothers Bennie and Stanley Osler The brothers Bennie and Stanley Osler He married Gladys Hobson and had two children. Photographs of him appear inter alia in The Bennie Osler story and Springbok saga (both infra). Osler’s Cornish Connections Benjamin. Falmouth born circa 1776 son of Edward and Mary (Paddy) Osler of Falmouth and husband of Jane (Sawle) Osler born 1775. father of Susannah, Stephen Sawle, Mary Anne, Amelia, Elizabeth, Sarah, Joseph, Jane, Benjamin, Phillippa and Julia. Leader of W.J. Cornish 1820 Settlers. Returned to Cornwall with wife and some members of his family 4.1822. Stephen Sawle born in Falmouth 27th September 1804, died 21st October 1867 in Simonstown. Son of Benjamin and Jane (Sawle) Osler and husband of Catherine Osler (born Dakins, formerly Wright) of Llaway Glen, Montgomeryshire, Wales. 1802-1881. father to Benjamin, James Goodriche, Catherine and Jane; and also Christina, dtr of Orange Kleyne (Klein). Founder of the Osler family in SA. Susannah Osler born in Falmouth circa 1800. daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Sawle) Osler married 1st John Coleman (1792-1829) of Cock’s party at Reedfountain, Eastern Cape on 17th June 1820, 2nd time to Mr Fineran from Quebec. The small Cornish party, under the leadership of Benjamin Osler of Falmouth, Cornwall, sailed in the ‘Weymouth’, which left Portsmouth in January 1820. Having arrived in Albany so that he might supervise the first arrivals, Sir Rufane Donkin considered that a more central and accessible site should be chosen for the administration of the settlement. Ignoring the fact of Graham’s Town’s better defensible position and that it was already established as a military base, the site he chose on 9 May 1820, was just west of Thorn Ridge. This was to be the centre of the civilian administration and also the seat of magistracy. Sir Rufane declared it was to supercede Graham’s Town as the capital town of Albany, and it was to be named Bathurst in honour of Earl Bathurst, Secretary for the Colonies. In his enthusiasm Donkin allotted plots to the Earl and also his own sons and nephews, while 500 acres of Glebe were allotted for a clergyman and chaplain of the Church of England, the vacant post to be filled in due course by a suitable man. The post of administrator, however, was filled by the transfer to Albany from the Western Cape of Capt Charles Trappes. By 9 June the Cornish party of Benjamin Osler was enroute to their location from Algoa Bay. Osler’s party, it had been decided, was to be located some 12 miles southwest of the new town of Bathurst, and halfway to the Kowie River mouth. This was in the curve of the Mansfield River, a left bank tributary to Kowie River, today known as Grove Hill. Osler named the location Pendennis in memory of the similarity the area bore to his Cornish hometown of Falmouth and its Pendennis Castle. Pitching their tents for protection from the cold winter nights and the intermittent drizzle, the party immediately set to clearing the land so that ploughing and sowing of their first crop could be done. Soon after arrival, they were to be joined by a young man, John Coleman, 28 years of age and a gardener from Cock’s party who had sailed with them in the Weymouth. Coleman was not altogether an unexpected arrival, for he had made his intentions clear earlier and on the 17 June, he was married by the Rev William Shaw to Benjamin Osler’s eldest daughter, Susannah. Theirs were the first marriage in the whole settlement. The proximity to Bathurst of Osler’s location at Pendennis meant that these settlers were closely concerned with the early development of that town. Lots were already being offered for sale and the Colonial Secretary had ordered erection of a prison. The building of the Bathurst Residency got under way by October. All this activity afforded employment to bricklayers, carpenters, slaters, sawyers and stone-masons, who were able to direct their energies into a rewarding field while they waited patiently for the crops to ripen. Hopes for the future were bright, but by the end of November it became apparent that ‘rust’ had affected practically all the wheat sown since their arrival and the crops were useless. With little resources to withstand such a disaster, the administration decided that the issue of rations was therefore to