Philip Jacobus (Flip) Nel

Springbok Rugby Player http://www.sarugby.net/playerprofile.aspx?id=46603&category=&league...

Test debut 30 June 1928 vs New Zealand in Durban aged 26

Last test: 25 September 1937 vs New Zealand in Auckland aged 35

Total Springbok matches 46

Captain in 8 tests

See also article about his rugby career on this website http://www.pmbcollegiansrugbyclub.co.za/collegians-history.php

Phil Nel
Full names: Philip Jacobus
Date of birth: 17 Jun 1902
Place of birth: Kranskop
School: Maritzburg College
Springbok no: 199
Debut test province: Natal
Physical: 1.87m, 95.7kg
Date of death: 11 Feb 1984 (Age 81)

Test summary: Tests: 16 Tries: 1
First Test: 30 Jun 1928 Age:26 Lock against New Zealand at Kingsmead, Durban
Last Test: 25 Sep 1937 Age:35 Lock against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland

Test history:
Date Age Position Opponent Result Score Venue Prov
30 Jun 1928 26 Lock New Zealand Win: 17-0 Kingsmead, Durban Natal
21 Jul 1928 26 Lock New Zealand Lose: 6-7 Ellispark, Johannesburg Natal
18 Aug 1928 26 Lock New Zealand Win: 11-6 1 try Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Natal
01 Sep 1928 26 Lock New Zealand Lose: 5-13 Newlands, Cape Town Natal
05 Dec 1931 29 Lock Wales Win: 8-3 St. Helens, Swansea Natal
19 Dec 1931 29 Lock Ireland Win: 8-3 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin Natal
02 Jan 1932 29 Lock England Win: 7-0 Twickenham, London Natal
16 Jan 1932 29 Lock Scotland Win: 6-3 Murrayfield, Edinburgh Natal
08 Jul 1933 31 Lock (C) Australia Win: 17-3 Newlands, Cape Town Natal
12 Aug 1933 31 Lock (C) Australia Win: 12-3 Ellispark, Johannesburg Natal
26 Aug 1933 31 Lock (C) Australia Win: 11-0 Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth Natal
02 Sep 1933 31 Lock (C) Australia Lose: 4-15 Springbokpark, Bloemfontein Natal
26 Jun 1937 35 Tight-head Prop (C) Australia Win: 9-5 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Natal
17 Jul 1937 35 Lock (C) Australia Win: 26-17 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Natal
04 Sep 1937 35 Lock (C) New Zealand Win: 13-6 Lancaster Park (Jade stadium), Christchurch Natal
25 Sep 1937 35 Lock (C) New Zealand Win: 17-6 Eden Park, Auckland Natal

Flip Nel : Doc Craven
Flip Nel : Doc Craven
Philip Nel was one of my heroes when the All Blacks toured South Africa in 1928. Here was another quiet man; a commanding voice however, combined with an attractive, impressive appearance.

When he rose to talk he automatically gained the attention of an audience and commanded their respect. Philip had a very strong personality and an excellent command of both languages.

When we toured Australia and New Zealand in 1937, he got the forwards together and I took the backs, who promptly decided that we wanted to run the ball - no unnecessary kicking. Philip and I later conferred and I told him what the backs wanted. He said: "Danie, the forwards are going to scrum our opponents into the ground first," and that is what they proceeded to do.

Seldom has South Africa ever had as strong a scrummager as Philip, and it was on the 1937 tour that we really started to appreciate that matches are won up front.

If you win the scrums, you win the match - lose there, you lose the match.

In those days one could elect to scrum instead of taking the lineout and during the third and decisive test Philip said at the first opportunity: "All Blacks, we'll take the scrum". I recall the apprehension written all over the All Black's faces.

We scrummed the All Blacks into the ground that day, and it was all due to Philip and his unswerving plan of action that we were able to gain a glorious victory.

Philip was then at the height of his career. Aboard ship on the way home he threw his rugby boots overboard. It was a sad occasion but he retired as captain of the only Springbok side ever to beat New Zealand on their home turf.

An unforgettable player, captain, and man.

Philip Nel : Chris Schoeman
Philip Nel was a real farm boy, tall and a big lad for his age, and was still at school when he was chosen to represent the Natal provincial side. Totally dedicated to the game, he would travel 30 miles on horseback from the family farm to Greyrtown, from where he and a few other players would hire a taxi to Pietermaritzburg for club matches.

