Wikipedia

Jannie Engelbrecht

Jannie Engelbrecht (born 10 November 1938) was a Springbok rugby player who represented his country from 1960 to 1969. He gained a reputation for tenacity as a result of scoring two tries during a vital 1964 provincial match despite having broken his collarbone earlier in the game.[1]

Jannie Engelbrecht
Jannie Engelbrecht in 1965.
Birth nameJan Pieter Engelbrecht
Date of birth (1938-11-10) 10 November 1938 (age 85)
Place of birthCape Town, South Africa
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight83.9 kg (185 lb)[1]
SchoolPaul Roos Gymnasium
UniversityStellenbosch University
Spouse(Ellen, née Liebenberg, divorced)
ChildrenAngeline (daughter), Jean (son), Jacques (son)
Occupation(s)Vintner
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Stellenbosch University ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Western Province ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1960-69

1993-94		 South Africa 33 (24[1][2]

(manager))

Danie Craven described Engelbrecht as "one of the best wings to ever have played for South Africa", while others described him as fast and elusive "with the excellent change of pace".[1] He held records for most appearances for South Africa as a wing (66) until 2006,[3] and most career test tries scored by a South African (8) which was surpassed by Gerrie Germishuys (12) by 1981.[4]

Early life edit

Jannie Engelbrecht was born on 10 November 1938 to Attie and Joey Engelbrecht. His siblings included two brothers and three sisters. The elder Engelbrecht was a farmer who owned Kapel, a farm near Klawer in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Attie Engelbrecht contributed to organized agriculture and served on various religious and civil bodies. He died in about 1975, while Joey died in 1992.[5]

Jannie Engelbrecht received his secondary education at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, where he also played rugby on the wing.[6]

Engelbrecht registered as an agricultural student at Stellenbosch University[7] He lodged at Simonsberg Men's Residence, where he and two other students caused some consternation in 1961 when they "borrowed" two elephants from a visiting circus and brought it to the residence.[7] In 1963 Engelbrecht became primarius of Simonsberg.[8]

Rugby career edit

University career edit

After playing in an intervarsity match for the university's third team alongside Mannetjies Roux, Engelbrecht was promoted to the first team.[1]

Engelbrecht represented a Western Province Universities side in 1963 that won 11-9 against the touring Wallabies in Cape Town. He and Hannes Marais scored a try each in the match.[9]

Provincial career edit

Engelbrecht was first selected to play for Western Province in 1960.[10]

In Western Province's 20-11 triumph at Newlands Stadium over the touring French team on 18 July 1964 Engelbrecht added a try to that scored by his teammate Dave Stewart.[11]

Engelbrecht is often remembered for his heroics during the 1 August 1964 Currie Cup clash between Western Province and Blue Bulls in Pretoria. Northern Transvaal were the favorites, having beaten Province 29-5 in their previous encounter that year. Their forwards dominated the first 40 minutes of the game, and the teams restarted with the home side 6-3 ahead.[12]

During the second half Engelbrecht broke his right collarbone after being tackled by Northern's captain, Louis Schmidt. Engelbrecht wanted to leave the field, but his captain, Doug Hopwood, refused. At the time substitutions were not permitted, and Province would have had to continue play with 14 men.[13] Engelbrecht later recalled that the pain was so severe that he wanted to avoid at all costs being tackled again. Spurred by this urgency, he twice ran around the opposition to score, contributing to Province's 16-11 victory and claim to the Currie Cup. Schmidt had to suffer the ignominy of being booed by his home crowd as he left the field. He was dropped after the match and retired at the age of 27.[12][14][15]

International career edit

Still only 20, Engelbrecht was called up for the 1959 Junior Springbok team that toured Argentina in August and September. The Junior Springboks comprised young players on the verge of making their international debuts. Captained by lock Peter Allen, the team won all 13 of their matches, including two in Buenos Aires against the local national team which featured Stanley and Ricardo Hogg.[16]

Engelbrecht's international career proper started with his selection for the first test against a touring Scottish team on 30 April 1960. He joined 9 other debutants at the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth, including Doug Hopwood and John Gainsford.[2][17]

The test occurred in the midst of the state of emergency that had been declared on 30 March, following the Sharpeville massacre on 21 March, and which lasted until 31 August. During that period some 20,000 black South Africans would be detained.[18] In the pre-dawn hours before the test government forces arrested 445 people in the townships around Port Elizabeth [19]

The Glasgow Herald noted Craven's prediction of victory for the touring side but nevertheless favoured the untried Springboks. Scottish hopes were pinned on the greater fitness of their team and mobility of their pack. Engelbrecht was viewed as "a danger man with great pace and outside swerve".[20] Danie Craven later recalled that Engelbrecht had injured his shoulder beforehand, and that Craven had to bandage the limb before the wing took to the field.[1] In the event, the experience that 6 of the Springboks had gained on the 1959 Junior Springbok tour to Argentina was reflected in the home side's 18-10 win.[21]

