Ray Mordt - The Gold Standard

It's a shame that South Africa wasn't able to play more tests during the isolation years. Players like Gerber, Botha, Du Plessis and Heunis would have lit up the international stage. Another fantastic player from that era was Ray Mordt, an impressive wing who could outpace most and run over anyone when necessary. Ray Mordt scored 12 test tries for the Springboks, including a hat trick against the Allblacks in the third test at Eden Park in 1981. Here is a collection of some of his best tries. Enjoy, and thanks for watching!

[@the_katman2181]

The size, power and pace of Mordt and Gerber in the same backline. A defender's nightmare.

[@scottyenright9854]

The springboks had such powerfully fast outside backs back then.. literally ahead of there time as they had could fit in any backline today..Gerber..Mordt what a combination..Gerber is still the best center ever..rugby fan from nz

[@deklerkverwoerd7721]

there will never be another Danie Gerber, I'm glad you recognize how good he was. you would have seen him in the 81 tour and playing NZ in 92 and the Kavaliers in 86 both in SA

[@merlin5420]

Neil Burger as well

[@vanvandervyver2506]

I am a rugby fan from Rhodesia and Ray Mordt was one if my heroes.

[@BooklessT]

Played touch rugby with Ray. His acceleration over the first 20m was incredible.

[@vanvandervyver1354]

As a rugby fan from Rhodesia he is one of my heroes of all time.

[@floating-in]

Ray Mordt and Danie Gerber were my heroes as a kid. The way he accelerated past Thian Strydom like he was standing still.. unbelievable

[@markj702]

Had the good privilege of, as a child, meeting Ray Mordt one of my rugby heroes around the time of some of these games. I was at the Wanderers where I played barefoot rugby for the kids teams there (commentator Hugh Bladen was my coach, believe it or not), and Ray and Cliffie Brown (i think it was, another top provincial player) were on one of the side fields practising kicking for poles. I ran up and said hello. They were very gracious, and it was a moment that will live with me. Thing about Ray was that he was built like the players now, at a time when a wing was usually all about the raw pace. Ray was almost a precursor to the power and pace balance of Jonah Lomu, just not quite as much of an outlier as Jonah. Still an SA rugby legend, and a thrill to meet him in an unexpected way.

[@edwardmurray1755]

Ray Mordt was the original Jonah Lomu

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Yes you are so right, he had the strength of a professional rugby player of the gym era. Top of that like too. I know he has always kept himself fit.

[@johanerasmus7880]

That Gerber Mordt linkup sheer magic, my father used to talk about these players all the time. It's great to finally see them in action and can finally share his appreciation for these greats of the game!

[@the_katman2181]

Some incredible tries by Mordt. That one against Transvaal where he bumps off four tacklers down the right touchline was just unbelievable. But what also struck me from this video is just how good our forwards were in broken play. All of them had great hands, could run for gaps and make offloads that found their man. Wynand Claasen, Morne Du plessis, Rob Louw, even the huge Louis Moolman, all showed some great touches in these All-Black style tries. I don't think our massive power forwards today have the same skill set. Yes they may be 120kg of muscle, but they don't link like these guys.

[@RealRugby]

You hit the nail on the head! That is the biggest difference with our rugby today. Anyone who says South Africa's traditional strength is "10 man rugby" don't know what they are talking about. We played attacking rugby with powerful forwards who had all round skills. Overall, the amateur players had a higher skill level than today's players.

[@the_katman2181]

I suppose as the set pieces became more technical (and way more penalised), it made sense to load your scrum with 120kg gym monsters, and load your line-out with 2m+ guys. But what that then means is you're way more likely to see the driving maul from the line-out, or one-dimensional pick and drives around the ruck than the flowing type of moves we saw here in your video. Our modern team is just more suited to the low-risk muscle play.

[@cliftonboyz1959]

the_katman the hat trick will forever be burned in my memory.

[@nrmasson1]

​@@the_katman2181 I moved from South Africa in 1991 and now live in America. I watched a rugby game after twenty five years, and my mouth dropped. After growing up in the eighties, playing and watching rugby like it was taught and played, experiencing the beauty of it all, I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was so unpleasant, it was almost repulsive. I can't watch it. My guess is that if this change had happened overnight people would have downright rejected it. But it didn't. It happened slowly, slowly, bit by bit over years, until it died......and the beast replaced it. And people don't even know.

