Jantjies saga: Lions draw the laager
REACTION: Lions coach Swys de Bruin put up a better defence than his team has done all season on the field, when he was quizzed about the axing of Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
The Lions’ curt statement that Jantjies was not considered for selection this week “due to a breach of team protocol” was also the theme of De Bruin’s media briefing on Thursday.
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Rather than being frank and transparent with the media, the coach – who has already had a breakdown this year – opted to be evasive and kept referring to it as a “private” matter.
To a direct question whether team protocol was breached on the field or off the field, De Bruin simply said: “It is a private matter.
“It is a thing that happened within the team and it is not the first time it happened.”
Asked whether the previous offence was something that also happened with that specific player, Jantjies, De Bruin was again evasive: “I don’t want to go into detail. It is all I want to say on that question.”
Asked if it was the same offence, the coach was again unapproachable and cagey in his response: “It is a private matter. It is a team protocol problem.”
He admitted it was a “big” decision to axe such a senior player.
“If it was me, or you or anyone in the team. We have protocol and we have systems. If you don’t follow protocol it can happen to anyone.
“It is not about the individual, it is about following the protocol.”
De Bruin said they will make a call next Monday, in conjunction with Lions Rugby Company CEO Rudolf Straeuli, for how long Jantjies’ dismissal will last.
De Bruin added that replacement Shaun Reynolds flyhalf has proven himself in the domestic challenge competition.
The coach believes Reynolds will be able to step in for Jantjies and perform on Saturday.
“Shaun has been around now for three, four years,” the coach said.
“Whenever he plays for the challenge team, he does very well. He knows the system.
“Elton has been a mentor to him so he understands the calls. He will do well. He is a good player.”
Lions hooker Malcolm Marx returns to captain the team, after sitting out the Lions loss to the Sharks in Durban last Saturday – due to Springbok resting protocol.
De Bruin added that there are still plenty of leaders in the team to cover for the absence of the experienced Jantjies.
“From a leadership point of view, there’s still very good leaders, Kwagga [No.8 Albertus Smith] is there, Malcolm [Marx] is back, Andries Coetzee at No.15 is a very good leader,” the coach added.
Marx shared the same sentiments as his coach regarding the ability of Reynolds to step in for Jantjies and the leaders which the Lions have in their team.
“Shaun’s a great player. Obviously Elton has been the general at the Lions for quite some time, so Shaun is just filling in.
“Shaun has played Super Rugby before and we’ve got a great bunch of guys that lead this side.
“With Elton being out, we still got Kwagga, still got a couple of guys in the forwards and a couple of guys in the backline that will help make decisions,” explained Marx.
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