be continued, but they became an additional charge against the deposit money. When that had been exhausted, it was a liability for future repayment. By Christmas Day that year, the circumstances of many were desperate and prospects for the future grim. Undaunted by these hardships and their considerably reduced circumstances, the settlers sought what work they could find. The Bathurst Residency, long delayed in its completion by the number of unfortunate disputes that had arisen, was still an avenue for employment. William Mallett, a mason with Osler’s party joined with Thomas Marham of Bethany, James’ party’s location, and together they contracted on 5 November 1821, for slating and plastering work on the Residency to the value of £16. 10. 0d. Lots had continued to be sold at Bathurst and houses built on them, but again, as a year earlier, ‘rust’ began to appear in the wheat and by the end of the year it was apparent to all that the wheat crop had once again failed. This was now a major calamity. Though rations were continued, they were reduced to half portions. Despite what the settlers had previously received, and even for those in dire need who had no money or hope of ever redeeming what they already owed, a parsiminous administration ruled they were only to get half a pound of rice per adult per week. Meagre indeed, but to ameliorate their difficulties, the stringent pass laws restricting settlers to their locations were relaxed and many now went in search of work, not only in Albany, but further afield if they could afford to get themselves there. Lord Charles Somerset had by now returned to the Cape from his bride hunting furlough in England, and once again took up the reins of office as Governor. He was furious to find the number of rather illogical decisions taken by Sir Rufane were actually detrimental to the scheme as he had originally envisaged it. He thus immediately set about reversing them. Bathurst was demoted from its pre-eminent position, which consequently caused another sharp depression when the Magistracy was summarily removed to Graham’s Town and the many settlers who had invested their small capital in establishing business premises in order that they might better serve the community, now faced ruin and impoverishment as it was quite evident the town of Bathurst would stagnate. It did and many then returned their attention to trading. Fairs were permitted at Fort Willshire and to these came the native tribesmen from beyond the Colony’s borders. James Weeks was one of the Cornish settlers who took to offering the more conventional manufactures. He and others traded tobacco and cloth in exchange for hides and skins, ivory, cut wood and simple items of use that could either be sold again in Graham’s Town or taken down to Algoa Bay and bartered there for the farming implements in such short supply. But the air of depression continued, it was no good having the basis for an exchange of goods if the majority the inhabitants, both settler and tribesmen, were so impoverished that goods and hard cash were virtually an unknown commodity amongst them. Osler left his location in April 1822 to return with his wife and five younger children to Cornwall. What remained of Osler’s party slowly broke up. Headed by John Dale, it began to disintegrate further. Osler’s daughter, Susannah and her husband decided to make their home at Simonstown where they were to be joined by her brother, Stephen Sawle Osler, who had elected not to return to Cornwall. By the beginning of 1824 William Mallett had moved away to Uitenhage and matrimony was to call Joseph Richards to a date in Graham’s Town where on 23 September that year, he was married to Sarah Attwell, the seventeen year old daughter of Richard Attwell of Crause’s party. Grace Weeks had died and the end of the year saw Charles Pearse returning to England to rejoin his wife with and family who had been unable to embark with him. The small party of Cornish settlers, comprising only eleven men and their families at the outset, was already diminished in number by nearly half, and the few that did remain on Pendennis were to become so insignificant numerically that from then on their story melds with that of the settlement itself, conversely reflecting their great adaptability and absorption into the new country.

