Springbok Greats - Jannie Engelbrecht

Dr. Danie Craven on Jannie Engelbrecht: " Jannie played for Stellenbosch's third team in his first intervarsity match - and intervarsities reveals the players with big match temperament. It was immediately evident that he had the heart for the big occasion. He and Mannetjies Roux, who both played for South Africa so often, were by coincidence both in the third team that day and they destroyed their opponents. After the match Jannie was promoted to the first team and proved such a success that he ultimately played for his country. He hurt his shoulder just before playing his first test for South Africa against Scotland and I feared that this would be a repetition of what had happened to Leon Barnard in 1933. Barnard had to withdraw due to injury and he never played for South Africa. I didn't want that to happen to Jannie so I said to him: "My boy, you simply must play on Saturday." He tried out his shoulder but felt that he couldn't play. I then told him to carry out certain actions and I bandaged his shoulder in such a way that it would not restrict the movements essential to a wing. We had an executive meeting before the test was played and I warned: "Jannie, you must bandage your shoulder properly. I don't want you to play only one test for South Africa. You cannot afford to let the team down; you must go out there and do your best for South Africa." Eventually he interrupted the meeting and asked me to bandage his shoulder which I did. He played and never looked back." Fast and powerful, he is one of the best wings ever to have played for South Africa; that's why he has scored more tries in the Springbok jersey than any other player-forty-four in all matches in the green and gold. A strong-willed but charming man, Jannie today is as successful in his private and business life as he was on the rugby fields of the world.