Carel du Plessis - The Prince of Wings

Like all true artists, Carel has a temperament which he sometimes has difficulty in controlling. His rugby started at Paarl Boys High and in the late 1970's he played in Craven Week as a stand-off half.
It so happened that when he came to Stellenbosch he played at centre. We only found out after we had selected him at centre that he actually preferred the wing position. There was a bit of a squabble about all this and we subsequently dropped him altogether.
Later when we felt he had had his punishment we selected him on the wing and he was soon in the Western Province team.
Absolute brilliance was his once he felt happy in his position. He never looked back. He was right and I was wrong. He has gone on to score some of the greatest tries ever from the wing position and has represented his country with courage and distinction.

[@rlsuth]

Was lucky enough to live in Cape Town in this era, and attend school at the same time as Carel. Superb athlete and rugby player. He was a joy to watch.

[@andremeyer863]

Was in BHS Paarl myself.Played wing myself.

[@andremeyer863]

​we were the strongest in the world. 1980 Lions, 1970 AB, 1976 AB. 1987 & 1991 RWC do not count...we were not there.

[@ringonaidoo1352]

Truly he was the GOAT in the wings❤

[@rynooosth]

The Prince of wings the GOAT

[@thomasdeetlefs2162]

Thank you yet again for a lovely video

[@ryangoodman13]

The Prince of Wings. GOAT

[@AnunakiEnki]

Absolute balance at full pace! Very few have it.

[@ronnievorster6361]

Watch Carel come through the ranks till he became a bok a genuis with speed and never died with ball a gifted player as well as his brothers

[@mtnstrand2819]

Carel du Plessis was never the 'Prince of wings'. He was indeed the King of all rugby players in his prime. Such a shame the rest of the world hardly saw much of him in his prime.

[@PatrickDedericks]

Just a pitty he played in a APARTHEID era where maybe BETER than him were deprived so NO star in my eyes

[@PatrickDedericks]

​@@mtnstrand2819like the rest of the World haven't seen players of colour who were deprived from playing.

[@nic0072]

@@PatrickDedericks There was no one better than him. Tobias was about the only coloured player that could make it on merit at the time. Later came players like Cupido, etc.

[@MGR-jw8rc]

19:48. I was sitting in the student section (right in the boundary) and they scored this right in front of me. Newlands went nuts.

[@Riaan3108]

My first rugby hero. Imagine the try record for the Boks had him and his generation had 'normal' careers. Unreal player

[@sinenhlanhlamlondo8013]

How come the old old school Springboks played running rugby compared to the modern Springboks?

[@vankaap]

Higher standard of coaching.Todays Springbok coaches(Rassie), don't have the talent to coach running rugby.

[@sinenhlanhlamlondo8013]

@@vankaap Aaaaah that doesn't make sense since he's from the Free State and they're known for running rugby

[@vankaap]

@@sinenhlanhlamlondo8013 You should go look at the rugby the Free State played when Rassie was their coach.He basically copied the Bulls conservative style.Same when he came to Western Province.

[@shireendaniels3055]

Nas Botha changed Springbok rugby to 10 men rugby. At the time it was working because a try was 4 points and penalty/ drop goal was 3 points.

[@sinenhlanhlamlondo8013]

@@shireendaniels3055 sooooo 40 odd years later we just stuck to it?

[@mjgholfza]

My hero as kind. Hy en Danie Gerber. Ek het self linker vleuel gespeel op skool.

[@RiteTrade]

And always went as close as possible to the poles, not like today when most are in such a hurry to celebrate, not thinking that 2 extra points might win them the game.

[@paulmihaere8270]

The in goal area back then was huge Probably played a big part unlike nowadays

[@corriedebeer799]

My fok ons het Naas gesien n bal na sy center toe pass.

[@brandwessels8582]

Ja wel - van die mooiste agterlyn drieë is gedruk met Naas as losskakel. Hy het heeltemal anders gespeel vir die Springbokke as vir Noord Transvaal. Soos hy op Faffa Knoetze se Springbok debut vir hom gesê het: "Jy gaan die bal 3 keer kry - fok dit op jy sien hom nie weer nie. Ek weet wat om met die bal te doen". Nodeloos om te sê het die bal daardie dag heeltyd in die agterlyn afgegaan.