• Source: Dictionary of South Africa Biography Vol 5. Cornish Immigrants to South Africa by Graham Dickason. History of South African Rugby Football (1875 – 1932) by Ivor Difford Further reading and resources: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bathonia/OslerBathFrancisC...

Bennie Osler
Full names: Benjamin Louwrens
Date of birth: 23 Nov 1901
Place of birth: Aliwal North
Schools: Rondebosch Kingswood College
Springbok no: 181
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.73m, 69.9kg
Date of death: 23 Apr 1962 (Age 60)

Test summary: Tests: 17 Tries: 2
First Test: 16 Aug 1924 Age:22 Flyhalf against Britain at Kingsmead, Durban
Last Test: 2 Sep 1933 Age:31 Flyhalf against Australia at Springbokpark, Bloemfontein

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
16 Aug 1924 22 Flyhalf Britain Win: 7-3 1 dropgoal Kingsmead, Durban WP
23 Aug 1924 22 Flyhalf Britain Win: 17-0 1 conversion, 1 penalty Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg WP
13 Sep 1924 22 Flyhalf Britain Draw: 3-3 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth WP
20 Sep 1924 22 Flyhalf Britain Win: 16-9 Newlands, Cape Town WP
30 Jun 1928 26 Flyhalf New Zealand Win: 17-0 2 penalties, 2 dropgoals Kingsmead, Durban WP
21 Jul 1928 26 Flyhalf New Zealand Lose: 6-7 1 penalty Ellispark, Johannesburg WP
18 Aug 1928 26 Flyhalf New Zealand Win: 11-6 1 conversion Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth WP
01 Sep 1928 26 Flyhalf New Zealand Lose: 5-13 1 conversion Newlands, Cape Town WP
05 Dec 1931 30 Flyhalf (C) Wales Win: 8-3 1 conversion St. Helens, Swansea WP
19 Dec 1931 30 Flyhalf (C) Ireland Win: 8-3 1 conversion Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin WP
02 Jan 1932 30 Flyhalf (C) England Win: 7-0 Twickenham, London WP
16 Jan 1932 30 Flyhalf (C) Scotland Win: 6-3 1 try Murrayfield, Edinburgh WP
08 Jul 1933 31 Flyhalf Australia Win: 17-3 1 try Newlands, Cape Town WP
22 Jul 1933 31 Flyhalf (C) Australia Lose: 6-21 Kingsmead, Durban WP
12 Aug 1933 31 Flyhalf Australia Win: 12-3 1 dropgoal Ellispark, Johannesburg WP
26 Aug 1933 31 Flyhalf Australia Win: 11-0 1 conversion Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth WP
02 Sep 1933 31 Flyhalf Australia Lose: 4-15 Springbokpark, Bloemfontein WP

Bennie Osler : Doc Craven
Bennie Osler : Doc Craven
I cannot do justice to Bennie Osler. Whatever I have to say must be amplified a thousand times to do true justice to this rugby genius.

He played in an era when the moment the hooker had touched the ball as it was thrown into the scrum, the entire opposing pack could break up. Bennie, being the marked man he was, attracted most of the attentions of these players - there was no offside law then. To counter this, Bennie had worked out a defence mechanism. His answer was to kick the ball into the "boxes" - those gaps left by the fast-breaking opponents.

Bennie had the habit of telling the scrumhalf only at the very last second which way he was going - left or right. A difficult man to play with, but he knew what he was doing. He would say "Danie", which meant right, or "Craven", which meant he was going left.

As I've said, a difficult customer, but that is the way it is when you come across a genius like Bennie; you had to follow blindly, believing and trusting that he would do the right thing. This Bennie Osler seldom failed to do on the rugby field.

Some people were of the opinion that Bennie was a bit scared, but I recall the game against Scotland on the 1931/32 tour. Dribbling was very much a part of the game then, particularly in Scotland.

The Scottish crowd would chant "Feet, Scotland, feet." And those boots would not distinguish between body or ball. I had my doubts, for sure, but that day Osler answered his critics. In the face of the oncoming forwards he fell on a loose ball, was flung aside, kicked, but the courage was there, plain for all to see.

I will never forget my first ever Test match, against Wales. We were in the dressing-room, sitting quietly. Outside it was raining cats and dogs, the crowd singing beautifully, stirringly, while getting wetter and wetter. I was so nervous I was tempted to tell Oom Theo that I couldn't play. I looked around me and saw all the stalwarts we had; Phil Mostert, Gerry Brand, Boy Louw and Bennie Osler, sitting quietly as they prepared.

Just before we were due to go on the field, Bennie stood up and said: "Fellows, I don't know what we can expect out there. I don't know if we'll be able to handle the wet ball - but we must assume that we will be able to. If we can't I'll tell you what to do. I want you to remember our people at home: They're all behind us. Remember, no-one in the stands here is on our side."

