Hennie Muller introduced a new style of play for a number 8 forward in the immediate post-war years. The clue comes in his nickname, ‘Windhond’ or greyhound. When he first entered test rugby in 1949 he was arguably the fastest back row forward in living memory. His speed was already legendary and he put it to good use. He was an excellent and intelligent footballer could run, handles like a back and kicked with either foot. Captained South Africa in 9 tests.

Greatest Moment

Hennie Muller’s Springboks of 1951/52 were a team on a mission. They would go on to complete a clean sweep of victories over the four Home Unions and France, but no single display would match their destruction of Scotland in the first international of the tour on November 24. In a game that has gone down in South African folklore as the ‘Murrayfield Massacre’, Muller crossed for one of the nine tries that were scored in a vintage display of powerhouse rugby. Offensive in defence and relentlessly slick in attack, the visitors ran out 44-0 winners, a scoreline that was almost unheard of in its day.

Muller’s performance was a master-class of back row play, with the intensity you would expect from a man who admitted that he stopped talking to his wife three days before a Test because he was thinking about what he was going to do during the match.

Before crying tears of joy in the changing room after the game, Muller was chaired off the field by his humbled but gracious opponents.

Interesting Facts

Coached the 1965 Springboks.

Career Status

1949-1953

Test Caps
Test Points
Test tries
Penalties
Conversions
Drop Goals