Nel was first chosen for the Springboks to play against the visiting All Blacks in 1928 and ran out in all four Tests. When Bennie Osler's Boks toured the UK in 1931/32, Nel was an established lock in a formidable pack of forwards - reckoned to be one of the best of all time. The following year, when the Wallabies came to South Africa, Nel was appointed captain for the series ahead of Bennie Osler.

Nel was a hard, powerful forward but a clean player and a true gentleman. He missed the second Test (which South Africa lost) because of injury, but led the Springboks in the other Tests to a 3-2 series win.

The famous Springbok tour to New Zealand only came four years later, and Nel must have accepted that his playing days were over. But the selectors wisely turned to him, now 34, to lead South Africa on a difficult mission to the Land of the Long White Cloud, and the big man - literally and figuratively - left the plough to take up the rugby ball again.

Nel instilled the approach of open, running rugby in the side and New Zealand crowds found them a joy to watch. The Boks took the series 2-1, still the only Springbok touring team to win a series in New Zealand. Nel later observed, 'Although the football played by the 1937 Springboks was exceptionally spectacular, the results were achieved by the proper fundamentals of the game, plus highly developed team work.'

After the tour, the great man announced his retirement, ceremoniously throwing his boots overboard on the homeward voyage from New Zealand.
Phillip Nel - our grandest Collegian : Tony Day
Phillip Jacobus Nel was born on a farm in the Kranskop district of Natal in 1902. He saw his first game of rugby at the age of fifteen after enrolling as a pupil at Maritzburg College.

It was while still a pupil at Maritzburg College that he made his debut for Natal at provincial level in 1921 under the captaincy of Herbie Taylor. Phillip recounted how he was dropped out of the reckoning by the selectors for the years 1922 and 1923, due to the fact that he had to play for his school 1st XV, but by 1924 he was back and moving on with his illustrious career.

After leaving school Phillip continued to play rugby even though it meant he had to ride his horse thirty miles to Greytown so that he and a few mates could take a taxi to Pietermaritzburg to play for their club (Old Collegians, Maritzburg) on Saturday afternoons. After the game this whole process was repeated. Phillip went on to play a total of sixty-two games for Natal between 1921 and 1936.

He was first chosen to play for South Africa against the touring All Blacks of 1 928. He made his debut at lock in the first test at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday 30 June 1928. South Africa went on to win the test 17 - 0. He subsequently played lock in all three of the remaining tests. The series ended in a 2-2 draw.

He was then selected for the Springboks third tour of the British Isles in 1931 under the captaincy of Bennie Osler. He played in all four tests against Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland. The Springboks returned home undefeated in all four tests, in fact the Springboks won twenty-three of the twenty-six games played on tour. The only loss was to Midlands Counties 21-30, the other two matches having been drawn. The Springboks scored 407 points with 124 being scored against them.

With the upcoming Australian tour of 1933 the selectors decided to hold a number of trial games, so Phillip with another 120 players arrived in Cape Town to participate in a week of trials at the Newlands Stadium culminating with the final trial on the Saturday afternoon.

It was late on Sunday morning at the players Sea Point hotel that Bill Schreiner, one of the selectors made an appearance. He pinned a piece of paper on the hotel notice board, everyone knew this would be the team to play the first test. Phillip who had played in all eight of the previous tests was relieved to see his name on the list as one of the two lock forwards. To his surprise he had also been named as captain.

Bennie Osler, undefeated in the test series in Britain the previous year, had unceremoniously been dropped as captain. (How often has this been repeated over the years?) Within minutes of the announcement there was a telephone call for Phillip. It was Bennie Osler calling from his hotel room. He wanted to congratulate Phillip on his appointment and to pledge his support for the new captain.

‘I regretted very much that Bennie had been deposed as captain after our winning tour to Britain,’ Nel reflected later. ‘On hearing the news, I felt that some kind of injustice had been done to him. His telephone call was as fine a sporting gesture as I have come across. Bennie and I always remained great friends and I always admired his approach to the game tremendously.’