We went out with those words ringing in our ears.

After I had passed the ball to him after the very first scrum he said to me: "Daantjie, we can't handle it. Anytime you get the ball kick it anywhere you like, because they won't be able to handle it either."

They were playing with mittens in those bitterly cold, wet conditions - the first time I had ever seen gloves worn on a rugby field. Bennie ordered: "Forwards, let them have the ball in the scrums and lineouts. Loose forwards, you capitalise on their mistakes."

And those were our tactics on the day. Well, they scored first and it was a terrific battle, but eventually we won 8-3 and what a glorious end it was to my first test match.

Bennie - a man of few words during a match - would often turn to the referee and ask how much time was left. Often the referee would reply: "After the next infringement I'm going to blow no-sides."

At Neath and Aberavon we were battling. Finally we drew level. Then the decisive moment: Bennie asked the referee his usual question. We won the ball, Bennie slipped around the blind-side, passed to Zimerman who ran clear and gave to Phil Mostert for the winning try.

A great, great player: We will not see his like again.

2009 IRB Hall of Fame Inductee: Benjamin L. Osler
Born in Aliwal North on 23 November 1901, he made his Western Province debut against Natal in 1922 and two years later, while captain of Cape Town University, won his first cap against the 1924 Lions led by Dr. Ronald Cove-Smith – the first of his 17 consecutive appearances for South Africa.

With the British forwards slowly gaining the upper hand in the titanic struggle with the Springbok pack, Osler’s drop goal made the difference, giving South Africa the edge to win the crucial first Test 7-3. This win against the odds and run of play, with Osler – serviced by three different scrum halves in the four Tests – firing on all cylinders, gave South Africa the psychological advantage in a tightly fought series and established him as the top fly half in South Africa. Though he was widely regarded as a master of tactical kicking there was far more to his game than just booting the ball, as his lightning speed off the mark enabled him to make spectacular breaks and set his line moving at pace. He was described as “the greatest individual match-winner and tactical master that South African rugby has ever produced”.

In 1927, Osler’s Hamilton club, to a large extent due to the uncanny ability of their captain to kick, dominated the Cape Town and Western Province scene and in 1929 he joined Villagers, whom in turn became Cape Town champions two years later. Osler’s kicking changed the way South Africa played the game as he basically evolved his ability to land the ball anywhere on the field, not to mention his remarkable drop goal efficiency.

After the shared series with New Zealand in 1928, Osler captained South Africa on their 1931/32 Grand Slam tour of the British Isles, when he was partnered by a young man with a great future, one Danie Craven, who made his international debut against Wales.

Bennie Osler : Chris Schoeman
'A great, great player. We will not see his like again.' That's what Doc Craven said of Bennie Osler. Who would have known better than Doc, who had played with and against Osler in his time? A true genius, Osler was the kind of player who comes along once in a few decades and, like a Naas Botha many years later, would completely dominate his era.

Osler made his debut for South -Africa in 1924 against Cove-Smith's British Lions and remained the Springboks' first-choice flyhalf until he hung up his boots to international seasons and 17 tests later. The success of the teams he played for could be ascribed to his phenomenal kicking, his handling and his physique. But the real secret was that, in his day, he had the finest knowledge of the game in the world, and he was an outstanding rugbv personality.

Osler was not just a kicking flyhalf, and newspaper reports between 1923 and 1927 abound of incidents where Bennie's breaks led to tries. He also had the good physique that allowed him to go through his entire rugby career without leaving the field - except once, against the All Blacks, in a match against the Town and Country at Newlands in 1928.

Osler believed that what made a good flyhalf was Pace and once again pace ... an eye staying on the ball all the time ... and [good] hands'. One who could place the ball (pinpoint kicking) 'is the man who can fabricate tries'.

Osler was the first flyhalf to show the world what tactical kicking could do for a side with powerful forwards capable of winning scrums and lineouts. Arguably his best performance in an international came in 1928 against the All Blacks in the first Test, at Kingsmead, when he dominated the match with two penalties and two drop goals and created Jack Slater's try. South-Africa won that Test 17-0.