[@jacqloock]

Elke aand voor jy gaan slaap en elke oggend as jy opstaan, kyk vir jouself in die spieël en sê vyf keer vir jouself, met gevoel: “Ek weet niks van rugby nie”

[@rlsuth]

People forget that Naas was a highly regarded running flyhalf as a junior before he went to the bulls system.

[@PatrickDedericks]

Naas was k...k het gespeel in i APARTHEID tyd toe BETER as hy nie mag speel nie so fok hom.

[@PatrickDedericks]

​@@jacqloocken sê jy 1000 keer ek weet ook fokol van RUGBY nie want jy het APARTHEID RUGBY gekyk.

[@ecojot8502]

19:05 spectator trying to tackle him

[@HannibalLekta-qg2ip]

He had better footwork than Fred Astaire

[@nic0072]

The days when WP still ran with the ball. Just look at the rubbish they dish up nowadays.

[@henry-nr5np]

Those were wings like Carel Ray Mordt Gert Muller But not today,s fakes

[@HannesvanGreunen]

Hy was n briljante vleuel kon driee maak uit niks absoluut skitterend

[@henry-nr5np]

Hy was bje bje beter as Habanna hut sy drier self gemaak step side step

[@magdapienaar1993]

Briljante vleuel en goeie hardloop rugby. Vir my was hy n beter vleuel as Brian Habanna. Carel kon step en het spoed gehad. Goeie dae se goeie rugby...

[@PatrickDedericks]

Moenie stront praat nie hy het in die APARTHEID jare gespeel waar spelers soos Habana nie toegelaat was om te speel nie, Habana, Kolbe en Arendse sou kringe om hom gehardloop het.

[@francoisrossouw1656]

He had the perfect side step, I bought a scholar season ticket R 25 and was at Newlands that rainy winter’s day he scored after Naas kicked it in the corner against the All Black rebel tour. Fond memories of the “King of wings” and that WP team also. I think he played for Maties,WP,Tvl, EP, Wigan, Barbas and bokke. That try at Twickenham for the Southern hemisphere combination must be a highlight for him

[@roydelport4997]

He wasn't better than the others.HE WAS THE BEST EVER!!!!dont care who says what.and even when he was coach.the were to many jealous people with money that bought the official's over then for the boks to loose.including Nick Mallet.

[@Hammersteyn]

9:10 Nass hoofing that heavy wet leather ball like it's a modern one is always a thing of beauty

[@hermangibson1585]

Indeed the price of wings absolutely brilliant.

[@etienne869]

Always great to watch and thanks you. Do you perhaps any highlights on Divan Serfontein, WP and Springbok scrumhalf? after rugby he became a well known orthopedic surgeon? I would appreciate to be able to share with him and his family. Lekker rugby history!!

[@RealRugby]

Hi Dan, thanks for the comment. Just search for Divan Serfontein and you'll get the video we did some time ago of him. Enjoy!

[@MrLinwood68]

Great to see, especially some of the earlier stuff. The only player similar to him I can think of is Rupeni Caucau. They could both tip toe through a china ship, whilst going like a bullet.

[@PatrickDedericks]

He might be a legend in your eyes but just remember the Kolbe's, Arendse's etc were deprived from playing because of APARTHEID so NO legend to me.

[@PatrickDedericks]

And what about those who were deprived under a APARTHEID

[@MrLinwood68]

@@PatrickDedericks I came here, a rugby channel, to comment about rugby 🏉. Have a good day Sir.

[@AnunakiEnki]

@@PatrickDedericks They have their chance now, no?

[@TheDerf777]

@@PatrickDedericks dropping the APARTHEID bomb 6 times in one chat...... not even trolling....just kak vervelig.

[@paulmihaere8270]

Never heard of this beast Man was a unit and a ton of pace Great watch

[@albieduplessis6783]

Check out his brothers as well. Willie and Michael.