Springbok no. 181 · Flyhalf
Bennie Osler
Benjamin Louwrens Osler · WP
Test career
First test
16 Aug 1924, age 22 · Flyhalf v Britain, Kingsmead, Durban
Last test
2 Sep 1933, age 31 · Flyhalf v Australia, Springbokpark, Bloemfontein
Biography
Bennie Osler was the dominant flyhalf of his era and one of the game’s first great tactical kickers. Born in Aliwal North on 23 November 1901, he played for Western Province and won 17 caps between 1924 and 1933, every one of them at flyhalf.
He built his game on kicking for territory, finding the gaps that opposing forwards left as they broke from the scrum. His finest afternoon came at Kingsmead, Durban, in 1928, when he kicked two drop goals and two penalties, 14 of the 17 points, in a 17–0 win over New Zealand.
Osler captained South Africa in five Tests, four of them on the 1931–32 tour, when the Springboks beat Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland. He scored 46 Test points and died on 23 April 1962.
Test history
17 tests · 5 as captain · 46 points| Date | Opponent | Venue | Position | Result | Province |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Aug 1924 |  Britain | Kingsmead, Durban | Flyhalf | W 7–3 | WP |
| 23 Aug 1924 | Britain | Wanderers (Old Wanderers), Johannesburg | Flyhalf | W 17–0 | WP |
| 13 Sep 1924 | Britain | Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth | Flyhalf | D 3–3 | WP |
| 20 Sep 1924 | Britain | Newlands, Cape Town | Flyhalf | W 16–9 | WP |
| 30 Jun 1928 |  New Zealand | Kingsmead, Durban | Flyhalf | W 17–0 | WP |
| 21 Jul 1928 | New Zealand | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Flyhalf | L 6–7 | WP |
| 18 Aug 1928 | New Zealand | Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth | Flyhalf | W 11–6 | WP |
| 01 Sep 1928 | New Zealand | Newlands, Cape Town | Flyhalf | L 5–13 | WP |
| 05 Dec 1931 |  Wales | St. Helens, Swansea | Flyhalf (C) | W 8–3 | WP |
| 19 Dec 1931 |  Ireland | Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), Dublin | Flyhalf (C) | W 8–3 | WP |
| 02 Jan 1932 |  England | Twickenham, London | Flyhalf (C) | W 7–0 | WP |
| 16 Jan 1932 |  Scotland | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | Flyhalf (C) | W 6–3 | WP |
| 08 Jul 1933 |  Australia | Newlands, Cape Town | Flyhalf | W 17–3 | WP |
| 22 Jul 1933 | Australia | Kingsmead, Durban | Flyhalf (C) | L 6–21 | WP |
| 12 Aug 1933 | Australia | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Flyhalf | W 12–3 | WP |
| 26 Aug 1933 | Australia | Crusaders (St George's Park), Port Elizabeth | Flyhalf | W 11–0 | WP |
| 02 Sep 1933 | Australia | Springbokpark, Bloemfontein | Flyhalf | L 4–15 | WP |