One of his biggest compliments came when his Springbok captain, Phil Mostert, patted him on the back after yet another successful kick and said: Now I know why Stellenbosch is so scared of you!' (Osler played for UCT, the Maties' arch-rivals.)
Bennie Osler
Benjamin Osler also known as Bennie born in Aliwal North on 23rd November 1901 and died in Cape Town on 23rd April 1962, Springbok rugby player, was the son of Benjamin and Isobel Osler. Bennie's ancestors have been traced back to Edward Osler, a prominent merchant and ship-owner, with a hint of piracy involvement.

Bennie went to various schools, including the Western Province Preparatory School, Rondebosch Boys' High School, and Kingswood College, Grahamstown. From 1921 he read law at the University of Cape Town, qualifying in 1925. During this period he represented the University on the rugby field, but from 1926 to 1930 played for Hamiltons and from 1931 to 1933 for Villagers. He acted as captain of all three clubs and on various occasions captained Western Province, which he represented from 1922 to 1933.

He gained his Springbok colours in 1924, when he played against Ronald Cove-Smith's British team in all four test matches. Four years later (1928) he also played in all four tests against Maurice Brownlee's New Zealand touring side, and in 1931-32 captained the Springbok team (which went to the British Isles) in all the tests of that series. He rounded off his rugby career in 1933 by playing in all five tests against the visiting Australians, acting as captain in the second test. He had scored forty-six points in the seventeen consecutive tests in which he played Osler is generally regarded as the best fly-half South Africa has produced so far (1979), a man who could dictate play. The decade during which he was a Springbok is even called the 'Osler Era' by sports writers, owing to his influence on the game. While he played for South Africa the country won all the test series, his province carried off the Currie Cup throughout, and each club for which he played won the Grand Challenge Cup. He had no equal as a tactical kicker and it was in particular his almost perfectly-placed corner kicks to wings which gained many tries for the Springboks. He could launch long outside kicks from any corner and as a drop-kicker he often clinched matches. Nobody was more feared by opponents than Osler.

He was also an attacking fly-half who could send his full-backs off with incredible speed when circumstances permitted or, if not, could himself shoot through an opening like lightning. Autocratic on the field, he would tolerate no passes from scrumhalfs that were above waist height; if the centres next to him blundered even once, he usually mistrusted them afterwards and would rather kick the ball - a course of action which can be regarded as one of his few weaknesses. As a captain he attached great value to tactical planning before a match, and he believed in strict team discipline.

During the Second World War (1939-45) Bennie went with the South African forces to East Africa where he contracted both malaria and amoebic dysentery which probably contributed to his relatively early death.

Unlike other great players Osler had little interest in coaching or the administration of the sport when he retired. After working as a salesman for a long time, he eventually went farming on a small scale, at first near East London and later near Bellville.

He married Gladys Hobson and had two children.
Bennie Osler : Hamilton SP RFC History
Full name: Benjamin Louwrens Osler

Born: Aliwal North, 23 November 1901

Deceased: Karl Bremer Hospital, Bellville, 28 April 1962

Clubs: UCT, Hamiltons, Villagers

Province: Western Province

International career: 1924-33: 17 tests

Benjamin Osler, a merchant of Falmouth in Cornwall, led a party of 1820 Settlers to South Africa on the Weymouth. They left Falmouth on 7 January, reached Table Bay on 26 April and Algoa Bay on 15 May. Benjamin and Jane had ten children. Benjamin Osler died in 1821, leaving his wife with a son Stephen and five daughters to look after. His descendant was Bennie Osler, whose grandfather, also Benjamin, was a magistrate in Riversdale. His six sons all played for Riversdale. Also on that voyage was the grandfather of Alf Richards who captained South Africa at rugby and cricket.

Bennie Osler’s uncle, Frank, played for Scotland in 1911 and his brother Stanley for South Africa. Two cousins, TG and Duxie Osler, played for Western Province. His uncle Dr JJ Louwrens captained South Western Districts against the British tourists in 1910.

