With five months to World Cup, Jantjies has to give his 110%
LIONS flyhalf Elton Jantjies is having the kind of season that, if this was 2003, would have put him straight on the Springbok plane to the England Rugby World Cup in September.
But this is 2015 and, despite Jantjies showing his best form since 2012, it is a year that has presented him with more challenges en route to the Springbok No 10 jersey.
Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard and the Sharks’ Patrick Lambie command this race.
Jantjies is, however, obdurate about donning the green and gold again.
“Every year on New Year’s Eve, the first goal I set for myself is to achieve Springbok colours,” he says.
For that to happen, he adds, he would have to batten down the hatches and prepare for the fight of his career, the fight his late father Thomas had been preparing him for all along.
“I have to stay in the moment and continue doing a good job at the Lions.
“If I’m consistent, working hard and I’m playing well, I’ll get the reward for it,” says Jantjies.
“My father brought me and [my brother] Tony up like soldiers. He was in the military.
“The way he did things was to give 110% to his job and he was never comfortable. He always wanted to achieve the highest ranking.”
Since coming back from Japan, the 24-year-old has helped the Lions to four vic- tories in eight before last night’s match against the Sharks at home — all wins achieved when he started. His minuet-like kicking run-up and added strength on his swing have brought his confidence back.
“The stint in Japan did me good,” Jantjies said. “I went there to focus on rugby.
“Kicking plays a role in boosting your confidence but you have to mature in such a way that, if the kicking doesn’t go well, you still play well. Or if you play well, you kick well.
“Between 2010 and now, I’ve got an extra five steps in my technique just to create room for my flex, to get better flow and good distance.
“That twist of the foot at the end helps activate my body for the kick, instead of standing motionless, dreaming.”
The 1995 World Cup-winning flyhalf Joel Stransky has noticed Jantjies’ improvement, but said a place in the UK could be a bridge too far.
“I say this with a caveat – he’s not as predictably manufactured as he was before. Now he’s starting to make decisions on what he sees in front of him.
“He’s looking a bit more agile and courageous on defence. [But] I don’t think [Bok coach Heyneke] Meyer will pick a flyhalf because he’s a good tackler, but the collective package and the X-factor.
“Look at the way Pollard attacks and gets over the gain line, the way he carries the ball. Lambie does it almost as well but plays a bit deeper.”
Every year on New Year’s Eve, the first goal I set is to achieve Bok colours