Jantjies can rely on familiar spine with Boks
IF COMBINATIONS in rugby are important, then to have a familiar spine running through the team is vital. It is something that the decision maker of the Springboks, Elton Jantjies, has at his disposal with a littering of Lions players in key areas.
With rugby being a game of individual responsibilities within a reliant team game, players are expected to perform their duties and roles within their position and to enact that as an overall team performance. It means that teammates are waiting for you to do your bit to contribute to a team effort.
Jantjies is at the centre of all of this, needing inch perfect performances from his teammates to perform his vital role at pivot as the playmaker. This is probably why Jantjies is smiling with his Lions teammates surrounding him.
From hooker, through the locks to the No 8 and the scrumhalf feeding him, not to mention the fullback keeping an eye on things behind him, Jantjies knows them all. Malcolm Marx and Franco Mostert, as well as captain Whitley marshal the forwards for Jantjies, while the calming presence of Ross Cronje feeds him workable ball.
Andries Coetzee is an option behind him and it even looks like Lionel Mapoe will be ready to receive off him in the centres this week.
“It is beneficial to have guys like Warren (Whiteley) and Ross (Cronje) in the spine of the team, knowing each other and speaking the same language,” Jantjies explained. “We have other leaders in the team, from No 2 (Malcolm Marx), to five (Franco Mostert), and then in the backfield with Andries (Coetzee) as well. So we are communicating quite well and making it easier on the field. The guys are calm and they know exactly what to do when a call is made which is making it easier.”
Jantjies has even made mention of the special relationship he has with club rival Jan Serfontein from the Bulls, and how their time together has made things easier for him in the Boks.
“Jan and me have been walking a long road too,” Jantjies went on. “We have been training well together for a few years now at the Boks, so we understand each other, we can only grow because this is our first game together.”
Solidifying
Jantjies will be looking forward to solidifying this spine through the Bok team as they get more and more familiar with each other in green jerseys, rather than red ones.
He can at least bet on the Lions teammates to take their responsibilities and perform their roles as he knows they can do.
“With rugby you have a spine through the team, from line-outs with the hookers and locks and then into the backs through to No 15, and with No 9 and No 10 as the decision makers.
“Everyone should be taking their own responsibility to get into position, communicate well and perform their role, and that accountability is important.”