Should Elton Jantjies face the Wallabies or All Blacks?

With only three flyhalf options at his disposal and confirmation of split squads, should Springboks boss Jacques Nienaber let Elton Jantjies play against Australia at home or New Zealand away?

The Springboks are scheduled to take on Australia at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday, 8 July, followed by what promises to be an epic encounter against the All Blacks a week later (Saturday, 15 July).

ALSO READ: Springboks ‘don’t know what to expect from Wallabies’

WHO WILL THE SPRINGBOKS ENTRUST WITH THE NO 10 JERSEY

Because of the short turnaround between games in the truncated Rugby Championship, the Springbok management team has opted to utilise split squads for these two Tests respectively.

However, with the Springboks having a mini flyhalf crisis, it will be interesting to see how they plan to plug the void left by the injured Handre Pollard.

ALSO READ: Pollard injury could be a blessing in disguise for the Springboks

It was confirmed earlier this week that Pollard will miss the entire Rugby Championship due to a calf injury, leaving only Jantjies, Damian Willemse and the somewhat inexperienced Manie Libbok as flyhalf options.

Unless Nienaber calls up a specialist flyhalf to join the Springboks, outside backs Cheslin Kolbe and Willie le Roux are the only other players in the current squad who could potentially be employed as playmakers.

ALSO READ: Springboks in the dark regarding Wallabies plan of attack

WHEN AND WHERE SHOULD ELTON JANTJIES FEATURE?

But we digress. Let’s get back to the three primary flyhalf available for selection: Jantjies, Willemse and Libbok. Coach Nienaber will have to divide and conquer, with Willemse and Jantjies each set to play a role against the Wallabies and All Blacks with Libbok with serving as deputy under one of them in of those games.

ALSO READ: Pollard OUT, Elton Jantjies closer to Springboks return…

Now the question is, does Nienaber select Jantjies to take on the Eddie Jones’ Wallabies in the first week of competition or does he send the 32-year-old on a flight to Auckland for the showdown against the All Blacks?