Bennie Osler scored 14 points against the All Blacks in the first test in Durban, a world record at that time. Against the Wallabies he reached 17 caps for South Africa, then another record.

After the successful tour of 1931-32 the nation was shocked when Osler was replaced as captain by Phil Nel. Nel believed that Osler was dropped because of the brand of rugby played on the tour of the UK and Ireland. He said: “That team of all the stars had not played the attractive type of rugby the selectors felt they should have done. They had been successful, yes, but they had made many enemies for the Union code by playing the game so closely and so safely with the accent on avoiding defeat. We had steamrollered our way to victory and our brilliant backs did not have a chance to show their paces often enough.” Others blamed it on the weather, as was the case on the 1960-61 tour.

After the trials at Newlands Bennie Osler went into the foyer of the Metropole Hotel in Cape Town and there saw the team on the notice-board, finding out for the first time that Philip Nel had been made captain in his place. Osler went straight to Nel to congratulate him and assure him of his support.
Bennie Osler : Eddie Grieb & Stuart Farmer
Benjamin Louwrens (Bennie) Osler was born on 23 November 1901 at Aliwal North, where his father was a practising attorney. He matriculated at Kingswood College in Grahamstown. After school he attended the University of Cape Town where he quickly graduated from under-19 level to the senior team as a flyhalf He played his first game for Western Province at the age of 20 in 1922. In 1924 he played in all four tests against the British touring team and played his last test against the touring Wallabies in the fifth test of the 1933 series. In the first test against New Zealand in 1928, his brother Stanley made his first and only appearance in a test match. In 1931 Bennie was chosen as captain of the Springbok side to Great Britain. In 1933 he was dropped as captain against the Wallabies in favour of Philip Nel, but captained the side in the second test in absence of the injured Nei.

The talented flyhalf and kicking genius dominated South African rugby during the middle and late twenties, and into the early thirties. Besides his tactical kicking on attack and in defence. Bennie was also a great placekicker and a dropped goal artist. With great speed off the mark, Bennie could also break when the occasion presented itself. In Bennie's days the dropped goal counted four points, and thanks to his quick thinking and twinkling feet he would drop a quick goal rather than pass to doubtful or off-form centres. Bennie regarded the game as one of possession and speed, and if that ball did not come quickly enough from a scrum or line-out, Bennie would kick for touch no matter the feelings of spectators.

Dr Danie Craven had this to say about his halfback partner from 1931 to 1933: 'He was a difficult man to play with, but that is the way it is when you come across genius like Bennie; you had to follow blindly, believing and trusting that he would do the right thing. This Bennie Osler seldom failed to do on the rugby field.'
BL Osler (captain) : 1931 United Tobacco Cigarette Card
There can be no doubt that Bennie Osler is the greatest match-winning factor in South Africa - possibly in the world - and is a popular captain. Year after year predictions as to Osler's decline are common, but today he is playing as well as ever. He started his playing career at Aliwal North, but developed his talents at Rondebosch High School and Kingswood College. In 1922 he received his first Western Province cap at flyhalf, and since then has played consistently for his centre. In 1924 he played for South Africa against Cove-Smith's team and in 1928 in all the Tests against the All Blacks. In all he has secured 37 Western Province and 8 international caps.

Although he may sometimes kick too much, there can be no doubt as to the quality of his kicking - and his drops are world-famous. For effecting quick and telling breaks he has few equals in the flyhalf position. He is 29 and weighs 160 lbs.
SI Springbok TOP 100 - Bennie Osler #92 : sport24.co.za
Inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2009, Bennie Osler was an attacking flyhalf and considered a genuis in his day. He was once described as “the greatest individual match winner and tactical master that South African rugby has ever produced”
Osler Street : G.J. van Eck.
OSLER, Benjamin Louwrens (Bennie) is op 23 November 1901 te Aliwal-Noord gebore waar sy vader toe 'n gewilde prokureur was.

