Game Changer: Pieter Rossouw's Springbok Impact

Join Pieter Rossouw, the Springbok Tri-Nations champion, on an exhilarating journey through his incredible career. Experience his transition from fullback to wing, the thrill of his Bok debut, and the unforgettable moment of scoring his first try for his country. Discover record-breaking performances against France and a memorable win against the All Blacks.
Gain exclusive insights into the 1998 end-of-year tour, compare legendary coaches, and unravel the secrets behind the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Plus, find out the origin of Pieter's iconic nickname, Slaptjips. Prepare for a fascinating episode of Front Row Rugby that you won't want to miss!
00:00 Introduction by Peter
00:51 Origin of Slaptjips
01:53 Switching from fullback to wing
04:57 Debut against the Lions
06:44 First try for the Springboks
07:43 Carel v Nick comparison
09:43 Four tries against France
12:45 Beating the All Blacks in New Zealand
17:13 1998 End of year tour
24:20 1999 Rugby World Cup
26:57 Dropped by Harry Viljoen
30:33 Funny moment
32:49 Trivia question
Peter says: I love the Springboks and rugby is one of my favourite sports. Although as a sports journalist I am supposed to remain neutral, I always like to point out that before I became a professional, I was just a big fan! I hold a Masters Degree in International Journalism so at least you know I should be able to ask a good question or two! My dream is to do this KZbin Channel permanently. You can help me out by liking the videos, subscribing to the channel and hitting the notification bell.
You can also connect with me on Twitter: bit.ly/3vYPJKs
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[@ColinByrne-aiazmir]

I am 73 and have followed springbok rugby since the LIons tour of 1955 and have seen some great wings over the years, like Hennie van Zyl, Jannie Engelbrecht, Sid Nomis, etc and Pieter rates up there with the best of them. A try machine.

[@frontrowrugby]

That's great, Colin. Thank you so much for sharing. You've certainly seen some of the very best!

[@benvaneeden1076]

Great interview with Pieter - he scored some great tries in his day and was deceptively quick with his long legs. PS - my team the Free State Cheetahs won the Currie Cup yesterday. Thank you Peter for this great Channel.

[@frontrowrugby]

Thanks Ben. Yes, Pieter was a great player and responsible for many special Springbok memories. Congratulations on the Currie Cup win yesterday. It's always a wonderful feeling when your team wins trophies.

[@JSL2000]

He sounds very grateful for all the experiences he's had in rugby. I like that. To even play one game at that level is an amazing achievement. A great career involves big wins and big losses. But, those elite players got to do something pretty much none of the rest of us ever got to experience. Win or lose, reflecting on it - They won! They got to do something special and it takes two teams to make a great game.

[@frontrowrugby]

Spot on! It's why I describe them all as legends. They fulfilled a childhood dream that most of us envy but never even came close to achieving. It's very special to have represented your country in any sport!

[@WarrenFelix]

Slap Chips in the house!!!Thanks Front Row Rugby for making this interview happening!!❤️💙❤️

[@frontrowrugby]

It's my pleasure, Warren. So happy you enjoyed it.

[@WarrenFelix]

I’m enjoying this great content all the way from the UK!Keep up the great content mate. 1❤️👊🏾👍🏾🇿🇦

[@frontrowrugby]

@@WarrenFelix Stunning! Great to know there are fans from outside SA that are enjoying the videos too. Whoo!

[@1414rebel]

I think at times your ability to get these interviews out of these players is over shadowed by the content itself. You leaning into this well. Confidence and Rugby brain. 4 am and I am watching this and Think this was a phenomenal interview.

[@frontrowrugby]

You are very kind! It's great to know that Front Row Rugby is the poison of choice at 4am! Hahaha! Always lekker hearing from you here boet. Take care.