In all Engelbrecht would play 67 times for the Springboks and score 44 tries.[1] In 1965 he scored a hat-trick for the national side against a combined New Zealand regional side at Timaru,[22] and in 1968 he produced 4 tries in a win over a French select team in Toulon.[23]

Engelbrecht celebrated his last appearance in the Springbok jersey on 16 August 1969 with two tries in the 2nd test against Australia at Kings Park in Durban. Strong winds hindered play, and for the first 18 minutes neither side could gain territorial dominance. Then Engelbrecht managed to snag a loose ball and score after Wallaby captain Greg Davis tried to kick from within his 22m area. His second try followed a scrum won by the Springboks near the touch line. Left wing Syd Nomis cut into the backline to create an overlap and Engelbrecht scored after receiving the ball from Mannetjies Roux, who had drawn the last defender.[24][25] The test gained some notoriety in the Australian press as Craven allegedly said at the after-game reception that playing the Wallabies was like playing schoolboys, to which the Australian team responded by heckling him.[26]

Test history edit

Opponents Results (RSA 1st) Position Points Dates Venue
Scotland 18-10 Wing 30 Apr 1960 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Wales 3-0 Wing 3 Dec 1960 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Ireland 8-3 Wing 17 Dec 1960 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
England 5-0 Wing 7 Jan 1961 Twickenham, London
Scotland 12-5 Wing 21 Jan 1961 Murrayfield, Edinburgh
France 0-0 Wing 18 Feb 1961 Stade Olympique, Paris
Australia 28-3 Wing 3 (try) 5 Aug 1961 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Australia 23-11 Wing 12 Aug 1961 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
British Lions 3-0 Wing 21 Jul 1962 Kings Park, Durban
British Lions 8-3 Wing 4 Aug 1962 Newlands, Cape Town
British Lions 34-14 Wing 25 Aug 1962 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Australia 5-9 Wing 10 Aug 1963 Newlands, Cape Town
Australia 9-11 Wing 24 Aug 1963 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Wales 24-3 Wing 23 May 1964 Kings Park, Durban
France 6-8 Wing 25 Jul 1964 PAM Brink Stadium, Springs
Ireland 6-9 Wing 10 Apr 1965 Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Scotland 5-8 Wing 3 (try) 17 Apr 1965 Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Australia 11-18 Wing 6 (2 tries) 19 Jun 1965 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Australia 8-12 Wing 26 Jun 1965 Lang Park, Brisbane
New Zealand 3-6 Wing 31 Jul 1965 Athletic Park, Wellington
New Zealand 0-13 Wing 21 Aug 1965 Carisbrook, Dunedin
New Zealand 19-16 Wing 4 Sep 1965 Lancaster Park, Christchurch
New Zealand 3-20 Wing 18 Sep 1965 Eden Park, Auckland
France 26-3 Wing 15 Jul 1967 Kings Park, Durban
France 16-3 Wing 3 (try) 22 Jul 1967 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
France 14-19 Wing 29 Jul 1967 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
France 6-6 Wing 12 Aug 1967 Newlands, Cape Town
British Lions 25-20 Wing 8 Jun 1968 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
British Lions 6-6 Wing 22 Jun 1968 Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
France 12-9 Wing 9 Nov 1968 Stade Municipal, Bordeaux
France 16-11 Wing 3 (try) 16 Nov 1968 Stade Olympique, Paris
Australia 30-11 Wing 2 Aug 1969 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Australia 16-9 Wing 6 (2 tries) 16 Aug 1969 Kings Park, Durban

Rugby administration edit

Engelbrecht served on the executive committee of the Western Province Rugby Union, of which he was elected junior vice-president in 1992.[27] He also sat on the executive for his university's club, the Stellenbosch Rugby Football Club, while Danie Craven was chair. After Craven's death, Engelbrecht assumed leadership of Stellenbosch RFC from 1993 until his resignation in 2004.[28][29]

In March 1993 he was appointed Springbok manager for the incoming tour by France and the outgoing tour to Australia, alongside new coach Ian McIntosh, and in April 1994 his contract was extended to the end of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[30][31] Lauded for the relaxed and open style that he brought to the position,[32][33] Engelbrecht spoke out several times against dirty play by South African players.[34] Series losses to France (1993), Australia (1993), and New Zealand (1994), led to the firing of the new manager and coach by Louis Luyt, president of the South African Rugby Union. Engelbrecht's disagreements with Luyt about the latter's interventions also played a role in this regard.[35][36] While McIntosh demurred mildly at his dismissal, Engelbrecht was far more outspoken, blaming Luyt's ego for the fracas and the subsequent results.[37]

