STATUS UPDATE: Elton Jantjies’ Springbok career is… pending

Rassie Erasmus has given an update on the Springboks’ flyhalf pecking order and explained why Elton Jantjies has not been called into the squad.

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JANTJIES LEFT OUT OF SQUAD

For a several years, Jantjies has served as the second-choice flyhalf in the Springboks set-up, but he was one of the glaring omissions from the 40-man Springbok training squad named on Saturday for next month’s Rugby Championship.

That is primarily due to his dip in form which coincided with the rise of Manie Libbok at the Stormers.

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As it stands, Handre Pollard, Damian Willemse and Libbok are the three front-runners for that Springbok playmaker role, but with Pollard and Willemse both nursing injuries, the Springbok management team was probed about whether they ought to bring Jantjies into the fold to help avoid a potential flyhalf crisis.

RASSIE ERASMUS COMMENTS ON SPRINGBOKS’ FLYHALF SITUATION

But speaking during a press conference in Pretoria on Wednesday, Erasmus hinted that Jantjies is surplus to requirements as it stands, but added that could change depending on the speed of Pollard and Willemse’s recovery.

“For now, our team doctor will keep a close eye on the other flyhalves and their recovery. A guy like Elton is playing good rugby at the moment, and we’ll consider him,” said Erasmus from Pretoria, where the Springboks are currently preparing for the Rugby Championship.

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