[@TK_Originals]

Nice one. Pieter was brilliant against France, one of the most devastating performances by a bok winger. I am also glad to hear that he mentions the idea for the move against the All Blacks came from Henry. I always felt watching Natal and the boks, that there was an axis of influence in the bok play from Natal players, referring to the 8, 10, 12 axis. It was Gary, Henry, Muir and then later Muller at 12. I refer to Nick Mallets initial year of coaching whare I observed this.

[@frontrowrugby]

Yes that effort against France was monumental. It lives in the memory to this very day. I agree on that Sharks influence. It was so natural 8, 10, 12 and you just needed Joost to fit and let's face it, he wasn't too shabby from a creative perspective! That initial period of the Nick Mallett remains a special time. An excellent era for the Springboks.

[@TK_Originals]

@frontrowrugby Yes, it's that decision-making axis in a team. Joost was also a leader on the field, so he fitted in that slot perfectly between 8 and 10. It just shows how important it is to build a team around a core of leaders, I think it helps coaches translate the game plans, strategies, etc. much more easily. And the the team fits in around those leaders. It then requires a mature coach to empower players and then just guide the process.

[@frontrowrugby]

Absolutely. You can have a great coach but if he can't get his message across, or if he doesn't have the players that 1) understand what is expected of them and/or 2) have the skills to implement the strategy, then you are doomed!

[@Vander-K]

My favourite rugby player of all time.

[@frontrowrugby]

Yeah!!

[@nunuotutaha3419]

Great insights, was a late developer at wing that became world class. WP was Bok loaded back in 97 in the backs. Pieter was consistent and being dropped for Dean Hall didnt make sense when Pieter was still on form. Interesting his take regarding Skinstad, in hindsight, Skinstad should have stayed an impact player and taken over fron Gary after 99 WC. Dropping Venter was crazy.

[@frontrowrugby]

He did indeed become a world class wing in 97 and a shame he was dropped when he was still highly effective. Totally agree on Bobby. It was working with him coming off the bench and making an impact. After the 1999 Rugby World Cup the likes of Teich and Honiball would have retired and then Bobby, Franco Smith and Gaffie Du Toit would have been the guys to come in to the starting XV. But alas!

[@SupremeBros2012]

Once a giant always a giant , good to see Pieter after all these years Great interview 🎉

[@frontrowrugby]

Thanks Joe. Glad you enjoyed it. And yes, once a giant always a giant! Pieter was a special player.

[@sakabula2357]

Awesome been waiting..Thx Peter

[@frontrowrugby]

Yeah!! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@sakabula2357]

@frontrowrugby Really great one..Pieter was one of my childhood heroes...That game agianst France was one of the best Bok games I've ever seen...Pieter and the Bok team were just phenomenal on the day..they would have destroyed any team in the world on the day..Think Hannibal scored one of the best team tries ever...was the last try and we were just running them ragged at that stage...And the French supporters whistling at their own team while the Bokke got a standing ovation..Pure magic

[@frontrowrugby]

Yeah, Pieter was a great player in that era. Obviously as a Province/Stormers man I was a big fan. As you say who can ever forget that demolition job against the French? It has to go down as one of the greatest performances we've ever seen by the Springboks. We were just perfect that day. And the French supporters duly acknowledged it too.

[@seamus9750]

I remember Pieter for his ability to read the game so well and scored many intercept tries. Saw him recently in our local pub watching a game.

[@frontrowrugby]

Yes that's right, Pieter did indeed score his fair share of intercept tries. Very cool you saw him at your local!

[@homerwc]

Nice interview! Really enjoyed it

[@frontrowrugby]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!