[@gysgijsbers4202]

...and they were in the amateur era...Ray Mordt would make the 2023 squad with those exact skills...a brilliant, strong, fast, agile & fit player!

[@vanvandervyver2506]

As a rugby enthusiast from Rhodesia see Ray played along David Smith and the late Ian Robertson was a pleasure and donned the Rhodesian and Springbok jerseys with pride. We had a magnificent side in 1977 and 1978 and Ray for filled his ambition to play for the Springboks when he was selected in 1980. When he played for Northern Transvaal years later he not only brilliant, devastated but also phenomenally fit and exceptionally fast and difficult to tackle once he started running with the ball. Another true legend who well deserved play for both Rhodesia and South Africa and subsequently years later for both Transvaal and Northern Transvaal.

[@RealRugby]

Van van der Vyver thanks for the awesome feedback Van! Go down on our list of videos, we have a nice little tribute to Rhodesian rugby. Cheers!

[@itsmeagain8604]

Hi Van, great memories. I was a ball boy at Hartsfield in Bulawayo in the 70`s. Man... I fetched ball for some amazing players, and loved it. Colin Blyth-Wood was the Kerian Reid of those days, Bucky Buchanon feeding the 3/4 line, and who can forget the boot of Stuart Dunbar ? I watched him punt from behind his goal line into the corner of the opponents 25 . Happiest days ever. So glad Rhodesian`s/ Zimbabwean`s could become Springboks. Rhodesia produced a Springbok Captain, a bit before my time. Des Van Jaarsveldt

[@mr.f.j.vandervyver7090]

@@itsmeagain8604, Where are you based ? Please give me a call in South Africa on + 27 83 689-0896.

[@watkinsrory]

@@itsmeagain8604 Bob Skinstad was another.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Yes remember him from Rhodesia. He was so powerful and we had a world class back line . Can only remember a loss to N Tvl by penalties. W Province beaten comfortably.

[@Teacher-lj6in]

What a powerhouse player...him and Danie as cohorts were a phenomenal pair...like Am and Mapimpi today...Bok rugby remains as strong as ever...awesome to see!

[@deklerkverwoerd7721]

Far better than Am an Mapimpi

[@carldanelaubscher1489]

@@deklerkverwoerd7721 different kind of players .....

[@louisvanniekerk2612]

​@@carldanelaubscher1489 you are correct different in class you cannot compare second grade players to the best outside centre of all time and a right wing that is probably in the top 5 of all time.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Am and Mapimpi are nowhere near that kind of power. Bigger faster stronger. Am is not a power player, his stepping and ball skills are his strength. He is a distributor, almost a 10 at 13. He never has powerful rampaging runs busting tackles.

[@david10101961]

Excellent video. I recall Ray's 3 tries in Auckland 1981, a match that should have rightfully ended at 22-22 (and I say that as a New Zealander). He had a great physique, looks like he moves very much like Danie Gerber, tons of power and the ability to change direction at pace. Bryan Williams was like that in 1970. Apart from the 81 tour we never saw Ray in NZ.

[@KernowekTim]

Ray and Danie. Imagine having to defend against those two powerhouse sprinters.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Remember him from Rhodesia, his debut at 19 or 20 in Currie Cup was 1977. He was so powerful he ran around people or through them. Massive quadriceps. I was amazed when told that he did not spend a huge amount of time in the gym. I was told he ran to the top of the Salisbury kopje regularly. A very steep road. His younger brother Haakon was a stand out at school but never saw him play after school.

[@reinhardthuman3565]

Ray Mordt was one of the strongest wings i ever seen what a powerhouse😁👍

[@sherylwhauwhau7966]

Remember watching Ray mordt, when I was young, he was the man alright, actually that whole team was pretty awesome. Anyway yes the man was an awesome player, but look at who was in his team, lengeds, and from New Zealand, awesome video, love it, he was a great player, Ray Mordt, for me anyway, each to their opinions I guess. But thanks for the upload.

[@stephenbrown8611]

As a Welsh boy would have loved to see ray and danie play they look unplayable on you tube

[@crusadereducation8545]

Imagine being on defense against a Mordt and Gerber combo. Just stay home...