Personal life edit

On 7 December 1963 Engelbrecht married the Namibian Ellen Liebenberg in Windhoek. Earlier that year Ellen had won the Miss South Africa beauty pageant and in July was a semi-finalist at the Miss Universe competition in Miami Beach, Florida.[38][39] Their children include Angeline (daughter), Jean (son), and Magdeline (daughter). The couple divorced in 2004 after Engelbrecht had had an extra-marital affair.[40]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Jannie Engelbrecht". Enslin's Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame. genslin.us. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Jannie Engelbrecht, South Africa". ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  3. ^ "JP to make debut against Australia". ESPN Scrum. ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  4. ^ "South Africans are proud Bok supporters - Germishuys". ESPN Scrum. ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Oud-Bok se ma oorlede [Ex-Bok's mother passes]". Die Burger. 5 May 1995. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Grey set to gore Paul Roos". Keo.co.za. Keo. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  7. ^ a b "50 jaar gelede [50 years ago]". Die Burger. 7 March 1961. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  8. ^ Visser, Wessel (2012). "Die Simonsberg Met (50 Jaar) [The Simonsberg Met (50 years)". Simonbond.org.za. Simonsberg Oudbond. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  9. ^ "June 26 down the years: A quiet start to the tour ... the riots were to follow". ESPN Scrum. ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Player Profile - Jan Pieter Engelbrecht". SARugby.net. SA Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  11. ^ Van Walsem, Dick (12 June 1993). "WP vaar soms goed teen toerspanne [WP sometimes does well again touring teams]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  12. ^ a b De Villiers, Louis (19 September 1991). "Dit ís al gedoen, Streeptruie! Helde van 1964 is ook afgeskryf [It has been done, Hooped Jerseys! Heroes of 1964 also written off]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Weer sulke tyd [That time again]". Die Burger. 31 October 1998. Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  14. ^ Dobson, Paul (1995). Thirty super Springboks. Cape Town: Human & Rousseau. p. 141.
  15. ^ Dobson, Paul (1988). Great moments in South African sport. Don Nelson. pp. 156–59.
  16. ^ "Brief history of the Junior Springboks/Gazelle". springbokrugby.webs.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  17. ^ "Scotland Tour - Port Elizabeth, 30 April 1960". ESPNScrum.com. ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  18. ^ Ambrose, Reeves. "The Sharpeville Massacre - A watershed in South Africa by Reverend Ambrose Reeves". South African History Online. SAHistory.org.za. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  19. ^ "Emergency units to be relieved". The Glasgow Herald. 30 April 1960. p. 7, col. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  20. ^ "Narrow defeat of Scots expected". The Glasgow Herald. 29 April 1960. p. 16, col. 2. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Junior Springbok Tour, Buenos Aires, 12 September 1959". ESPN Scrum. espnscrum.com. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  22. ^ "August 25 down the year: Wallabies break Bledisloe duck". ESPN Scrum. ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  23. ^ "October 29 down the years: Birth of an uncapped Lion". ESPN Scrum. ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  24. ^ "South Africa win second R.U. test". The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). 17 August 1969. p. 74, col. 1. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  25. ^ "Video: Springbok Try Springbok Try No. 262 - Jannie Engelbrecht (1969 - Australia, 2nd Test, Durban)". YouTube. Hennie Kriel. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  26. ^ Payten, Iain (31 July 2009). "1969 Wallabies celebrate 40th anniversy of South Africa tour". The Daily Telegraph (Australia). Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  27. ^ "Dougie Dyers nuut op WP-bestuur [Dougie Dyers new on WP executive]". Die Burger. 5 February 1992. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  28. ^ "Jan Engel lei Maties [Jan Engel leads Maties]". Die Burger. 13 February 1993. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  29. ^ "Jannie Engelbrecht resigns as the president of the Maties Rugby Club". Gallo Images. GalloImages.co.za. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  30. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (2 March 1993). "Maties se Bok-ster kan SA span lei [Maties' Bok-star can lead SA team]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  31. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (15 April 1994). "Burger moet oplei [Burger must train]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  32. ^ Joubert, Fritz (24 June 1993). "Bok-bestuurder se styl verwelkom [Bok manager's style welcomed]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  33. ^ Joubert, Fritz (17 July 1993). "Bokke betower Aussies, danksy oom Jannie se bestuurstyl [Boks enchant Aussies, thanks to uncle Jannie's management styl]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  34. ^ Joubert, Fritz (4 August 1994). "Stuit dié monster, sê Engelbrecht [Stop this monster, says Engelbrecht]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  35. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (8 August 1994). "Smith, Claassen en Williams lyk na nuwe troika vir SA rugby [Smith, Claassen and Williams look like new troika for SA rugby]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  36. ^ Van Rooyen, Quintus (6 August 1994). "Nóg koppe kan rol ná reeksnederlaag [More heads can roll after series defeat]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  37. ^ Bale, Steve (10 August 1994). "Rugby Union: Manager fights Luyt: Springboks sackings". The Independent (London). Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  38. ^ "Ellen Liebenberg | Miss South Africa 1963". Sun International South Africa. 14 August 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  39. ^ "Miss Universe field is narrowed to 15". Ocala Star-Banner. 19 July 1963. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  40. ^ Prince, Llewellyn (19 May 2005). "Jannie Engelbrecht: Vrou, kinders kry interdik [Jannie Engelbrecht: Wife, kids get interdict]". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
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