Before the Stormers contracted Jantjies for the Super 15 this year I pointed out repeatedly that they are going to regret that it is one signing they are going to regret. I pointed out at the time that Jantjies -
* is a serious liability in defence;
* that he is extremely predictable in his passing game and constantly runs towards his center before passing the ball to him, (hospital passing in other words), or alternatively run towards him and try inside passes;
* that when under pressure tends to knock on balls or give forward passes; and
* regularly chickens out under high balls when under pressure.
Jantjies proved to be one of the most expensive failures in Super 15 the Stormers ever signed up. He did all the above and his goal kicking became a nightmare - in the very first game he failed badly and as a result the Stormers had to pick Pietersen to get a reliable goal kicker on the field of play. That in itself cost the Stormers dearly and they failed badly in Super 15 this year.
The best performance by a Stormers flyhalf in Super 15 was in the game against the Bulls - where Van Aswegen was outstanding. It was hence no surprise that the Stormers - despite Coetzee's pleas to the contrary refused to sign up Jantjies for the 2014 Super 15 series - as he was a very expensive failure in the 2013 series.
Jantjies consequently went back to the Lions. His first CC game this year for the Lions was a shocker and they promptly dropped him to the bench for the next two games. Then he had a lucky break when the Lions first choice full back was injured and the management decided to move their first choice flyhalf (Boshoff) to full back and give Jantjies a chance at flyhalf. He had an above average game and since Boshoff proved to be very good in attacking from the full back - the Lions thus far kept him at full back for the reminder of the games.
On CC level we must remember that Van Aswegen and Catrakillis was injured and did not play for WP, and that Watts of the Cheetahs, and Pollard of the Bulls were bog ordinary to poor, so under the circumstances Jantjies at flyhalf should stand out. However, come along a newbie Zeilinga for the Sharks and he immediately became the top flyhalf competing in the CC thus far this year. That does not say anything but to prove that Jantjies definitely still is very average as a flyhalf.
Saffex has consistently trumpeted Jantjies for a future Springbok selection - apparently based on promise he showed as an Under 20 player. That despite the fact that he failed to develop further after leaving that age group and consequently did not measure up to expectations in senior rugby. When given opportunity to have reasonable game time for the Springboks in the Soweto test he failed miserably.
I think that unless there is an unlikely miraculous improvement in the performance of Jantjies he is not a test level flyhalf and that that should be accepted as a fact of life.
