ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The day a 130kg Springboks prop casually slotted a conversion in front of Hurricanes fans

BY Shaywaterworth  ·  Friday Nov 13, 2020

Former Springboks prop Ollie le Roux shocked Hurricanes fans during a Super 12 match in Wellington in 1998 by nailing a difficult conversion and then laughing.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 130kg Sharks front-rower was not supposed to take the kick but his fly half teammate Henry Honiball was down injured, so le Roux stepped up.

Aside from weighing more than 20 stone, the windy conditions in Wellington made the kick even more difficult than it already was for the big man. Then as le Roux made his approach the ball almost fell off the tee, but this didn’t stop it sailing through the posts.

“We’d just scored a try in the howling wind,” said le Roux. “I went to congratulate Pieter Muller and picked up the ball. Lem (Henry Honiball) had hurt his shoulder and all the guys had run back over the halfway line. 

“I screamed out asking who would take the conversion, then the ref said: ‘You’re wasting time, take the kick’. Jouba (André Joubert) ran over and told me that because I’d already placed the ball, I had to kick it. As I did so the wind blew. It looked like a frisbee, going one way and then the other, as it went over.”

Le Roux earned 54 caps for South Africa between 1994 and 2002, winning the Try Nations in 1998 and the Celtic League with Leinster in 2008.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles

  • 35 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The worst camera angle in rugby history...

  • 36 WEEKS AGO

    Louis Rees-Zammit's real reason for NFL move...

  • 38 WEEKS AGO

    George Ford falls victim to the kickers curse...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Springbok star scores screamer on debut for Sagamihara Dynaboars

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Bears fly as 100 metre finish already touted as try of the season

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Hassell-Collins pounces on HUGE Sharks mistake in chaotic scenes

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Wallabies wunderkind Sua'ali' and Scotland captain Tuipulotu clash

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Joyce finishes ‘impossible’ solo try

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Insane moment as french backrow waves off medic and smokes Ange Capuozzo

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible drop goal helps break 25-match losing streak

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster fly half delivers insane 50:22 after being given start for Emerging Ireland

View All

Funnies

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    'A dog with a mallet up its arse could’ve written Johnny’s book' Donnacha O'Callaghan

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major makes big claim about rugby

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    “Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Mischievous Marcus Smith spotted engaging in the dark arts during All Blacks match

View All

Amateur

  • 102 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 102 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 125 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 125 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 126 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 9 HOURS AGO

    RugbyDump's top five backrows in 2024

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Marcus Smith makes big call on his future

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    The 19-year-old named the 'future' of English rugby after win against Australia A

View All