[@rif9576]

Hi Peter, this is another lovely way to end my Monday. I really enjoyed this interview. I think what I enjoy most is hearing the players views of their respective coaches. I think Pieter as WP man through and through may have been very kind to Carel and Nick. Provincial biased rearing its head again. Was really interesting to hear the Teichmann /Skinstad fiasco from a man who enjoyed the playing under Mallett. Personally I was a massive Venter fan still think he is one of if not the best 7 we had in SA. I am really keen to hear a little bit more about Harry Viljoen, the guys skirt over this coaching period mostly noting that he brought more of a business feel to the Boks. On a personal note in 2012 I flew from in Cape Town to Johannesburg for work on a Sunday afternoon and happened to be on same flight a Pieter and he was kind enough to store my luggage in the overhead for me. He is such a lovely kind man. When he said “Harry preferred big guys.” I take he means heavier/broader coz he is crazy tall for a wing. Looking forward to Albert van den Berg’s interview. Really happy for him and his new appointment with Scarlets.

[@frontrowrugby]

So glad you enjoyed this one, Rif! Yes, it's true the Province/Stormers guys seem to take it easier on Carel and Nick but that's probably because they knew them better and maybe had better relationships etc. Interesting that they all kind of say the same thing about Harry. We need to find a guy that Harry angered ... or better yet, get Harry on this show! Very cool what Pieter did for you on the plane. And I agree, he was very tall for a wing so it had to have been the bulk and weight that Harry preferred rather than height. Albert will not disappoint and wait til you hear about the circumstances around the interview!

[@rif9576]

@@frontrowrugby Peter, I won’t even try and deny it. The WP/Stormers players are always a bit closer to my heart but there are some guys like Andre Vos, Albert van den Berg, Henry Honiball, Andre Joubert, Andre Venter that holds a special place in my heart. You come next week you will have two of the five on your channel. 96-2003 we almost saw a coach per year the exception of Mallett having that 3 year tenure even though his was equally contentious. Carel only had 8 games to his name as a coach. It was like the Wild West.

[@frontrowrugby]

@@rif9576 I will try to see how many more of that Fab Five I can get! Some outstanding players there. And it really was like the Wild West. It only really settled down with Jake White's tenure and even then he was in danger of losing his job in 06. PS Apart from Albert I've got a few other nice ones coming up in July. A former Stormers star, a Griquas/Bulls Currie Cup winner, 95 World Cup winner and a former Bok captain all on the way in July!

[@rif9576]

@@frontrowrugby I am really looking forward to that. We have had some really special players in our times. Some exceptional leaders like Pienaar and Smit, not necessarily the best at the craft but stellar leaders. I think that’s what makes Springbok rugby so special. It’s our diversity. I am not going anywhere, your channel is ramping up my excitement for the RWC. I am really looking forward to your interview with the worlds greatest lock and all round great human being (if stories are too be believed)

[@frontrowrugby]

@@rif9576 Yes this country of ours has been blessed with some tremendous rugby players. The talent has been exceptional! No one can argue. I am confident you're going to enjoy the RWC content. I know you like spice and there will be spice! I've got a guy who justifies Staaldraad and another who says he saved Jake while he was drowning his sorrows in Klipdrift! As for that lock, there will also be two scrumhalves that are just as captivating!

[@1414rebel]

Well done boytie

[@frontrowrugby]

Thanks Champ!

[@1414rebel]

James Small!!!!!!! !!!!

[@frontrowrugby]

I knew you would know the answer! And answer it very enthusiastically too.

[@1414rebel]

19-12 final Score

[@frontrowrugby]

Oh yes! I remember that day fondly. My aunty came to our house to watch it with us. A late morning kick off SA time. We were not disappointed!

[@1414rebel]

@@frontrowrugby I was in my element.

[@seanpinkey8798]

Easy- it was James Small.I was there that night!

[@frontrowrugby]

Brilliant!

[@benvaneeden1076]

James Smal

[@frontrowrugby]

The one and only!

[@domenico1373]

James Small

[@frontrowrugby]

Spot on!

[@Ash0010]

He replaced/ousted Gavin Lawless in 1994.

[@frontrowrugby]

That's excellent knowledge Ash! Your memory is immaculate. Gavin Lawless - now there's a name I haven't heard in many a year.