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'We need Pollard in the squad': Springbok flyhalf Jantjies backs his injured rival to make it back for the British & Irish Lions

(Photo by Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images)

South Africa’s Rugby World Cup winner Elton Jantjies has opened up on his move to France ahead of the upcoming British and Irish Lions series.

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The flyhalf said his desire to feature in that B&I Lions series was the main reason behind his move to French strugglers Pau. The 30-year-old, who made the last of his 37 Test appearances during 2019’s Webb Ellis trophy success, last week announced he will join the Top 14 outfit on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

The B&I Lions will head to South Africa in July for an eight-match series with the final of three Tests on August 7.

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“It’s a massive motivation. It comes every 12 years, it only comes once or maybe twice in a career. It’s something as a schoolboy you dream of,” he told AFP after arriving in south-west France on Saturday.

“It’s quite special. I remember watching in 2009, back in the day. It’s going to be a tough ask for us as a team. I feel we’ve got the squad to do it,” he added.

Jantjies will be competing with first-choice flyhalf Handre Pollard, who has been out since September with a serious knee injury, for a starting berth later this year.

The pair could face each other in early June during the last game of the regular French season with Pollard’s Montpellier heading to Stade du Hameau.

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“We need Polly [Pollard] in the squad. I spoke to him a few days ago with me coming to France. It will be good to be in the squad with him for the British and Irish Lions,” said Jantjies, who played in two World Cup pool games for the Boks in Japan: the 57-3 victory over Namibia and 66-7 thrashing of Canada.

“Hopefully, I’ll see him over the next few weeks playing for his club and then the Springboks.

“I’m not an individual-based guy. I have to reach my own individual standards and it makes me happy. If I perform well for Pau and during the Springbok preparation the jersey is in the coaches’ hands.”

Jantjies, who plays for the Lions in his home country, will miss the franchise’s first involvement in the Pro14 with the Rainbow Cup starting this weekend.

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The former Baby Boks playmaker said the move to Pau was no slight on the new tournament.

“It was something I discussed with the Springbok and Lions management and it was a good opportunity for me. Playing in the Top 14 is something I’m really looking forward to in preparation for the British and Irish Lions,” he said.

“It is to give myself a big challenge for that big tour. It’s nothing against the Rainbow Cup or anything in South Africa,” he added.

Jantjies will be forced to wait until May 8 for his Pau debut as he will undertake a week-long isolation due to the French government’s Covid-19 guidelines.

Despite the rules the president Bernard Pontneau told newspaper l’Equipe he was eager to have an exemption for Jantjies.

The three-time French champions are in the relegation play-off spot, three points below Bayonne in 12th place with five matches of the season to go.

Apart from Montpellier, Jantjies can look forward to running out against already-relegated Agen before taking on the might of Top 14 giants Racing 92 and La Rochelle.

“The situation the club is in is one of the challenges I’m really looking forward to. Hopefully, we can achieve what we want to achieve,” he said.

“There are a few adjustments. We had a year lockdown and I learnt a lot.

“I’ve got some things up my sleeve. I have some daily programmes to do. Then next week hopefully hit the ground running.”

-Rugby365/AFP

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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
C
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.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


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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