The Springboks duly won the first test at Newlands 17-3. Ironically with Phillip injured, Bennie had to be restored as Captain for the second test in Durban. He duly outlined the game plan that the team would adopt for the second test. He decided to heed the calls of his critics in the press and adopted the risky open rugby they had called for so as no surprise to himself South Africa lost the test 21-6.

Phillip returned as captain for the third test at Ellis Park. South Africa won the game 12-3. He also led South Africa to an 11-0 victory in the fourth test in Port Elizabeth. With the series already decided and both teams preferring to be at home, Australia won an uninspiring test 12-4. One thing that did come out of this was that a series should not exceed four tests.

By the end of 1933, Phillip had grown tired of all the travelling to play club rugby and even more the travelling to play for Natal in Durban but he continued to play the occasional game for Natal when required. So when he was summoned to play in the South African trials in April of 1937 he did not hesitate in accepting the call. With ninety-six other players he arrived in Cape Town to participate in a series of trial matches at Newlands.

After the final trial the selectors moved to the Civil Service Club to make their final decisions. The players trooped off to their Metropole Hotel for the long wait, finally after five hours of deliberation Bill Schreiner arrived at the hotel to announce the twenty nine names of the players that would represent South Africa on the second tour to Australia and New Zealand and so from a balcony on the first floor, the name of each player was read out and Phillip Nel was also named as captain of the tour party, Phillip concluded the proceedings by announcing ‘I think these players will mould into the greatest side I have ever known’.

After two grueling weeks at sea (by which time Phillip had talked to each player individually, mapping out what he expected from them), the Springboks arrived in Freemantle near Perth on the 30th June for their Australian part of the tour. Phillip led South Africa to victory in both tests, winning 9-5 in Sydney on 26th June 1937 and 26-17 on 1 7th July 1937.

The Springboks started their tour of New Zealand with five straight victories. But after four days of constant rain and with the promise of rain expected for the first test at Wellington the five player selection panel panicked, when the side was announced Phillip had been dropped and Craven moved from scrum-half to fly-half and captain. (Wynand, you were not the first!). South Africa duly lost the first test 13-7.

Sanity prevailed before the second test and Phillip was once again selected as captain and Craven back at scrum-half. South Africa won 13-6. The side for the third and final test was named with only one change from that of the second test. White had been replaced by Lochner. South Africa went on to win the third test at Eden Park by 17-6.

South Africa had won the series and were crowned unofficial world champions.

Phillip Nel had led South Africa to the first series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand. The full tour record was as follows: played 28 won 26 lost 2.

Phillip recalled ‘It was an honour to Captain this team, that not only played rugby football in the best tradition of the game, but also proved that bright football is not necessarily losing football. ‘The 1933 Wallabies reminded us of all the thrills of open football and, while we have endeavored not to play with the some degree of recklessness, we have followed their lead. In so doing I hope we have persuaded everyone that there is no need to tinker with the laws of the game, or introduce special amendments to make the game attractive’.

Phillip Nel will always be remembered as the gentleman who led South Africa to a series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand, (This feat has never been and may never be equaled).

Phillip announced his retirement from the game of rugby by throwing his boots into the sea on the return voyage from New Zealand to South Africa.

Phillip Nel’s legacy lives on with his granddaughter captaining the Northern Transvaal provincial ladies rugby team.

Phillip Nel’s record:

Lock and prop in 16 test matches (13-3-0) vs. New Zealand 1928 (4) 1937 (2) (4-2-0)
vs. Wales, Ireland, England, Scotland 1931-2 (4-0-0)
vs. Australia 1933 (4) 1937 (2) (5-1 -0)

Philip J. Nel : Wikipedia
Philip Jacobus Nel (17 June 1902, in Kranskop district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – 11 February 1984, in Greytown) was a former South African Springbok captain.

The son of Piet Nel and Kitty Maritz, he was educated at Maritzburg College, matriculating as Head Prefect and captain of the rugby First XV in 1921. Nel enjoyed the rare distinction of earning a Natal (open) rugby cap while still at school. He made his debut for the Springboks against the 1928 All Blacks, and captained the side in 1933 (against the Wallabies) and on the all-conquering tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1937. Known affectionately as "The Greatest Springboks", Nel's 1937 team remains the only Springbok team ever to have won a test series in New Zealand.

