Elton must be patient
Patience is the key word for talented Springbok squad member Elton Jantjies.
Bok backline coach Ricardo Loubscher said the 22-year-old Lions flyhalf, an unused replacement in the Test series against England in June, will not be rushed into the frontline too soon.
Loubscher, speaking in Cape Town ahead of South Africa's opening Rugby Championship Test against Argentina at Newlands on Saturday, was asked if Jantjies was in danger of dropping down the national flyhalf pecking order with the imminent return of Cheetahs star Johann Goosen.
Bok head coach Heyneke Meyer has been lavish in his praise of Goosen, who was a star for the Bloemfontein franchise before injury cruelly interrupted his season.
While he is still a few weeks away from returning, he could get into the Bok selection frame for the latter stages of the Rugby Championship – a tournament that sees the Pumas join the Boks, All Blacks and Wallabies on the big stage.
It means Jantjies, who will again be back-up to Morné Steyn at Newlands on Saturday, will have limited opportunities to prove his worth in the international arena.
Jantjies, a Bok squad member on the 2010 year-end Bok tour, enhanced his reputation when he successfully converted every goal attempt in the 2011 Currie Cup semifinal and Final – winning the Man of the Match award in a 42-16 victory against the Sharks in last year's domestic grand finale.
"He is still a youngster, so you want to make sure you don't rush him in [too early]," Loubscher said, when asked about Jantjies' prospects in the weeks ahead.
"The key word is time … you want to spend a little bit more time with him off the field in terms of our strategies, how we want to play the game.
"It is just a matter of time before you see Elton play to his full potential."
Asked about Goosen eminent return, Loubscher said it doesn't mean Jantjies will just be discarded.
"My personal view is that every player wants to have that kind of competition," Loubscher said of the Jantjies versus Goosen scenario.
"He [Jantjies] must just be patient in terms of his opportunities," the Bok backline mentor added.
He was also quizzed about the first-choice flyhalf, Steyn, and Loubscher said Steyn is a "professional" and knows exactly what he needs to work on.
"I have had a good chat with him and he is in a good space," he said, adding: "He is looking forward to the Test on Saturday and hopefully he can regain the form we got so used to.
"I'm very happy with the rest of his game, apart from the goal-kicking.
"If you look at some of the tries we scored against England, Morné was a huge part of that – his decision-making on attack, to create space for the guys on the outside, was tremendous."
Another out-of-form Bok that came up for discussion was utility back Francois Hougaard, who also struggled during the England series.
Loubscher said Hougaard is in a very good space and should be good value at Newlands, when out-of-hand kicking will be key to the Boks in what is expected to be another wet and windy weekend.
"We had an intense week [of preparations] and the guys are very excited to be back in camp," Loubscher said, adding: "There is lots of energy and plenty of excitement in the [Bok] camp. We are looking forward to a brilliant second week in terms of our preparations."
By Jan de Koning
