Willie le Roux 100: From 'rugby leper' to Springboks stalwart ...

After being ignored by the Springboks in 2013 after some top performances for the Griquas and Cheetahs, a disappointed Willie le Roux told a journalist that he “just wants to jol …”

At the time many South African coaches viewed Willie le Roux as a “rugby leper” because of his maverick style of play. A guy who played what was in front of him and chanced his arm by trying the spectacular. But he is also an emotional character who sometimes had the odd outburst on the field.

Even the great Rassie Erasmus, during his time at the Stormers, didn’t want anything to do with him, because he wasn’t seen as the typical South African player, while Erasmus felt he couldn't keep his emotions in check on the big stage. But he soon changed his mind after a phone call to one of his former coaches.

On Saturday, against Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Le Roux will play his 100th Test match for the Springboks 12 years after eventually making his debut, winning two Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023 with Erasmus in that time.

"You don’t just play 100 Test matches for your country,” Erasmus remarked. “I’m not sure what his win percentage is in those Test matches, but there are only seven players who have done it.

“Willie is an interesting character, and I understand that people don’t know him personally that well; in the beginning, I didn’t know him well at the Stormers, but I basically said he couldn’t make the Stormers squad when he was in there because of his emotional involvement in the game.

“He is a guy who shows what he feels and I remember talking once to a coach [Wasps coach Dai Young] overseas where he played and I said 'I don’t understand why Willie is doing these actions', and said something that really stuck with me. He said: ‘It’s because he cares so much, he doesn’t hide his emotions'.

“If you talk to anyone in the team, the way Willie looks sometimes, when he’s a little bit down or not happy, it’s definitely not a reflection of how he feels for the rest of the team. It’s just how much he cares.”

Le Roux eventually got his opportunity to 'jol' for the Springboks, and 99 Springboks Tests later he went from an unpredictable, emotional maverick to a Bok stalwart.

But he remains a polarising player in the eyes of the South African public, as he has brought South Africans joy and frustration in equal measure.

It’s because of his willingness to try things that others won’t to produce the odd moment of magic. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn’t ... Willie le Roux, the ultimate enigma.

“You go out there and you want to express yourself. You have a certain skill set ... it’s just for the love of the game,” Le Roux told Independent Media in 2024. “You have the same love for the game watching the Springboks growing up. I still have that same feeling inside of me.”

And being the ultimate enigma comes with social media attention, especially the trolls when Le Roux has a bad game.

“Social media is hectic ... it’s hard on you. When you play a good game, you want to go on social media to see the nice things people say about you,” said Le Roux.

“Then when you don’t play a good game, you don’t want to go on there! So I rather stay away - on good days and bad days.

“I just stick to the people close to you ... they know your worth. At the end it’s what the coaching staff thinks of you, your parents and your wife ... people who have been there during the tough times.”

But with age and experience, Le Roux has become more than just the Springboks’ maverick. He is a stalwart. It’s not just about the flash anymore, it’s also the cool head and the leadership qualities.

Then there’s also that grit and determination, which encapsulated his remarkable performance at the 2019 World Cup in Japan where he played the semi-final against Wales with basically one arm. He couldn’t catch and pass a ball properly, but he soldiered on for the team. A maverick and a warrior.

Le Roux will become the eighth Springbok to achieve a century of caps in the Bok jersey, with Percy Montgomery (102) and Bryan Habana (124) the only other backs to do it.

At 35 years old, another Rugby World Cup may be a stretch for Le Roux, especially with youngsters such as Damian Willemse and Aphelele Fassi commanding more and more starting berths post the 2023 World Cup.

But the Bulls man mentioned last season that he still feels good and that he doesn’t have any plans to retire anytime soon. As was the case in 2013, all Le Roux wants to do is 'jol'.

@JohnGoliath82