Elton opens up on drop goal and match-winning penalty
REACTION: Springbok replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies said he wasn’t nervous in the closing stages of Saturday’s clash against the All Blacks.
After not featuring in the Round Five defeat to the same opponents, Jantjies was given a solid run in Saturday’s 31-29 Round Six win when he replaced Sibusiso Nkosi in the 48th minute.
Jantjies rewarded Bok coach Jacques Nienaber’s faith in him with a well-taken drop goal in the 77th minute – his first in green and gold – and the match-winning penalty goal after the full-time hooter sounded.
“Drop goals are something that I always do in training because you never know when you get a moment like that,” Jantjies told reporters after the game.
“Tonight [Saturday] it happened and it was time to use it.”
On that match-winning penalty, he joked: “On that last kick, I think we celebrated a bit early.
“It was straightforward. I live for the pressure and it is things that you do every single day.
“It’s just going through a routine and making sure that you put your head down and kick it over.”
That drop goal from Elton Jantjies 🎯🙌 #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/m42m5tZhDM
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 2, 2021
‘We stuck to the plan’
Talking through the nail-biting closing minutes of the match, Jantjies said self-belief was at the centre of the Boks’ brave effort.
“When it came to closing the game and getting the result one could see the boys have been in that position before,” said Jantjies. “The team did really well because a lot happened in that last few minutes.
“We spoke a lot about belief this week, and we stuck to the plan and when the opportunities came, we took them.”
Jantjies added: “We had a plan going into the game and I think we executed it quite well. For me, it was a good performance in all departments.
“Obviously we conceded a few cynical penalties but that’s part of the game.
“The guys on the bench also played a massive role. The coaches trusted them to do the job and they came through.”
Additional source: @Springboks
Elton Jantjies’ steps up to convert the match-winning penalty for the Springboks against the All Blacks and it’s celebrations all round for the South Africans 👏 pic.twitter.com/oEvc25c1zy
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 2, 2021
