Keith Oxlee

Keith Oxlee was born in Johannesburg on 17 December 1934 and educated at Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal, matriculating in 1952.[9]

Keith Oxlee arriving at Gisborne, New Zealand, on South Africa's 1965 tour to Australasia.

After his selection for Natal in 1955, Oxlee eventually set a provincial record of 102 matches at fly-half, broken only in 1998 by Henry Honiball.[6] He represented Natal in the wind-battered 1956 Currie Cup final against Northern Transvaal at Kingsmead in Durban, which the northern side won by 9 to 8.[10]

In 1958 Oxlee was selected to play in trials for tests against France. Despite making the final round of the trials, he was not selected.[2]

Oxlee helped Natal to hold Wilson Whineray's touring New Zealand to a 6-6 draw at Kings Park in Durban on 31 May 1960.[11] And in 1963 he was on the Natal team that beat John Thornett's touring Australian national side 14-13 at Kings Park Stadium.[12] To counter Natal's lightweight packs in an era of heavy forwards, Natal coach Izak van Heerden emphasized unorthodox play to retain possession, such as attacking from within normally defensive positions. Oxlee fitted this game plan perfectly with his "sleight of hand passing, constant switches of direction and astute tactical kicking".[4]

Oxlee made his Springbok debut on 25 June 1960 against the All Blacks at Ellis Park Stadium, a match the Springboks won by 13-0.[2][11] One of 6 new caps chosen,[5] Oxlee would go on to represent his country in 48 matches,[3] scoring a total of 201 points.[13] Oxlee's 5 career test tries set a record for a South African fly-half by his retirement.[5]

Oxlee played in outgoing tours against the British and Ireland as well as France (1960–61), Scotland (1965), and Australia and New Zealand (1965).[3] His last test match was on 21 August 1965 against New Zealand at Dunedin. As at Oxlee's debut, the score again read 13-0, but this time it was South Africa that had failed to score.[1]

In the first test of Oxlee's first tour through Britain, he kicked South Africa's only points (a penalty goal) in their 3-0 defeat of Wales at a rain-sodden Cardiff Arms Park on 3 December 1960. Up to that point Oxlee had not been the team's regular goal-kicker, as scrum-half Dick Lockyear was preferred; but Lockyear was unavailable due to injury. Oxlee missed his first two kicks at goal, but succeeded just before half-time.[5] The match was played in winds of up to 50 mph, with conditions so poor that referee JAS Taylor at one point asked the South African and Welsh captains, Avril Malan and Terry Davies, respectively, whether they would prefer to abandon the game.[14]

Oxlee is perhaps best-remembered for the try that he scored in the first test against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on 5 August 1961. He had been the target of heavy tackling by the Australians, to the extent that he had to receive stitches above his eye. He was so dazed that he was moved to centre after refusing to leave the field. Oxlee retained his playing instincts and scored a try in the dying minutes of the game, enabling his team to win with a record score of 28-3.[5]

In recognition of his sporting prowess Oxlee was named Natal Sportsman of the Year for 1961.[12]

On 10 August 1963 Oxlee kicked the conversion following the first penalty try awarded in a test on South African soil.[15] The Wallabies had impeded Tommy Bedford from chasing a kick over the tryline at Newlands Stadium. Despite Oxlee's contribution to rugby history, the South Africans lost by 5 points to 9.[15][16]

Oxlee's penchant for unpredictable play was acknowledged by the captain of the 1962 British Lions, Arthur Smith, who said that "the problem with Oxlee is that you never know what the blighter will be doing next."[4][9]

To celebrate Oxlee's retirement from provincial rugby in 1967, Natal held a farewell game in which they defeated by 32-22 a South African Barbarians team that fielded 10 Springboks. Oxlee was later appointed provincial selector, but was enticed to come out of retirement at the age of 36 to "guide a young backline" for four matches in 1971.[4]

In 2009 Oxlee was nominated for inclusion in the IRB Hall of Fame.

Legend: pen.= penalty (3 pts.); conv. = conversion (2 pts.), drop = drop kick (3 pts.).

Oxlee was married to Barbara, with whom he had a son, Grant, and a daughter, Leanne.[9] He worked as sales representative for Protea Industrial Chemicals in Durban for two decades.[6] He maintained his physical fitness and completed two Comrades Marathons and played in touch rugby tournaments. An adept lawn bowler, Oxlee once defeated the national champion.[5]

Oxlee died in 1998 at the age of 63 from a blood clot after complications following a hip operation.[9] At the next outing of Natal in the Currie Cup competition, both teams maintained a minute of silence to commemorate Oxlee's passing.[17]