Jantjies has a team focus
Elton Jantjies started at flyhalf for the Springboks against France last weekend.
The Boks won the opening Test 37-14 in Pretoria and I feel Jantjies had produced a solid performance at Loftus.
Allister Coetzee has since said that Jantjies appears to be relishing the pressure and Test match atmosphere this season.
Jantjies has made it clear that his focus is on the team.
"For me it is all about the team. It is about team fundamentals. This especially when we have fixed it after last year. The guys are really buying into the way we want to play. It is also about taking personal responsibility for your own job. That is the key for me. It is to take personal responsibility for my own job. It is also about communicating well. The forwards have the job of providing a good platform for providing quick ball to me and Ross Cronje," Jantjies said.
Jantjies played with Lions teammates, Ross Cronje and Warren Whiteley, at Loftus last weekend. He admits that it helped playing close to players he knows well.
"There is an obvious benefit with us knowing each other and speaking the same language. However, we have several leaders in the team. This both in the forwards and at the back. So we are able to communicate quite well. This makes it easier on the field, as the guys are calm. They know exactly what to do when a call is made. This certainly makes things easier," Jantjies added.
A number of Lions made their debut for the Springboks at Loftus last weekend and Jantjies was pleased to see his teammates doing well at the highest level of the game.
"It was good to see them performing well. It is special becoming a Springbok. However, with it comes a lot of responsibility. I am thinking of Raymond Rhule as well. He has walked a long way in South African rugby. He finally got his opportunity and he definitely used it well. The same goes for Courtnall Skosan. Everyone has their own story to tell. They have walked a long road to finally making their Springbok debuts," Jantjies said.
Jantjies, being a flyhalf, is seen as one of the game managers on the field. He feels that every player needs to manage their contribution to team success.
"Obviously with rugby you have a spinal between the hookers and the locks. Also at the back there is the relationship between your 15 and your ten. Your flyhalf and scrumhalf are the decision-makers. However, I see it as everybody needing to take responsibility to get themselves into position and to communicate well. Everybody has this role to play and everybody needs to be accountable. This is key and I believe we can only grow and get better," Jantjies said.
Reports in the French media suggest that Francois Trinh-Duc is likely to start the second Test in Durban at flyhalf. Jantjies believes the Springbok focus will be on their own game.
"Trinh-Duc has a lot of experience. He is a good rugby player and a good footballer. He is an all-rounder and obviously he will challenge us in different areas of the game. However, it is all about the team and we are going to have to make sure that our defence works well. We also have to make sure that we get enough possession and retain the ball," Jantjies said.
Jan Serfontein started at inside centre in the opening Test and scored a try at Loftus. Jantjies enjoys playing alongside Serfontein.
"It is special playing with Jan. We have both walked a long road and we have been training well with the Boks for a couple of years now. We understand each other and we can only grow as both a team and a back-line," Jantjies added.
Allister Coetzee has since said that Jantjies appears to be relishing the pressure and Test match atmosphere this season.
Jantjies has made it clear that his focus is on the team.
"For me it is all about the team. It is about team fundamentals. This especially when we have fixed it after last year. The guys are really buying into the way we want to play. It is also about taking personal responsibility for your own job. That is the key for me. It is to take personal responsibility for my own job. It is also about communicating well. The forwards have the job of providing a good platform for providing quick ball to me and Ross Cronje," Jantjies said.
Jantjies played with Lions teammates, Ross Cronje and Warren Whiteley, at Loftus last weekend. He admits that it helped playing close to players he knows well.
"There is an obvious benefit with us knowing each other and speaking the same language. However, we have several leaders in the team. This both in the forwards and at the back. So we are able to communicate quite well. This makes it easier on the field, as the guys are calm. They know exactly what to do when a call is made. This certainly makes things easier," Jantjies added.
A number of Lions made their debut for the Springboks at Loftus last weekend and Jantjies was pleased to see his teammates doing well at the highest level of the game.
"It was good to see them performing well. It is special becoming a Springbok. However, with it comes a lot of responsibility. I am thinking of Raymond Rhule as well. He has walked a long way in South African rugby. He finally got his opportunity and he definitely used it well. The same goes for Courtnall Skosan. Everyone has their own story to tell. They have walked a long road to finally making their Springbok debuts," Jantjies said.
Jantjies, being a flyhalf, is seen as one of the game managers on the field. He feels that every player needs to manage their contribution to team success.
"Obviously with rugby you have a spinal between the hookers and the locks. Also at the back there is the relationship between your 15 and your ten. Your flyhalf and scrumhalf are the decision-makers. However, I see it as everybody needing to take responsibility to get themselves into position and to communicate well. Everybody has this role to play and everybody needs to be accountable. This is key and I believe we can only grow and get better," Jantjies said.
Reports in the French media suggest that Francois Trinh-Duc is likely to start the second Test in Durban at flyhalf. Jantjies believes the Springbok focus will be on their own game.
"Trinh-Duc has a lot of experience. He is a good rugby player and a good footballer. He is an all-rounder and obviously he will challenge us in different areas of the game. However, it is all about the team and we are going to have to make sure that our defence works well. We also have to make sure that we get enough possession and retain the ball," Jantjies said.
Jan Serfontein started at inside centre in the opening Test and scored a try at Loftus. Jantjies enjoys playing alongside Serfontein.
"It is special playing with Jan. We have both walked a long road and we have been training well with the Boks for a couple of years now. We understand each other and we can only grow as both a team and a back-line," Jantjies added.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre