Plum
I see elsewhere that you suggest that Jantjies be given one more chance to play for the SA team - but I do not think that is really justified. Kindly refer to the following extract from News24:-
"2. Jantjies’ Test woes continue
It’s fair to say that Saturday's Test was a horror-show for Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
The pivot’s early penalty miss set the tone for his match at a wet Newlands - a ground where he often struggles.
Jantjies’ blunders included overcooked kicks, two fumbles and a charge-down.
It’s one thing to play well behind a dominant Lions pack at high altitude, but another to do so in the pressure cooker of Test rugby.
Jantjies has now played 26 Tests and one wonders how many more opportunities lie in wait?"
In those 26 tests Jantjies was involved in the then Springboks and now the SA team lost 12 tests and won only 12 while drawing in 2. That is not the kind of figures one would expect from any SA team. The problem is that flyhalfs play a critical role in backline lay and many of the failures could be attributed to poor function of the backline.
So lets evaluate that winning issue further. In at least five of the wins Jantjies was on the bench and got very little playing time after the tests were already won. That leaves only 9 wins in which he had longer playing time.
I do not think after that history Jantjies have much chance of being retained to play in another test. His problem is that he cannot take pressure and under pressure he normally fouls up. He is a very good flyhalf under certain super rugby conditions - but to my mind cannot take the necessary step up to test level. On the latter level there always will be pressure.
Another Jantjies selection at flyhalf will case a major public storm and that would be a problem for Erasmus. I do not think Du Preez will make the grade as back-up flyhalf either - but Erasmus may decide to invest in Willemse as an option ahead of Jantjies and Du Preez. He came very close to publicly criticizing Jantjies in respect of his game on Saturday and that to my mind is a warning as to future appearances of Jantjies in tests . .
