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Erasmus explains why Jantjies hasn't gotten a Springboks recall

(Photo by Steve Haag/PA Images via Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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“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.”

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1 Comment
K
Kevin 747 days ago

Come on, straight BS there. Vinnie Koch hasn't played, and hasn't even got a job right now, but he's in

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Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
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CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


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It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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