More said about Jantjies pass than Aplon's run

Rugby fans sometimes take the best for granted. Aplon saw the opportunity, ranged inside Jantjies at pace and then gutted the Brumbies defence with acceleration and a step that was from the Cliff Morgan playbook.

So why am I reading more about the Jantjies "sublime" pass? It was a perfectly ordinary inside pass, which is a Jantjies trademark. I bet he has thrown 30 already in the tournament....all of which have produced nothing, except one. The one that had Aplon at the end of it!

Jantjies deserves more credit for the Bekker try, where he held his pass nicely....but the situation was ripe.

For the rest he was bumped off in tackles and made some really poor clearing kicks to the middle of the park, setting up Brumbies attacks. And that run back and weak attempted step which led to a turnover was painful to watch.

And by now other teams will have registered his open field cross kicks, often executed in the middle of the park. The kick on Saturday could have been secured by either team....and one of these days an opponent is going to latch onto one of these for a try. They have to be unexpected , in the opponents 22 and done when the defence is out of position. Kicking a 50/50 jump ball on the halfway line is a dangerous tactic, not a visionary one.

 His strong suit was supposed to be his kicking, which may become an issue again if Taute gets a start. Without metronomic kicking he is a net liability.

Disagree, its a gift being able to put players into space with a pass - its all to do with a sense of touch, awareness and presence of mind. I dont even recall the pass to set up Aplon, I do recall the Bekker one.

His best set-up was putting Aplon away in the last game. Jantjies will only get better with time in the company of the Stormers. He does attack the advantage line, has a great eye for a gap and we will see these come into the frame as he gains confidence in a new side.

He might have been bumped off once or twice, but it effectively halted the attacker for Elton had put enough in to stop any momentum. For the rest he took the hits well. His tactical kicking game has not kicked in yet as he is usually as good as the rest. The Stormers need to entrust him with this responsibility as Joe has been pathetic in clearing the lines.

Jantjies is getting better and better, but agreed that last run of his was feeble and in order to become the finished product he needs to embrace contact and take it on the chin.

Jantjies will never be a better bet than Goosen or Lambie, but he is a talented player who brings something different to the table. I am a big fan

Have to disagree....a10 tends to be as good as his weakest link. Jantjies will always be defined by weak defence and a tendency to get rattled. He will look great when the team is winning easily.

I thought Jantjies had a good game. Tackled, or slowed down, Big Auelua a couple times. That shows heart, man. It showed me he's not afraid. Beautiful pass to Bekker as well.

Obviously a couple of not so great moments from him. But overall he was good.

Well to be fair to the lad, they did target his channel and never really exploited him. He stood his ground for the most - those odd times palyers did knock him, were ineffective as he had done the damage and halted their momentum.

Jantjies is no better or worse a defender than Morne

Being gutsy is no substitute for being effective. The ABs targeted Lambie in his 10 debut and he brought down their loosies, first time, with knee high tackles.

Patrick Lambie....1.77m/83 kgs.

Elton Jantjies...1.76m/84 kgs.

Size is no excuse.

Lambie is quoted at 92kg

True, Moz. Making the tackle is the end result. He may not be Bok worthy because of that. But he's in there making first contact with a massive body, and eventually taking him down. I believe you have said he shies away from contact. He just showed you he doesn't. Give him at least that.

I've played a lot of rugby at the flank position, and when a big number 8 targets the fly half first, it's really nice if he can just do what Jantjies did. If anything, it just means I don't have to take that contact. LOL

Fair enough canrugby....I buy that he may be  an okay S15 player....even one who is fun to watch. But I can't see him succeeding at test level.

Dave I used the same source for both players. Weight is a variable depending on a lot of things...height and frame are constants. They are essentially the same height, both with stocky builds. Although, I almost hesitate to bring this up, Lambie has broad shoulders.

Louis Ludik:

The man tackles anything that moves..No excuses Elton!!!

I've been wanting Grant over Jantjies for weeks but at the same time I couldn't say with any certainty that Grant would have made those two try creating passes that Jantjies did on Saturday. 

