AUDIO: 'Write Jantjies off at your own peril'
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: Elton Jantjies, one of those players the fans love to hate, is not the type of person that will succumb to a bit of criticism.
Jantjies was the target of some misguided criticism after the Springboks’ 10-25 loss to England in the third Test last week – taking the gloss off their two-one series win over the tourists.
While Jantjies had a horror showing, his detractors were quick to lay all the blame for the Boks’ poor showing at his feet.
However, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was not ready to cast any players out.
The Bok mentor has put the bait out to all the players who struggled during the June window.
He told them: ‘Show me that you are hungry and still want it.’
Jantjies’ first chance to prove his detractors wrong comes in Durban on Saturday, when he goes head-to-head with another struggling Bok No.10, Robert du Preez.
The Sharks flyhalf, Du Preez, made his Test debut when he came off the bench against Wales in a one-off Test in Washington on June 2.
Like Jantjies this past weekend, Du Preez had two kicks changed down – the second leading to Wales’ match-winning try.
No doubt the Bok coach will keep a keen eye on the match at Kings Park, to see who ‘wants it most, who is hungry’.
Lions coach Swys de Bruin is adamant Jantjies will not disappoint and that he will show his desire to remain in the Bok frame.
“Elton is a true professional,” De Bruin told a media briefing in the build-up to Saturday’s Round 17 encounter.
“There is a reason why he played 100 games for this [Lions] franchise.
“Elton has bounced back before.”
Like the Bok coach did after the loss to England at Newlands, De Bruin felt it was unfair to put all the blame for the Boks’ loss on Jantjies.
“You can only play at flyhalf as good as the ball you get,” the Lions coach said, adding: “[Bok coach] Rassie [Erasmus] said the same thing.
“It is easy to blame Elton.
“I went through the clips again. He often had to do a bit of ‘wicket keeping’ [receiving the ball under pressure].
“One thing about Elton, he is resilient. He can take a shot and come back.
“I have never, and Akkers [Johan Ackermann] neither, sub Elton.
“We have so much faith in Elton that we never sub him, he plays through it [even if he has a bad game].
“I have moved him to No.12 in a game, but I won’t chuck him out.”
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