Pollard preferred in Paris?
STRUGGLING: FLYHALF NOT COMFORTABLE WITH TACTICS
Pollard changed the momentum when he came on.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies is set to be one of the scapegoats after last weekend’s Springbok debacle in Dublin against Ireland.
While most of the headlines today will focus on the 2023 World Cup announcement, the Boks are trying to pick up the pieces before facing the French in Paris this weekend.
The Boks haven’t tasted victory in their last five Tests after starting the year on a high by winning their first five Tests, including a resounding 3-0 series win over the French in June.
Former Bok flyhalf Baam van Straaten, who scored 221 Test points in 21 Tests between 1999 and 2001, said it appears Jantjies is not completely at ease with the gameplan that is being followed by troubled Bok coach Allister Coetzee and that his confidence has suffered as a result.
“I thought during that first half last weekend that Elton did a few things very well when he took the ball deep which gave him more time against the rushed defence of Ireland who were standing very flat,” he said.
Van Straaten said however a player like Jantjies is in his element when he has time and space on the ball which wasn’t possible because the Boks failed to get any gainline dominance.
“We have seen in the past that Elton starts to struggle a bit with his decision-making when he doesn’t get quick ball and time on the ball which limits his ball-inhand options,” he said.
Jantjies could be replaced by Handre Pollard who seemed to create a lot more opportunities for the backline once he replaced Jantjies in the Irish capital.
There have also been calls for the midfielders Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel to be dropped and Francois Venter and Lukhanyo Am to be brought in.
It seems like a given that Duane Vermeulen will start at No 8, Francois Louw to be moved to openside flank and Siya Kolisi to the blindside.
On the tighthead prop Wilco Louw should start in the place of the injured Coenie Oosthuizen, with Trevor Nyakane added to the bench.