Nel saw action in World War II, serving as a major in the Umvoti Mounted Rifles.

Married to Jose Havemann, they produced a family of 4 children. Affectionately known as "Oom Flip", he farmed at 'Vetspruit' and died at his home in Greytown on 11 February 1984, after a long illness.

Philip Nel : Albert Heenop
Volkshelde wat in briljante groen en goud op die veld draf. Die Kiwi’s in hul misterieuse swart gewaad wat, met glurende oë en uitdagende tonge, die haka uitvoer. En, reuse skares, van 50,000 tot 75,000 fanatiese toeskouers, wat uit volle bors die volkslied sing... Hoendervleis-oomblikke sonder weerga.

Daar is weinige skouspelle in wêreldsport wat die verbeelding méér aangryp as wanneer Springbok en All Black mekaar die stryd aansê. Dis ‘n woeste wedywering wat nou reeds 100 jaar voortduur.

Wyle Philip Nel spog met die unieke onderskeiding dat hy die enigste Springbokkaptein in die geskiedenis is wat Suid-Afrika tot ‘n reeksoorwinning oor die All Blacks kon lei - op Nieu-Seelandse bodem.

Dié mylpaal het Nel op die Boktoer na Australasië in 1937 behaal, en, getrou aan sy dinamiese karakter, het Nel (35) aanboord van die skip terug na Suid-Afrika, instede daarvan om dit figuurlik op te hang, sy stewels letterlik oorboord gegooi.

“Ek het die einde van die pad bereik,” het hy geskryf in die boek, Natal Rugby, 1870-1964. “‘n Mens moet een of ander tyd halt roep, en dit was ‘n heel toepaslike oomblik - op die kruin van die golf.”

Nel het, vandat hy sy debuut teen die All Blacks in 1928 op Kingsmead in Durban met ‘n oorwinning van 17-0 gevier het, vir die Springbokke in 17 toetse verteenwoordig, waarvan hy slegs drie verloor het.

Die Phil Nel verhaal het in 1902 in die hartjie van Zoeloeland begin, waar hy op ‘n plaas in die Kranskop-distrik gebore is. “Dit was egter eers op die ouderdom van 15 jaar dat die groot avontuur vir my begin het, toe ek na Maritzburg College toe gestuur was om my skoolloopbaan te voltooi,” vertel hy. “Daar het hulle ‘n spel beoefen genaamd rugby, wat ek nog nooit vantevore gesien het nie.

“My ouers was aanvanklik gekant teen deelname in dié sport, omdat ‘n oom van my kanker ontwikkel het in ‘n heup wat hy gebreek het tydens ‘n wedstryd. “‘n Jaar later was ek uiteindelik toegelaat om te speel en het ek in die vierde span begin.” Nel het spoedig opgang gemaak en die daaropvolgende jaar reeds vir homself ‘n plek in die eerstespan oopgespeel. Daardie jare het die eerstespan ook deelgeneem aan die senior rugbyliga, en in 1921, met vyf Natalspelers op toer saam met die Springbokke in Nieu-Seeland, was Nel as skoolseun ‘genooi’ om vir Natal te speel.

“Aangesien daar toe nog nie vasgestelde posisies in die skrum was nie - die ou wat eerste by die skrum opgedaag het, moes in die voorry sak - het ek ervaring opgedoen in ‘n verskeidenheid van posisies, met die gemeenskaplike, vooropgestelde doel om balbesit te verseker,” onthou hy.

“Daardie jaar het ek ook teruggekeer na die plaas, en met die naaste rugbyklub, naamlik Greytown, 30 myl (bykans 50km) weg, was die bywoning van oefeninge buite die kwessie.

“Dit het beteken dat ek 4.00vm op ‘n Saterdag moes opstaan om die 30 myl na Greytown te perd af te lê, ontbyt te eet en dan saam met ‘n paar ander ouens per huurmotor na Pietermaritzburg te ry vir ons wedstryd. Daardie aand sou ek in Greytown oorgeslaap, voor die perdrit terug Kranskop toe Sondagoggend.”