Hy geniet sy skoolopleiding in die Western Province Preparatory School en Rondebosch Boys' High School en vir die laaste twee jaar te Grahamstad (Kingswood College). In 1920 is hy ingeskryf as student in die regte aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad. In die jare 1922-31 maak hy vinnig opgang as U.K. se rugbyvoetbalheld.

Bennie Osler het sy lang en glorieryke loopbaan as springbok gedurende die Britse toer in 1924 begin en dadelik sy skopvermoë geopenbaar deur op die 1ste toetswedstryd (op 16 Augustus te Durban) 'n skepdoel en 2 strafskoppe deur die pale te stuur. "The first test we won by a dropped goal by Bennie Osler, who is rapidly becoming a drop-goal merchant."

Tydens die Alll Blacks se toer deur S.A. in 1928 wen ons die eerste toets (17-0) "This match will go down as Bennie Osler's Test - he scored 14 points, all with his boot."

Bennie het die springbokspan in 1931/32 na Brittanje en Frankryk aangevoer en hy was weer eens kaptein toe die Wallabies in 1933 Suid-Afrika die eerste keer besoek het. In die toer "Bennie promised not to kick in the 2nd test (op 22 Julie 1933, Kingsmead, Durban), and we got the biggest hiding in our history: 21 : 0."

Bennie het sy rugbyloopbaan afgesluit met die wedstryd tussen dr. Alec Ross' se Wallabies (1933) en die stedelike en plattelandse span in Kaapstad.

"Tans (1956) woon hy, sy eggenote, enigste seun en moeder op 'n mooi plaas by Brackenfell net buite die noordelike voorstede van Kaapstad. . . . Hoewel Bennie nou 'n boer is, is hy 'n gekwalifiseerde prokureur. . . . "Ek het my daarvoor bekwaam net om aan my vader se wens te voldoen," verklaar hy.

Ook in die hofsaal was Osler 'n gevaarlike teenstander. Op 'n keer antwoord hy sy teenparty in die Kaapse Siviele Hof wat aan hom gesê het: 'Kyk hier, my geleerde vriend, hier kan jy nie maak wat jy wil soos op die rugbyveld nie' - "nee, maar ek het reeds verskeie driee in hierdie saak gedruk en ek dink ek het hulle almal vervyf. Om die waarheid te sê, ek wag nou net om te hoor dat my span die wedstryd gewen het!"

Bennie is getroud met 'n nooie Gladys Hobson en het 'n seun en 'n dogter, laasgenoemde getroud met die seun van mnr. J. Vosloo van BarkleyOos-een van sy sentermaats in die dae toe hy die held van U.K. was.

"Vandag is losskakel Bennie Osler die plaasboer B. L. Osler en daar is min tyd vir aktiewe deelname aan die sport wat hom beroemd gemaak het. Sy naam en faam groei egter steeds - en dit is die maatstaf van sy grootheid".

BRONNE:
(1) CRAVEN, Danie: Springhoks Down the Years.
(2) "Rugby Die Grootste Taktiikus" in Mense, Februarie 1956.
OOK:
CRAVEN, D. H.: Springhok-annale (Rughy) 1889-1964
- Uit Pretoriana: Rugby Springbokke na wie straatname in Danville, Pretoria, vernoem is

Bennie Osler : Albe Grobbelaar
Historiese Almanak: Woensdag 23 November 2022

Hy kon binne letterlik ’n breukdeel van ’n sekonde uit elke denkbare en ondenkbare hoek van die veld ’n skepskop oor die dwarslat lig. Skepdoele het destyds nog vier punte getel.

Bennie Osler is op 23 November 1901 op Aliwal-Noord gebore. Hy ontvang sy skoolopleiding by die skool wat later die Hoër Seunskool Rondebosch sou word, en ook by die Kingswood Kollege op Grahamstad.

Reeds as skoolseun was Osler se buitengewone talente as rugbyspeler duidelik sigbaar. Hy het ’n natuurlike aanvoeling vir die spel gehad, alhoewel hy self, tot met sy dood, volgehou het dat sy broer, Stanley Osler, ’n meer natuurlike en beter speler as hy was. Die legendariese Oubaas Markotter het altyd gesê: “As ek rugby wil speel, sal ek Stanley kies, maar as ek wil wen, is Bennie my man.” Bennie Osler was ’n wedstrydwenner.

