Boks have no 'Super hangover'
Just a fortnight after their heartbreaking 17-25 loss to the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Final, eight members of the Lions team will have to lift themselves for a Test against Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies is adamant that there will be no Super Rugby hangover for him and his teammates – Jaco Kriel, Malcolm Marx, Francois Mostert, Ruan Dreyer, Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronje and Courtnall Skosan.
"We had to put that Final behind as quickly as possible," he said at a media briefing in the build-up to the first Test against Los Pumas in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
"I spoke to some of the players about how exciting it is to be back in the Springbok fold," he said, adding: "Sometimes you take it [playing for the Boks] for granted."
Jantjies, when questioned about his wobbly goal-kicking performance in the quartefinal against the Sharks, said it is noithing that can't be fixed with hard work and focus.
"Goal-kicking for me is trusting my body and trusting my technique," he said, adding: "You put a lot of work in, repeating the same routine, till it becomes instinct."
He adde that he has been focussing on improvinf other aspects of his game.
"I challenge myself to make the right decisions – be that on attach or defence – and then create space for my outside backs."
He said the Boks will need a good start against the Pumas, because the South Americans are a confidence team that can put a very effective strangelhold on opponents if they get into the lead.
"We can't allow them to build confidence,"Jantjies said, adding that Boks will have to be alert for the entire 80 minutes, as Los Pumas bring some "unexpected plays".
"They have a strong set piece and they will challenge us there.
"They are always solid in the first few phases on defence, so we have to be sharp in terms of our momentum.
"We certainly can't afford to switch off at any stage."
