Bok coach: Pack must give Elton the time

Elton Jantjies was undoubtedly one of the chief playmakers during Super Rugby. Photo: Gavin Barker

Elton Jantjies was undoubtedly one of the chief playmakers during Super Rugby. Photo: Gavin Barker

Published Aug 23, 2016

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Cape Town - He’s a superstar for the Lions, so why can’t Elton Jantjies quite transfer that irresistible form to the Springboks at Test level?

Well, Bok coach Allister Coetzee has the answer – and he believes it has all to do with the platform provided by the forwards.

Jantjies was undoubtedly one of the chief playmakers during Super Rugby, and was arguably second only to Hurricanes conductor Beauden Barrett as the most influential flyhalf in the competition.

While the Canes won their first title in the final against the Lions in Wellington, the Johannesburg team scored the most tries (81), had the most defenders beaten (484) and were third on the most clean breaks list (225), according to the official Sanzaar website.

A lot of that was down to the game management of Jantjies, who was the heartbeat of the Lions effort. That has the case for a few years, but he battled to produce the same type of displays in the two Tests he started against Ireland in June, as well as in the past weekend’s 30-23 win over Argentina in the Rugby Championship.

Jantjies has blown hot and cold, as he missed a few goalable penalties and made some handling errors. But he also set up the first try with a thrilling break up the middle that ended with Ruan Combrinck barging his way over in the corner.

Many critics have felt that Jantjies doesn’t quite fit the bill of what Coetzee wants from his flyhalf due to the more adventurous approach at the Lions compared to the measured plan at the Boks.

But asked by Independent Media at the Bok camp this month in Stellenbosch about what Jantjies must do to replicate his Lions form in the Test arena, Coetzee said: “I think it’s important that the pack lays the same foundation that is laid by the Lions at franchise level. When your nine and 10 operate within the space and they’ve got the time, then it’s easy for Elton to select the right options and give direction.

“If you look at the way the Irish put pressure on to us… that is why I say you’ve got to understand how the opposition coaches are thinking, like Ireland. They knew that they’ve got to play away from (us) – don’t go into a scrumming battle with us. Don’t run too much against the Springbok team, based on their defence in the World Cup.

“That is when they last saw the Boks play, in the semi-final against New Zealand. Just put the ball in, and they encouraged the 10, 12 and 15 to kick more in behind. So it’s a different challenge that you will always face (compared to Super Rugby).

“So we’ve got to make sure that we set that same platform at scrum-time, to give Faf the time and space. At the breakdown, we’ve got to be so accurate and get gain-line dominance, get over the advantage line, to give Faf that opportunity for clean ball to get out. To give Elton space and to run on to the ball, to give Elton the time.

“But what the Irish did was to put us under a hell of a lot of pressure, and now we have grown as a team. So hopefully we can be better at that (in the Rugby Championship).”

All of that proved to be true in Nelspruit as the Bok pack lacked the intensity and urgency that was shown by Argentina. The South African forwards were generally driven back in the tackle, particularly when they tried to charge around the fringes, and were lacklustre at the breakdowns as the visitors were able to slow down Bok possession throughout.

Even though the scrum and lineout were functioning well, the Boks were unable to set up any meaningful driving mauls, while there are too many passive ball-carriers such as Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Lood de Jager and Francois Louw who usually don’t generate any go-forward.

And the few times when they won the gain-line battle, Jantjies had the space to manoeuvre. Ironically, his line-break for the Combrinck try came off a “mini” maul that moved forward off a 22-metre drop-out from Argentina.

A similar passage of play resulted in Johan Goosen’s try late in the game, as it was a strong scrum where Vincent Koch got a right shoulder that opened up space for Faf de Klerk to dart into before he found Goosen on his inside.

It is also about identifying space and attacking it. This was best illustrated in the Goosen try, but also with Argentina’s opener. Los Pumas were on their 22m line when Bryan Habana stayed down after tackling big No 8 Facundo Isa.

Scrumhalf Martin Landajo, realising that Habana was out of position as he had chased the kickoff from right wing, then broke to the blindside and found the hole in between the forwards to offload to Isa.

He timed his inside ball to perfection to fullback Joaquin Tuculet, and from there, the passing was slick as Nicolas Sanchez and Agustin Creevy made it to the Bok 22 before Santiago Cordero threw a long ball to Matias Orlando to finish – all with 14 men on the field following the yellow card to left wing Manuel Montero.

The Lions also made it look so easy during Super Rugby, as their entire pack are well-versed in getting over the advantage line and thereby creating space for their backs to flourish.

And yes, coach Coetzee, Test rugby isn’t Super Rugby. But getting the selection right is vital if the Boks are to advance their attacking game and get the best out of Jantjies.

There are more explosive players who can come in for Mtawarira, Strauss, De Jager and Louw upfront – Steven Kitshoff and Trevor Nyakane at loosehead prop, Malcolm Marx and Bongi Mbonambi at hooker, Pieter-Steph du Toit at No 5 lock and Jaco Kriel at openside flank.

There is no doubt that Jantjies has all the skills to be a hit for the Boks. He just needs a little help from his forwards, starting in Salta on Saturday.

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@ashfakmohamed

Independent Media

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