Coach backs Jantjies for Bok berth

WHETHER it is sage or biased‚ Lions coach Johan Ackermann dispensed advice for Springbok coach Allister Coetzee ahead of tomorrow’s squad announcement for the three-test series against France.

Ackermann gave Elton Jantjies the thumbs up as Bok flyhalf after the left-footer played a leading role in the 51-14 demolition of the Bulls at Ellis Park.

The endorsement comes at a time when Coetzee is short of options, with Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie still shadowed by injury clouds.

“I’m very biased‚” Ackermann said when asked if Jantjies could have an enduring test career.

“They have asked me that before about Elton. Does he have the big- match temperament, has he got the skills?

“I’ve put myself out there and always said ‘he’s got it’ and I back him purely because we love him here at the Lions. We believe he can play at the highest level.

“He showed that against the Bulls – his goal-kicking was phenomenal.

“He can play there. He is a player who plays with confidence and freedom and if you allow that‚ the players around him can understand him and then I believe he can play at the highest level.”

Jantjies has been compared with Hurricanes’ and All Blacks’ match winner Beauden Barrett.

Although he does not quite have the off-the-mark thrust and speed of Barrett, he too finds gaps and sets those up around him.

Jantjies could be as effective as Barrett‚ Ackermann argued‚ but cautioned it required unconditional trust.

“Look at the freedom Barrett has. He’s got good decision-making‚ he can kick a cross-kick or a chip and nobody is on his case if it works or if it doesn’t.

“They just fix it around him. That is the kind of player Elton can be as well.”

Another Lions player who did his Springbok prospects no harm against the Bulls was wing Ruan Combrinck.

He was not even supposed to play but Sylvian Mahuza, who was selected to start, picked up an injury.

Combrinck, who had been on the mend since the Boks’ end-of-year tour with a shoulder injury, leapfrogged Anthony Volmink into the starting lineup and made a stunning return. – TMG Sport