Grant is twice the defender that Jantjies is and a better tactical kicker so the question is whether leaving Jantjies in the lineup is worth the risk for the creativeness he brings to the table. It would mean Joe Pietersen would have to remain at fullback to the exclusion of Taute as we have seen no evidence that Jantjies can resume goal kicking. Taute was not good on Saturday - kicking directly into touch on up and unders and once when going for territory. He also seems to have lost his step - just crashballing ahead.

 Shame.  Poor Elton can't seem to catch a break amongst many SA'n. supporters.  The guy played extremely well given the immense pressure he was under.  His pass to Aplon was brilliantly timed.  Whilst it looked very easy and Aplon still had a lot of work left after punching through the  hole Elton created, the initial credit must go to Jantjies.   If Goosen or Lambie had played as well as Elton had there would be no shortage of wet knickered Bokke supporters talking them up and confidently predicting doom for the ABs and NZ super teams. But.....because it was only  lowly Elton who produced the goods, the one eyed fanboys want to discredit and/or minimise Eltons accomplishments as average and mediocre.   Sadly for Elton his greatest challenge doesn't come from opposition teams but from his own countrymen and sometimes his own team mates happy to sap his confidence.  Elton is unfairly  held to a much higher standard than his compatriots.  I think this is a near insurmountable obstacle for Elton which may  prevent him from ever claiming greater glory.  

Cry me a river!

Hey Nuke, take him if you want him so much.

Let me ask you one thing..Place these players in order of your preference.

Lima Sopoaga

Beauden Barrett

Dan Carter

Chris Noakes

Baden Kerr

Elton Jantjies

Aaron Cruden

Gareth Anscombe

Colin Slade

If you choose to do it, be entirely honest with yourself and lets see where Elton features. Taking into account each players allround game and what they bring to any team!

Elton is a good player, but not international standard unlike Bryan Habana and Breyton Paulse who were amongst the best in their positions- and the praise is allocated accordingly.

Goosen is a far better prospect at flyhalf when not injured than both Lambie or Jantjies. 

How many teams of the week is Elton going to make in comparision to Goosen

Lambie is bigger and a far better defender than Jantjies. I am not saying Jantjies is a good defender, but what he is doing, is making those tackles by putting his body on the line - that takes bravery and that's all we can ask of the lad.

Jake was true to his word and they targeted him and he never let the Stormers down.

Boklog, Ludik weighs 92kg - check the Sharks website. I suspect he is bigger than that for the Sharks website is a poor reflection on accuracy. I have an exchange of e-mails with their web editor to prove it.

The kid's out of hand kicking is atrocious, oh sure he made some deft passes...so what?  In one instance he ran straight into a tackler...give me a break! I'll say it again, he's a dead set plodder and Ithe sooner the Stormers get rid of him the better.

Wrong Denny, while Eltons kicking out of hand has not exactly fired yet, its a strength of his - something we saw with his time at the Lions.

That run into the defenders was poor and the only time this year I have been disappointed in his play.

Face it....Elton is a perfectly ordinary player physically. But some SA fans are so starved of a bit of unscripted play, that a few flip passes and cross kicks make them think a genius has arrived.

My guess is Elton has studied a lot of the Quaalude's games.....but even Cooper tackles better and Elton doesn't have his step or pace.

Moz, Elton's touches come naturally to him, its instinct - you can't coach that into him. Elton has a great step, he does not have Coopers pace

Dave I'd rather have Catrakilis. But the Stormers are doing a nice job of taking the pressure off Jantjies allowing him to do the creative bits. In the meantime Joe does the kicking and the loosies do the tackling Phew! Six tackles attempted, three made, is a bit depressing.

Catrakilis is good - another nice solid player. Elton will give you something different. They need to give him the kicking duties as its a strength. Joe is not good enough to start.

Elton in the circumstances did a good job defensively - hell I'd say there were at least 6 tackles attempts each half.

The Brumbies gained nothing through Elton's channel - he deserves some credit for that