Die joernalis en skrywer, Chris Greyvenstein, wat Osler se lewensverhaal opgeteken het, beskryf hom in sy boek SPRINGBOK SAGE, as “die outokratiese genie”. Osler het ’n oorheersende persoonlikheid gehad en rugby gespeel om te wen. Hy het geglo dat sy driekwarte net gebruik moes word wanneer die tyd ryp was, en daaroor sou hy alleen besluit. Sy foutlose buitelynskoppe, feitlik altyd aan die kant naaste aan sy voorspelers, was ’n inspuiting vir enige hardwerkende agttal. Sy taktiese skoppe, steekskoppe en dwarsskoppe kon selfs die beste verdediging omvergooi. En dan het hierdie briljante losskakel ook nog oor ’n vernietigende breekslag beskik.

Maar Bennie Osler word veral onthou as skepskopkoning. Hy kon binne letterlik ’n breukdeel van ’n sekonde uit elke denkbare en ondenkbare hoek van die veld ’n skepskop oor die dwarslat lig. Skepdoele het destyds nog vier punte getel, en Osler het ’n magdom wedstryde met sy skepskoppe gewen.

Bennie Osler het tussen 1924 en 1933 in altesaam sewentien toetse vir Suid-Afrika uitgedraf. In 1931-32 was hy die aanvoerder van die Springbokspan na Brittanje, daardie span wat net een wedstryd op hulle uitgebreide toer verloor het. Osler self het gemeen dat hy in daardie laat stadium van sy loopbaan sy vrotste rugby gespeel het. Hy het sy beste rugbyjare beskou as die jare 1920 tot 1925 toe hy aan die Universiteit van Kaapstad in die regte studeer het. Hy kon selfs op sy oudag nog baie opgewonde raak oor Intervarsities, en het graag vertel van die gereelde stryd tussen die Ikeys en Maties.

Een van Osler se beste toetswedstryde was die eerste toets teen die 1928 All Black-span van Maurice Brownlie. Dit was die enigste toets waarin Stanley Osler, Bennie se broer, ook gespeel het. Bennie Osler het daardie dag op Kingsmead in Durban, toe die Springbokke die All Blacks met 17 - 0 verneder het, veertien punte aangeteken. Dit was ’n rekord wat eers 21 jaar later deur Okey Geffin oortref sou word. Osler se leeue-aandeel het daardie middag in Durban uit twee skepdoele en twee strafdoele bestaan, terwyl dit ook na een van sy skitterende breekslae was dat Jack Slater die Bokke se enigste drie gaan druk het.

Suid-Afrika het nóóit ’n toetsreeks verloor terwyl Bennie Osler losskakel was nie. Die WP was ook deurentyd die houers van die Curriebeker terwyl Osler die Nommer 10 streeptrui gedra het.

Hulde vandag aan hierdie rugby-genie met die sproete en die bakbene, en een van ons beste losskakels ooit, Bennie Osler.

Bennie Osler : Herman Mostert
Before Botha's arrival, many considered Osler as the best ever No 10 to grace a rugby field in South Africa. The Western Province pivot, who played 17 Tests between 1924 and 1933, was regarded as the country's first real star flyhalf.

The former Springbok captain was known as a master of tactical kicking, but there was far more to his game than just kicking. He had lightning speed off the mark which enabled him to create several scoring opportunities for his outside backs.

In his 1970 book The Springboks, renowned Cape-based rugby writer AC Parker dedicated a whole chapter to Osler and capped the period between 1924 and 1933 as 'The Bennie Osler Era'. Parker wrote that Osler was "the greatest individual match-winner and tactical kicker that South African rugby has produced" and called him "The Great Dictator".

Osler passed away aged 60 in 1962 but his impact on the world game was recognised when he was posthumously inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007 and the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2009.