OWN CORRESPONDENT, London | Monday 3.00pm.
FLY-HALF hero Jannie de Beer has asked to be overlooked for selection to the South African team for their World Cup third-place playoff match against New Zealand in Cardiff on Thursday.
De Beer has played in all five of the Springboks’ matches at the World Cup to date, scoring a 95 points, including a record five drop goals against England in the quarter-finals.
De Beer asked to be stood down to give Henry Honiball a chance to be among the starting line-up in what will be his final test for South Africa, team officials said.
Honiball is set to announce his retirement from international rugby after Thursday’s match at the Millennium Stadium. He has signed to play for English club Bristol next season and the South African selectors do not pick overseas-based players.
Honiball made his first appearance of the tournament when he replaced centre Pieter Muller during South Africa’s 27-21 semi-final loss to Australia on Saturday.
Injury have forced several changes on Springbok coach Nick Mallett for the playoff match, the winners of which will qualify automatically for the 2003 tournament. The losers will have to play in a qualifying tournament.
Back-rower Bobby Skinstad’s troublesome knee has flared up again, while wings Deon Kayser has a broken jaw and Pieter Rossouw has a strained calf muscle.
Their places in the Springbok team are likely to be taken by Andre Vos, Breyton Paulse and Stefan Terblanche. The Springbok team is expected to be announced on Tuesday. — AFP