Johann Muller (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
Gysbert Johannes Muller, more commonly known as Johann Muller (born 1 June 1980 in Cape Town
, South Africa
), is a South African Rugby Union
player. He played lock for the Natal Sharks
(Currie Cup
), Sharks (Super 14
) and the Springboks, before a move to Ireland to play with Ulster
in 2010, where he is currently Captain.
against Scotland
in 2006 at ABSA Stadium. He would then earn a further 5 caps, 4 of which being as a member of the starting 15. Muller made his provincial debut in 2001 and his Super 14
debut the following year. Muller was selected into the Springboks squad for the 2007 home tests and the 2007 Tri Nations on the basis of a strong 2007 Super 14 performance.
decided to rest his top players from touring Australia
and New Zealand
. White went onto state that the players that were taken on this tour would be playing for places in the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup
squad. Muller was included in the squad chosen to tour.
He was named captain
in the match against the All Blacks
after original tour captain Bob Skinstad was injured in the match against the Wallabies
. Muller performed well in both matches. He was then rewarded with a place in the squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
, and still holds the position as the last appointed Springbok captain
.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
), is a South African Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He played lock for the Natal Sharks
Natal Sharks
The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
(Currie Cup
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring , featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces...
), Sharks (Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
) and the Springboks, before a move to Ireland to play with Ulster
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in 2010, where he is currently Captain.
Career
Muller made his debut for the SpringboksSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
against Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 2006 at ABSA Stadium. He would then earn a further 5 caps, 4 of which being as a member of the starting 15. Muller made his provincial debut in 2001 and his Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
debut the following year. Muller was selected into the Springboks squad for the 2007 home tests and the 2007 Tri Nations on the basis of a strong 2007 Super 14 performance.
2007 Tri Nations
During the latter part of the competition, Springbok coach Jake WhiteJake White
Jake White is a rugby union coach and former coach of the South Africa national rugby union team, the Springboks. His most notable achievements as coach include leading the Springboks to victory in 2007 Rugby World Cup and the 2004 Tri Nations title...
decided to rest his top players from touring Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. White went onto state that the players that were taken on this tour would be playing for places in the Springboks 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
squad. Muller was included in the squad chosen to tour.
He was named captain
South African rugby union captains
Every player to captain the South Africa national rugby union team in a test match are listed here. Captains are listed in chronological order of their first match as captain.-Male:...
in the match against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
after original tour captain Bob Skinstad was injured in the match against the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
. Muller performed well in both matches. He was then rewarded with a place in the squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
, and still holds the position as the last appointed Springbok captain
South African rugby union captains
Every player to captain the South Africa national rugby union team in a test match are listed here. Captains are listed in chronological order of their first match as captain.-Male:...
.