By Brenden Nel.
The current injury crisis in the Springbok team has led to the call-up of 46-test veteran Elton Jantjies from the wilderness.
Jantjies, who hasn’t played for the Springboks since August last year when he was embroiled in off-field controversy, has been playing in the French second-division side Agen and will arrive to join the side on Sunday.
The 32-year-old flyhalf looked to be in the wilderness but with injuries to Damian Willemse and incumbent Handre Pollard, the Boks only have one fit flyhalf at the moment.
The only fit player that can take the 10 jersey at the moment is Manie Libbok, who now has the inside track to face Australia on July 8 at Loftus Versfeld.
Damian ‘Touch and Go’ for first Test
“Damian has a knee injury and will be touch-and-go for the first test of the season next month while Handre is definitely out,” Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said.
“It means Manie is our only fit flyhalf as of today and we can’t go into a test season without any cover. We weighed up the options available locally and overseas – having tracked all of them throughout the season just completed – and Elton is the next flyhalf in line.
“He knows our thinking and systems inside out and can slot in easily. We kick off against Australia in three weeks and should Damian Willemse not return to full fitness by then, Elton would be ready to play.”
Jantjies made his test debut against Australia in Pretoria in 2012 and has been a fixture in Springbok squads for the past six years. He is currently in France and will join the squad in Pretoria on Sunday.
Calf Problem
On Wednesday SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus explained the situation the Boks find themselves in. “Handre has developed a bit of a calf problem and it will take a little longer for him to be back in training,” said Erasmus.
“Handre will definitely be part of the Rugby Championship, we just need to give him an opportunity to get back to full fitness. Damian Willemse has also taken a knock to the knee and is not training at the moment. So Manie is the only fit flyhalf at the moment. I am sure the other two will be 100 per cent ready once the international season arrives, but at the moment we are a bit thin at 10.”
Jantjies’ disciplinary issues and an injury to Pollard meant that Damian Willemse was the flyhalf for the November tour and grew in the role, so much so that he is considered the official back-up to Pollard.
Few other options
The fact that the Boks used youngster Sacha Mngomezulu-Feinberg and Johan Goosen in the SA A tour last year and neither have come up as options led them to turn to Jantjies, who despite his issues, still has the experience and knowledge to help them short-term.
Whether that turns into a long-term chance for him to claim a place to the World Cup waits to be seen.
The only other flyhalf used by Nienaber was veteran Frans Steyn, who is struggling with a knee injury and if reports are to be believed, is likely to miss out on selection to the World Cup as he won’t be able to recover in time.