Another look at the Bekker try throws a more realistic light on the Jantjies pass. It's pretty obvious the Brumbie player is trying for the interception....either because he thought it was on, or because they were going to be beaten by the overlap. Jantjies senses this and pulls his pass.....which is nice, but hardly unique. See minute 3.47 of the video.
It was a great touch by Jantjies, as was that pass to Aplon for his try and that cross kick to v/d Heever.......those touches are what makes Jantjies the attraction he is. We dont see that from other SA players
I am sorry guys but can someone please explain to me what all the hype is about Jantjies? His pass to Aplon and Bekker were passes you would expect from ANY and I say ANY flyhalf at this level. Even at schoolboy level. He simply popped a ball to Aplon without beating any defenders first. It was more a defensive malfunction from the Brumbies post or fringe defenders more than anything. Aplon still had plenty work to do so it was not like Jantjies did all the hard work and finesse to let Aplon walk over the line. It was a simple pop pass when it seemed like nothing else was on.
As for the Bekker try. A defender rushed up, Jantjies hardly had to throw a dummy and rather just walked through the massive hole in the midfield and put the ball in Bekkers bread basket. If Lambie or Goosen did this, it would just be normal play and expected. Thats what any flyhalf should have done. Come on guys, there was nothing special about that. Come to me and tell me Jantjies is special when he mimmicks SBW or when he runs into 3 defenders and the ball pops out somehow for his team mate to run 60 metres down field ala Dan Carter. Those are great touches, not a simple pop pass or a flyhalf "taking a gap" that is more synonymous with a crater in mid field. What flyhalf wouldn't do that. If that ball did not land in Aplons hands, it might have been little more than a line break that broke down in the 22. Aplon was the genius there. Elton had nothing to do with that but be the man to issue the pass. Kitshoff could have passed that.
Stormers are winning with Jantjies and thats great. I hope they continue in this vein of form but please okes, stop trying to pass Jantjies off for some magical god now. The man is still a defensive liability and this will cost the Stormers in those tight ones on the road. He needs to sort that out and quick. Put his game into perspective!
I guess Moz summed it up best above. It was nice. It was certainly not unique. Not by a long way!
To me it looked like a bread and butter....I'm about to get intercepted so I better hang on....situation. As for the cross kick, it landed on the Stormers 10 metre line.....the Brumbies were facing the kick. In all honesty with an alert player anticipating the kick, it was more likely a Brumbies try than a Stormers try.
I'm expecting a Pierre Spies strips Watson under his own poles moment with this kid.....it will happen.
In effect nothing Jantjies does will be positive in the eyes of those who are anti him. Much like laying no blame on de Jongh for that miss tackle, when it was clear de Jongh should have taken that Brumbies wing out
Its all in the eye of the beholder. The Jantjies pass to Bekker was held back and it was a deft touch as he could have just passed it early and sold Bekker in the process.
Compare that to Mapoe passing the ball too early to JJ in that last minute try, that was not a try. Mapoe showed little skill and appreciation for the situation. Had he held onto the ball a little longer, drawn the defender, he would have put JJ into space and that try would have been a formality.
Jantjies cross kick was perfectly weighted, most cross kicks are open to an opposition player countering......but his best moment was the pass to Aplon, simple in execution but impressive in anticipation.....that is what Jantjies brings to the party
Boklog, you really dont have an appreciation for the finer art of the game do you? As a coach, I know you cant coach those touches and its not the execution that matters, its the awareness and timing that counts. All players can execute an inside pass in training.......put them in a match situation and all those deft touches go out the window, but for the odd kid that has the gift.
If all these players were making these standard passes as you call it, we would have many more special players in the game.
As I say the execution of the pass is the easy bit, the art is being aware of the support runner, being aware of where the opposition is and finally its all about the timing of the pass. Most good players will get one of that equation correct, the special players get all three and more correct......therein lies the difference.
Jantjies has weaknesses, but his touches are a strength
Saff, I hear you. I know exactly what you saying. Jantjies does have some good touches. I dont hate him. I just dont rate him as a player. He is too inconsistent in my opinion. Those touches on the weekend were simply nothing more than average.
All flyhalfs at super rugby level have it. Maybe only a few kids you coach would have it but they are not internationals or super rugby players. Everyone is great there.
Boklog, that's my point, all these S15 flyhalves do not have those deft touches.......the only 10's you see with those touches are Cooper, Jantjies and Michalak............the majority of the other 10's play what's in front of them and have other strengths that set them apart.
If you say you get me then you would not be saying that Jantjies touches were average......yes they were standard/average in execution, but class in formulating. Its the formulating aspect that you dont appreciate.
I specifically did not want to comment on this item - because I thought Jantjies had a good game on Saturday. Since then I have watched the game twice to really see what was going on.
Jantjies did make some good passes and he certainly contributed to the two tries being scored - he certainlydeserve credit for that.
My problem with Jantjies is his inconsistency. He did good things - but he also flopped seriously by thoughtless play in at least three other occassions. Aside from that his defensive game remains a nightmare and can cost the Stormers dearly in future.
A mixed bag indeed - but still not by a considerable distance an acceptable flyhalf on Super 15 level.
Mike stop speaking crap, Jantjies is test material, S15 rugby is a mere formality. Jantjies will just get better and better now that he has turned the corner with his new side.
He stood firm in defence despite being targeted, the Brumbies created nothing through his channel despite the threats and attempts.
Jantjies was our best 10 of the weekend
Credit where it is due people. I am certainly not a fan of Jantjes, but he had a good game last week. He got barged over a couple of times by that big no.8, but that is just a matter of 116kg's vs 90. Is he good enough to be a bok? Probably not, but that is only due to his lack of consistancy.