[@1bnel]

No Mouthgaurds , no shoulder pads,no tape and very little hugging

[@calvinterry4342]

Not that this is revelent but describes his power his strength and his brute force In the Rhodesian army he was known as somebody you don't mess with At your peril did you do so This awesome attitude came out in his rugby by being able to drag 4 players on top of him over the try line and score Legend Both on and off the field

[@annagriffin2865]

Calvin Terry. Totally relevant! Thnx for raising the Rhodesian Army aspect.

[@user-te3jc3sl7r]

Ray Mordt became the first Bok player to score 3 tries in a match against the ABs in the 3rd test 1981.I think he went to rugby league in the UK not long after.

[@henkmeyer1960]

What a legend

[@floydkingi4364]

Strong fast hard running back like Danie Gerber, both of them would do well in the modern era

[@chrismoll6862]

Raymond Rhodesian Mordt , what a great Ledgend

[@RRSmurf]

Jeez his chest and shoulders... Tough bugger 💪🏼

[@paulmcmenamin205]

Best SA winger ever.

[@faampie]

08:40 one of the best tries ever

[@Schaapkraal]

I think Jaque fourie must have been a fan , scored a similar try a few years later

[@fraseredkins2509]

First clip shows Leroy Duberly who was killed in action in the seventies.All roads led to the Police grounds on Saturdays in those days.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Leroy Duberly was a fantastic 15, crash tackler. Died in a SAAF helicopter at a big raid into Mocambique in 1979. That Saturday we played Natal in Durban. A moment’s silence in his memory. Natal was given a hiding.

[@maaifoediedelarey4335]

Bliksem ! .... dit was nou lekker om weer te sien ! Dankie vir jou videos. 'n Vleuel se krag lê in sy bene, dis hoekom Ray Mordt een van die bestes van alle tye was. Vandag se Bokke kan iets leer daaruit.

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Agree. Even with all the gym time they are not as strong

[@gysgijsbers4202]

Growing up in the 70's - 80's era, after Danie Gerber, my favourite Springbok backline player, Ray Mordt, followed by Carel du Plessis, Joost & Naas. Hermanus Potgieter, Jaco Reinach, Jan Ellis, Pieter Hendriks, James Small, Edrich Krantz, Chester Williams, Deon Coetzee, Gysie Pienaar, Gerrie Germishuys, Deon Oosthuizen, Paul Bayvel, Gerald Bosch & Johan Heunis were some of the many great backline players of that era, before the professional era.

[@pietskiet42-_]

800 push ups before a training game ...Ray ....😮😮😮

[@samwlloyd]

I was a school boy in the 80's and those players was the ones I looked up to. Playing for pride and with passion , no contracts no bullshit just for the love of the game. The test where Gerber scored 3 tries against England at Ellis Park was the first test my father took me to see as a 12 year old and made me fall in love with this beautiful game for ever. I have huge respect for John Kirwan but there was no winger as powerful as Mordt in full flight or as majestic as Carel du Plessis (The Prince of wings) swerving his way through teams. So sad and heartbroken for them that they never got the opportunity to really shine, Imagine Gerber, Botha, Du Plessis & Mordt playing 50 + tests they would have set up records that would probably still be relevant today. The "Original Legends" of Rugby. Saw Mordt at a Rugby function a couple years ago the guy is in his 60's but still looks like a monster that could take to the field today.

[@shaunmoller2997]

Die beste nr 14 wat Suid Africa gehad het Ray was vinnig en sterk soos n os en dan waas daar Niel Burger wat vir WP 14 gespeel het ook sterk gewees

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Mordt the strongest ever

[@kraaidievoel]

Wat a boytjie....

[@tyrone5066]

A legend

[@rossitherhodie5659]

Great player was Ray.

[@brianmills6168]

From 4:00 that is his best try ever - magical!

[@ianmarshall170]

Ray tried Rugby League in the eighties for Wigan nought special I think he crossed codes with Rob Lowe neither did a lot but I do remember a player called Nick Du Toit who was as hard as nails.

[@cliftonboyz1959]

Praagtig van Gerhard!

[@mitchmillar613]

Hi Werner. Is there no chance of updating this video with more Mordt tries. I'm sure he scored a lot at provincial level.

[@RealRugby]

Hey Mitch! The challenge is always getting the footage. The further back you go, the more difficult it is to get videos. But I do have some extra stuff om Ray Mordt, so I might just take you up on that!

