Bok legend: Jannie de Beer

Celebrate former Springbok flyhalf Jannie de Beer’s birthday with a look back on his illustrious career.

De Beer, who turned 54 on Tuesday, earned 13 Test caps from 1997 to 1999, but will always be remembered for the role he played in one in particular.

The Free Stater famously booted the Boks past England in the 1999 World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France in Paris, slotting a world-record five drop goals to go with five penalties and two conversions.

The flame-haired flyhalf – who had only started because of an injury to Henry Honiball – finished with a 34-point haul, then a Bok record, in a 44-21 victory.

The Boks had led 16-12 at half time before a 10-minute flurry shortly after the restart saw De Beer nail three drop goals from more than 40m out.

Twenty minutes later, he slotted another – and then another!

A week later, against the Wallabies at Twickenham in London, De Beer could only kick one drop goal.

But he was successful with six penalty goals, including one under huge pressure that took the semi-final into extra time.

Pressure. What pressure.

Jannie de Beer steps up. Kick needed to go into extra time of the Rugby World Cup 1999 semi-final.

Nerves of steel. pic.twitter.com/PECxzIiMoF

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) August 21, 2019

Ironically, though, a long-range drop goal from Wallabies flyhalf Stephen Larkham would end the Boks’ title defence.

That was De Beer’s last Test appearance and he ended with 181 career points.

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images