Werner Greeff
Encyclopedia
Werner Greeff is a former South Africa
n rugby union
player. He played for Western Province
in the Currie Cup
and for the Stormers
in the Super 14
until a neck injury forced him into retirement in January 2007. Greeff also played 12 Tests for .
Greeff was a talented utility back, but his career was blighted by a succession of injuries: a broken hand, damaged shoulder, injured knee, and, finally, a career-ending neck injury. He made his international debut in June 2002, when he came on as a substitute against , and went on to win a further 11 caps, all but one as a starter. The only time he did not start as a fullback was in his last international appearance, against Georgia
in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
, when he played centre.
Although Werner Greeff scored only four tries
for his country, one of them, against in a Tri Nations match at Ellis Park
, Johannesburg, on 17 August 2002, was voted the South African try of that year. The Springboks, who had gone behind 0–9 after conceding three kickable penalties
in the first 20 minutes, scored four tries to take a 26–9 lead with 20 minutes remaining. Australia responded with three tries and a drop-goal and led 26–31 as time expired on the clock. The Springboks played the last ten minutes with only 14 men after Marius Joubert
had been shown a red card. Just before full time they launched a last, desperate counter-attack which concluded with Werner Greeff hitting the Australian defence at full speed on a perfect angle and powering his way over the line for a try that levelled the scores; with the last kick of the match, he then converted his own try to give South Africa a dramatic win.
In March 2006, Greeff underwent neck surgery that involved the fusion of two vertebrae. After spending six months in rehabilitation, he returned to play one game for Stellenbosch University
second XV (the Victorians) against the University of Cape Town
in September 2006 and scored a try within the first 20 seconds. He made his return to first-class rugby as a starter in Western Province's home game against Griquas in the 2006 Currie Cup, and started again a week later, when WP lost in the semi-final to the Blue Bulls
. He was named in the Stormers' squad for the 2007 Super 14, but, after playing in a pre-season warm-up game against a Boland
team, continuing concerns about the neck injury forced him to announce his retirement from rugby on 22 January 2007. Already the owner of a fast-food outlet in Cape Town
, he indicated that it was his intention to pursue his business interests.
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...
n 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 for Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
in the 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...
and for the Stormers
Stormers
The Stormers, for sponsorship reasons referred to as DHL Stormers, are a South African rugby union team based in Cape Town competing in the Super Rugby competition . Despite their lack of silverware over the years, their home stadium, Newlands, typically draws the highest average attendance figures...
in the Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
until a neck injury forced him into retirement in January 2007. Greeff also played 12 Tests for .
Greeff was a talented utility back, but his career was blighted by a succession of injuries: a broken hand, damaged shoulder, injured knee, and, finally, a career-ending neck injury. He made his international debut in June 2002, when he came on as a substitute against , and went on to win a further 11 caps, all but one as a starter. The only time he did not start as a fullback was in his last international appearance, against Georgia
Georgia national rugby union team
The Georgia national rugby union team represents Georgia in rugby union. The team's nickname, The Lelos, comes from lelo burti, a traditional Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby. Lelo has been adopted as the Georgian word for "try"...
in the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
, when he played centre.
Although Werner Greeff scored only four tries
Try
A try is the major way of scoring points in rugby league and rugby union football. A try is scored by grounding the ball in the opposition's in-goal area...
for his country, one of them, against in a Tri Nations match at Ellis Park
Ellis Park Stadium
Ellis Park Stadium, also known because of its sponsorship by The Coca-Cola Company as Coca-Cola Park, is a rugby union and association football stadium in the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa. It hosted the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, which was won by the country's...
, Johannesburg, on 17 August 2002, was voted the South African try of that year. The Springboks, who had gone behind 0–9 after conceding three kickable penalties
Penalty (rugby)
In rugby football, the penalty is the main disciplinary sanction available to the referee to penalise players who commit deliberate infringements. The team who did not commit the infringement are given possession of the ball and may either kick it towards touch , attempt a place kick at goal, or...
in the first 20 minutes, scored four tries to take a 26–9 lead with 20 minutes remaining. Australia responded with three tries and a drop-goal and led 26–31 as time expired on the clock. The Springboks played the last ten minutes with only 14 men after Marius Joubert
Marius Joubert
Marius Charl Joubert is a South African rugby union player who plays as a centre for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14. He has previously played for the Boland Cavaliers, Free State Cheetahs and Western Province in the Currie Cup and the Stormers and the Central Cheetahs in the Super 14...
had been shown a red card. Just before full time they launched a last, desperate counter-attack which concluded with Werner Greeff hitting the Australian defence at full speed on a perfect angle and powering his way over the line for a try that levelled the scores; with the last kick of the match, he then converted his own try to give South Africa a dramatic win.
In March 2006, Greeff underwent neck surgery that involved the fusion of two vertebrae. After spending six months in rehabilitation, he returned to play one game for Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in the town of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Other nearby universities are the University of Cape Town and University of the Western Cape....
second XV (the Victorians) against the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in September 2006 and scored a try within the first 20 seconds. He made his return to first-class rugby as a starter in Western Province's home game against Griquas in the 2006 Currie Cup, and started again a week later, when WP lost in the semi-final to the Blue Bulls
Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls, for sponsorship reasons known as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, or more popularly by their Afrikaans name die Blou Bulle, are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
. He was named in the Stormers' squad for the 2007 Super 14, but, after playing in a pre-season warm-up game against a Boland
Boland Cavaliers
The Boland Cavaliers , are a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament...
team, continuing concerns about the neck injury forced him to announce his retirement from rugby on 22 January 2007. Already the owner of a fast-food outlet in Cape Town
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...
, he indicated that it was his intention to pursue his business interests.