Lions boosted by Jantjies news
The Lions, their fans, and probably, the new Springbok coach, would have breathed a sigh of relief - or given a big fist-pump when it was confirmed that flyhalf Elton Jantjies doesn’t need an operation on a fractured left wrist.
|||The Lions, their fans, and probably, the new Springbok coach, would have breathed a sigh of relief - or given a big fist-pump - late yesterday afternoon when it was confirmed that flyhalf Elton Jantjies doesn’t need an operation on a fractured left wrist.
For a good few hours yesterday South African rugby was plunged into a mini crisis when it appeared that the Lions No 10 - who’s been in such terrific form for his Super Rugby franchise - was to be sidelined for a lengthy period after hurting his wrist against the Cheetahs last Saturday.
The Lions initially said Jantjies was to undergo surgery yesterday - which would have ruled him out of rugby for anything between six weeks and a few months - but later in the day the union said the flyhalf would no longer need the operation.
“Elton Jantjies consulted a specialist in Pretoria (yesterday afternoon) and the prognosis is not as bad as was originally thought.
“Although all indications were that he would need an operation to correct a fractured wrist, he will not need an operation and will be able to play against the Crusaders on April 1,” said a statement.
The news would have come as some relief to coach Johan Ackermann and his team. Jantjies’ back-up, Marnitz Boshoff, hasn’t featured in a matchday squad this year and is expected to leave the union at the end of the year so there would have been questions about his keenness to step into the flyhalf role, while Jaco van der Walt, who switches between flyhalf and fullback and is still a rookie at this level, is the other option at No 10.
Jantjies injured the wrist while scoring his team’s first try against the Cheetahs. He has stepped up in spectacular fashion this season and is without doubt the first choice man to wear the Bok No 10 for the June Tests against Ireland.
The other flyhalves in contention would be Pat Lambie, who’s currently injured but due back on the field before June, and the overseas-based duo of Morne Steyn and Johan Goosen.
Handre Pollard, who was the first choice flyhalf at the World Cup last year, is out for the season, while the other rookie who started the season strongly and may have come into contention, Robert du Preez of the Stormers, is also out with an injury.
South Africa’s new national coach, likely to be Allister Coetzee, will be named next Friday and whoever it is the news throughout the day yesterday from the Lions would have had him in despair and then ecstasy, but it seems Jantjies is still in the running to return to the Bok set-up.
Meanwhile, flanker Jaco Kriel continued his concussion testing yesterday to determine whether he will be available for the Lions’ next match, against the Crusaders next Friday. The Lions have a bye this weekend and will return to the training ground on Monday next week. – The Star