In 1922 het Nel sy plek in die Natalspan verloor, en, hoewel hy topfiks was, meen hy dit kon waarskynlik te doen gehad het met die feit dat hy weer ‘n uitnodiging om vir Natal te speel van die hand gewys het om in ‘n voorwedstryd vir sy skool teen Durban High School (DHS) te speel. “Die keurders was ontevrede met my besluit, hoewel ek nie eintlik ‘n keuse gehad het nie.”

In 1924 was die strydbyl egter begrawe, met Nel wat ingesluit was in die Natalspan wat met 3-3 gelykop gespeel het teen Ron Cove-Smith se Britse & Ierse Leeus, en vier jaar later het hy die groen en goud die eerste keer oor die kop getrek teen die 1928 All Blacks.

Nel, wat intussen ook die kapteinskap van Natal verwerf het, het reeds agt toetse agter sy naam gehad toe hy in 1933 weer Bokproewe gespeel het met die oog op ‘n tuisreeks teen die besoekende Wallabies. “Die spelers het in die hotel sitkamer gewag op die aankondiging van die span, toe wyle Bill Schreiner, sameroeper van die keurders, ingestap en ‘n papier op die kennisgewingbord vasgesteek het.

“Die jonges het hulle soontoe gehaas, terwyl die ouer garde oënskynlik minder angstig hul beurt afgewag het om te gaan kyk. Toe van die jongetjies terugkom om my geluk te wens, was ek verlig dat ek my plek behou het.

“Groot was my verbasing egter toe dit aan die lig gekom het dat die gelukwensinge te make gehad het met my aanstelling as kaptein van die span. “Hoewel uiteraard geweldig geëerd met die aanstelling, was dit met gemengde gevoelens aangesien ek jammer gevoel het vir die legendariese Bennie Osler wat van die kapteinskap onthef was. “Juis op daardie oomblik was ek na die telefoon ontbied. “Dit was Bennie wat my wou gelukwens en verseker het van sy volle ondersteuning. “Wat ‘n sportiewe gebaar.”

Suid-Afrika het, met Nel wat van voor gelei het, die reeks van vyf toetse teen die Aussies met 3-2 gewen, in die aanloop tot die veelbesproke toer na Australië en Nieu-Seeland in 1937. “Die skeepsreis het ontsettend daartoe bygedra om ‘n ongelooflike spangees te bou,” meen Nel.

“Interessant genoeg, was die Bokke van 1937 aanvanklik nie juis beskou as ‘n hoogs talentvolle toerspan nie. Dus was een van my eerste take om die spelers se selfvertroue op te bou. “Ek was bevoorreg om ten volle tweetalig te wees, dus kon ek rustig, oor ‘n koppie tee, met individue in hul huistaal praat en persoonlike belangstelling toon.

“As ‘n ou strydros, was dit myns insiens verál belangrik dat ons goeie ambassadeurs vir Suid-Afrika moes wees en nie die gasvryheid van ons gashere moes misbruik nie. “Ons het derhalwe ooreengekom dat as enigeen van ons gevaar gestaan het om ‘n spektakel van homself te maak, indien hy dalk effens té diep in die bottel gekyk het, ons as ware pêlle sou optree, hom stilletjies sou begelei na sy kamer toe en by hom sou sit totdat hy veilig geslaap het. “Dit het ‘n ongelooflike gevoel van kameraadskap geskep.

“En, op die ou einde was dit hoofsaaklik spanwerk en kombinasies wat tot ons sukses óp die veld bygedra het.

“Sommige kenners was gaaf genoeg om na die toer van 1937 ons as die beste Springbokspan óóit te bestempel. Al wat ek weet is dat dit die beste kombinasie was waarin ek in my nege jaar van toetsrugby gespeel het. “Ek het op geen stadium wanneer ons opgedraf het angstig gevoel nie, en toe daardie beslissende toets in Nieu-Seeland aangebreek het, het ek geen twyfel gehad dat ons sou seëvier nie.

“Soveel vertroue het ek in daardie span gehad. “Daar mag miskien minder sterre gewees het as in sommige van die ander toetsspanne waarin ek gespeel het, maar dit was by verre die beste spanpoging wat ek ooit meegemaak het.”

Philip Jacobus Nel is in 1984 op 81-jarige ouderdom oorlede.

Soos Dr Danie Craven tereg opgemerk het, “‘n onvergeetlike speler, kaptein en mens...”