Player Profiles - Mulder

Japie Mulder

Japie Mulder joined the Tykes midway through their first season of Zurich Premiership rugby, and made his debut against Newcastle Falcons on a rain soaked mid winter day. Needless to say, he made an immediate impact on the pitch in a titanic collision with Inga Tuigamala that surely registered on the Richter scale. As Mally posted at the time ' crunching tackle on Inga Tuigamala... Japie got up, Inga didn't'. When those two collided, the South stand shook.

That moment epitomised Japie's game - tough, physically intimidating, awesome in the tackle. Japie is as Oopnorth has posted a 'fine RU centre' his work in defense being a specialty.

Japie forms an awesome Springbok midfield partnership with Braam Van Straaten - when they play together, our midfield is a shield of steel. However it doesn't end there, Japie scored two tries when the Tykes defeated Sarries on their own patch, and also registered against Sale last year. Japie may be an awesome defender, but he scores tries too.

He has many fans amongst both his opponents and teammates at the highest
levels. Players as distinguished as Frank Bunce, the All Black centre, have
sung his praises. Former Springbok centre Pieter Muller rates Japie as the
best centre he has played with. Few will forget his outstanding performance
as the Boks won the World Cup - at the time he was the only man who managed to stop a certain Mr. Lomu in his tracks.

Japie joined in what was heralded as a ground breaking move at the time -
the worlds first ever dual code contract, but he has yet to play for the
Rhinos, apparently due to niggling injuries picked up last year. It is
doubtful whether he will start the season, and the Tykes need a fit and
firing Japie in the centres.

You don't win 34 Springbok caps in the centres without being a hard man - and they don't come much harder than Japie.

Last updated 27/08/02 by Richie the Rhino  

 

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