King Edward VII School is extremely proud of the calibre of Old Boys representing our School and especially so of two of our Old Boys representing KES on the International stage over the past weekend, 27-29 August 2016.

Bryan Habana’s (Class of 2000), 65th Test try‚ scored against the Pumas in Salta last Saturday‚ almost went unnoticed in the fallout over another chastening Test loss for the Springboks on Saturday 27 August.

The great wing’s 45th minute strike was a typically predatory finish after a sublime behind-the-back pass from flank Francois Louw.

It was a score that also gave the Boks hope that they would escape with another narrow win. In the end they lost 26-24 but few players showed as much commitment and put in as much effort as the veteran 33-year-old wing. Coach Allister Coetzee recalled Habana for the Rugby Championship because he wanted the 119-Test cap player to guide and mentor inexperienced teammates.

Habana did more than that on Saturday‚ as he became the leading try-scorer in Test Rugby from a tier one nation. His try also marked his 20th touchdown in the Rugby Championship – another record.

His 65th try took him clear of Australia’s David Campese although Japan’s Daisuke Ohata is still the official Test try-scoring record holder with 68 in 59 ‘Tests’. Campese scored his tries in 101 Tests. Habana’s first try came on debut as a 21-year-old against England in 2004‚ when he came off the bench late in the game. He added two more the following weekend as the Boks beat Scotland 45-10 when he started as an inside centre. A week later Habana started at left wing for the first time – against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

He is now the joint leading World Cup try-scorer alongside Jonah Lomu with 15 after further tournaments in 2011 and 2015. In the opening game against Samoa in 2007 Habana scored four tries – the first time he’d scored more than two in a Test. He has subsequently scored hattricks against Australia (at Loftus in 2012) and the USA (at the Olympic Stadium in London in 2015). Habana equalled the Bok Test try-scoring record of 38 against Italy in June 2010 and had to wait over a year and 11 Tests before he broke Joost van der Westhuizen’s record against Namibia at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Read more on Bryan’s records at:
Habana’s Test Try Record

Also making records and reaching milestones, is KES Old Boy, Quinton De Kock, who not opened the batting for the Proteas with fellow Old Boy, Stephen Cook, but the pair made a 133 run opening partnership against the Black Caps in the 1st innings.

Quinton de Kock became the first South African wicket-keeper to score two half-centuries in the same test.

Following his 82 in the first innings, De Kock hit four boundaries racing to 27 runs in just 11 balls. Despite the left-handers speedy start, the openers, who did so well to break records in the first innings, all tumbled around him, not giving him the necessary support he needed. Stephen Cook (4), Hashim Amla (1), Duminy (0), Faf du Pleases (6) all struggled to get past single digits.

This did not stop the wicket-keeper from pushing to his half-century becoming the first South African wicket-keeper to score two 50’s in the same Test match. He managed to reach his half-century in just 42 balls (8 fours and a six) before falling to a good piece of bowling by Doug Bracewell.

Read more on Quinny at:
De Kock reaches another milestone

Well done and congratulations to our Old Boys, your School applauds your achievements and acknowledges all the hard work, dedication and commitment to your codes.