Jannie de Beer wasn’t South Africa’s first choice fly-half going into the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but after an injury to Henry Honiball, De Beer was given his chance to impress, and impress he did.
His quarter-final performance, where he kicked a record five drop goals against England, ending the match with 34-points, is the stuff of legend.
South Africa held a 16-12 lead at half time over England in a game where defence dominated and both teams struggled to make line breaks.
Cue De Beer who decided the best chance to get some breathing space was through the drop goal route. He booted three in 10-minutes after half-time to shock England.
The tactic worked so well, and De Beer struck the ball so cleanly that he continued with two more in the final 10-minutes of the game.
It put the Springboks up by 10 points, which was followed by two more De Beer penalties and a try in the final minute Rossouw to put the icing on the cake. The try was set up by a De Beer kick. The man could do no wrong on that day. South Africa made a statement with the 44-21 win.
Speaking in a 2003 interview with the Weekend Post, De Beer said the decision to try so many drop goals was a mixture of ad lib and planning.
“We studied the way England played and realised we would have a lot of time to do it and decided to use it as an option,” De Beer said.
“The first one or two were from turnovers and not planned but after that the guys started calling for it.”
Despite Henry Honiball being available for the semi-final, South Africa stuck with De Beer against the Wallabies.
In a tryless match, famously won by Stephen Larkham’s boot, De Beer kicked six penalties and a drop goal.
It would turn out to be his last appearance for South Africa. After his game, he graciously gave up his spot to Honiball for the third place playoff.
De Beer turned out to be a one-hit wonder for the Springboks but it’s not a bad way to be remembered.
The Roar’s World Cup Countdown:
30. Grant Fox’s record 30 conversions from the 1987 World Cup
29. All Blacks claim the 1987 World Cup, 29-9
28. Tonga stun Italy with Sateki Tuipulotu’s boot, winning 28-25
27. 27 per cent of tries came from scrums in 2003 with Canada showing the value of the set piece
26. David Pocock made 26 tackles in a fantastic performance against South Africa in the 2011 quarter-finals
25. South Africa’s 25 wins from 29 matches at the World Cup
24. Wales scores 24 points in the first half against New Zealand but still lose in 2003
23. Nick Farr-Jones 23 wins as Australian captain including an historic 1991 World Cup win against England
22. The Wallabies notch a cricket score with 22 tries in a 142-0 thumping of Namibia in 2003
21. Georgia’s David Dadunashvili becomes the youngest (21) to start at hooker in a World Cup match
20. The first World Cup classic finishes 20-all between Scotland and France in 1987
19. 19-year-old George North becomes youngest World Cup try scorer in 2011
18. Since their first and only win Japan has gone 18-straight World Cup games without victory
17. New Zealand coaching staff present 17 alleged refereeing errors to explain 2007 loss
16. George Gregan and Jason Leonard involved in 16 wins each at World Cup level
15. Jonah Lomu’s 15 tries in 11 matches
14. Jonny Wilkinson’s 14 World Cup drop goals including his most famous one in England’s 20-17 win over the Wallabies
13. Philippe Sella’s fantastic career at No.13 with 13 starts for France at Rugby World Cups
12. The Wallabies record 12-game winning streak from 1999 to 2003
11. Fiji win 11 out of 11 lineouts against Wales during a stunning 38-34 win in 2007
10. David Campese’s 10 tries for the Wallabies at Rugby World Cups
9. Matt Burke’s 9 points per game average after an amazing 1999 tournament
8. Diego Ormaechea, at age 40, was the oldest number 8 to play at a World Cup
7. No.7 Michael Jones scores the first ever World Cup try
6. Marc Ellis’ record six tries in a match against Japan>
5. Jannie de Beer’s five drop goals in a match against England in the 1999 quarter-finals
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