[@mitchmillar613]

@@RealRugbyThanks Werner :)

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

@@RealRugbyJa more Rhodesian tries would be special. Rhodesian’s backs in the late seventies were the best in the Currie Cup. David Smith and Ian Robertson also played for the Boks. (10, 13 and 14)

[@SNOK1986]

The padding on those poles though at 3:16 haha

[@graemehuia5964]

Big strong and fast what more do you need.

[@chrisnel5505]

Unsurpassed

[@cliftonboyz1959]

The glory days of southern African rugby.....they made the AB look very ordinary in 1981.......where did SA los the plot?

[@adr1ano1987]

Politics us where we lost the plot. The ANC messed up our Springboks 😔

[@roybean7166]

@Andre Fouche Remember, this is highlights of games. There was plenty of crap rugby in those days as well. Not sure how old you are, if you watched in 70s and 80s, how I remember many times leaving the game 10 minutes early when watching boring matches.

[@tpcam78]

The ABs look ordinary in these particular highlights but they did win the test series in 1981

[@cliftonboyz1959]

Professional game and the ANC obsession with quotas leading to many top class white players going overseas and the policy of not selecting players overseas unless they had represented their country a certain number of times. On top of all this, lack of unifying strategy between national and club coaches and out dated training methods.

[@timfrost08]

@@cliftonboyz1959 ummm Englishman chiming in here, but didnt you just win the world cup and are essentially the best team in the world? Your "African" players helped take my team to the cleaners and Rassie doesnt seem to mind their involvement one bit. Sorry I am a bit confused.

[@20165776YEAR]

Mordt and Neil Burger the most powerful wings South Africa ever saw

[@RealRugby]

Very true. You can throw Gert Muller in there as well

[@IAmMisterSipho]

Willem Stapelberg.

[@roybean7166]

@@RealRugby Mordt took part in athletics in summer in joburg. Any idea how fast he did 100m ? I have an idea Gert Muller was also a sprinter, any idea of times. ?

[@Glider34]

He should have played league from the start, too much talent and power.

[@vanvandervyver2506]

Correction of and not if

[@annagriffin2865]

Van van der Vyver. Minor typo. Maak nie saak nie. Moenie worrie nie! We get u 🤣👍

[@foreignwarren7361]

Transvaal vs Westerm Province in the 1822 Curry Cup 🤣

[@cliftonboyz1959]

15 man rugby bok style

[@admiralbenbow5083]

Some people forget that Mordt is not S African, but Zimbabwean (or then Rhodesian).

[@tuckingfwit]

Actually he is a citizen of both South Africa and Zimbabwe. He was born in Cape Town of South African parents who left for Zim when he was very young. He has a South African passport.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

@@tuckingfwit Well playing for the Boks would have been a bit problematic if he hadnt been a South African citizen.

[@tuckingfwit]

@@admiralbenbow5083 Exactly so I'm not sure why you even commented that he's not South African

[@admiralbenbow5083]

@@tuckingfwit I can tell.

[@tuckingfwit]

@@admiralbenbow5083 It's all ok. You made a mistake. You were corrected. You're welcome. The end.

[@cliftonboyz1959]

When giants played the game.

[@pieterprinsloo007]

Hewson was a bit over rated...

[@tpcam78]

He was selected for his goal kicking.

[@floydkingi4364]

The guy just couldn't tackle

[@lockk132]

Hewson was a butterfly ,hopeless defender gifted those 2 tries in 81

[@keats6431]

He didn't last long in Rugby League.

[@Judge-Dredd]

I knew Mordt at school in Rhodesia, also as a young adult. He was not a nice person!

[@dreamdiction]

Tell us more? What did he do?

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

He only played 1 year 1st XV I think. He left school after form 4. I also went to Churchill.

[@pauldolan9077]

Who were the other teams?

[@sherylwhauwhau7966]

Remember watching Ray mordt, when I was young, he was the man alright, actually that whole team was pretty awesome. Anyway yes the man was an awesome player, but look at who was in his team, lengeds, and from New Zealand, awesome video, love it, he was a great player, Ray Mordt, for me anyway, each to their opinions I guess. But thanks for the upload.

[@mr.f.j.vandervyver7090]

Sheryl, Apart from David Smith and the late Ian Robertson Ray was one of our finest players and deserved his Rhodesian and Springbok colours. He is a friend of mine. Yes the entire Rhodesia rugby side did us proud back in the day.