Bok coach backing Jantjies and Faf

Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Elton Jantjies will run the show for the Springboks this weekend in what is a must win if the Springboks are to level the series with the visitors.

De Klerk retains his starting berth from last weekend’s 26-20 loss, while Jantjies moves into the starting lineup while Pat Lambie is sidelined with a concussion.

It comes as a blessing that De Klerk and Jantjies have played Super Rugby together all season. The pressure is firmly on the Springboks to produce a vastly improved performance and the halfback pairing’s familiarity with each other will help with the stakes so high.

Both players can’t be held accountable for what was a poor team effort last week, but Coetzee has called for an improvement in game management this weekend.

The Bok coach felt that Jantjies didn’t capitilise on the space behind the Irish defence but what worried Coetzee more was the team’s inability to be clinical with the ball in the outside channels.

“We were a bit naïve last week tactically thinking that we had that one-man advantage. We thought the space would be outwide and we were chasing that and forcing it a bit. We made a lot of execution errors in the wide channel,” Coetzee said.

“I’m sure we’ve learned from last week, especially that attention to detail is massively important for us this week. Players understand where the challenges will come from and how to react them.”

While the team didn’t click as a unit, the Bok coach was pleased with De Klerk’s performance in what was his debut for the Springboks.

“Faf played well, I’m really impressed with him. Defensively he was good, so were his basics. I think we can’t have both players trying to get things going, the one must stick to the basics and Elton will run the show and he will make sure we play correct tactically.”

“Faf must be able to take pressure off Elton as well. But I think they play well in tandem, they understand each other."

While it is understood that Lambie is the preferred starting flyhalf in Coetzee’s squad, the Bok coach has plenty of faith in Elton. In the build up to the Test series, Coetzee said that he envisioned both players giving different options when faced with different opposition.

Both Lambie and Jantjies have become experienced campaigners at both domestic and international levels and Coetzee sees that quality in Jantjies.

“Elton has grown a lot since he’s been overseas in japan. There is a real calmness about him, he goes about his business well, he prepares well and works hard. Those are the little things that give confidence to a big pack of forwards – knowing that you have a flyhalf that will make you play forward.”

The experienced Morne Steyn will provide flyhalf cover off the bench this Saturday.

The Springboks host Ireland at Emirates Airlines Park tomorrow, kickoff is at 17h00.

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