1
Erasmus explains why Jantjies hasn't gotten a Springboks recall
South Africa director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has explained why the Springboks will not be recalling the out-of-favour Elton Jantjies for their upcoming European tour. The No10 was sent home from Buenos Aires on September 11 following media reports romantically linking him to team dietician Zeenat Simjee.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was reported last week in France that the Japanese-based Jantjies was likely set for a switch to the Top 14 and would be joining Toulon. That club has been on the lookout for cover for Ihaia West, the out-half they signed in the summer from La Rochelle.
This proposed move from Japan to France has yet to happen and, in the meantime, the Springboks have ignored the temptation to recall Jantjies to their fold, excluding him from the upcoming three-day training camp in Stellenbosch – which features nine Japanese-based players in the 26-man squad – and also ruling him out of the four-Test November tour of Europe which also included South Africa A team games versus Munster and Bristol.
Johan Goosen of the Vodacom Bulls is the only specialist out-half chosen in the Springboks training squad while the injured Handre Pollard isn’t expected to be fit for the tour after he was injured on his Leicester debut earlier this month. However, that situation hasn’t been enough to leverage Jantjies back into the selection picture.
“Elton, it is well documented we mutually agreed with him that there was that reporting on him while we were on tour just before an important Test match that we would allow him to go back to his home and go and handle these personal reports which we didn’t know what was true and what was not true,” explained Erasmus in response to the first question asked at a Springboks media briefing that lasted more than an hour on Tuesday.
“We did that and since then he hasn’t played any rugby so for us to be able to select him currently, we just haven’t seen him play. What we would love to do is just compare him to the other fly-halves on pure play and his form as we keep road maps on every single player. Unfortunately, we couldn’t have done this on Elton because he hasn’t played since so no, he won’t be up for selection.”
When the story broke in September that Jantjies was being sent home from Argentina, an SA Rugby statement at the time read: “The Springboks management are aware of reports regarding fly-half Elton Jantjies and team dietician Zeenat Simjee between the training camp in Sabie and the Test match against New Zealand in Mbombela earlier this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
“No team protocols were breached, but the individuals are returning to South Africa to attend to these personal reports and to eliminate any distractions to the team’s preparations for the Test against Argentina.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments