Rugby
There would be a lot of external pressure on him - Nienaber─── MORGAN PIEK 13:50 Wed, 21 Sep 2022
The Springboks coach, Jacques Nienaber, has explained that a recall for Elton Jantjies for Saturday’s Test against Argentina in the Rugby Championship would have been unfair to the player.
On Tuesday the Cheetahs centre, Frans Steyn, was named at flyhalf for the crunch Test as the Boks are experiencing a crisis in the position.
Jantjies was released by the Springboks recently due to his alleged affair with a member of the management team.
Nienaber explained that Jantjies needs time to focus on his personal life.
“It would have been nice to pick Elton, but mental health is a big thing,” said Nienaber.
“Sensitivity is needed to deal with mental health issues, which is a big thing, and the external pressures he needs to deal with from a human perspective, it would have been unfair to get him back in the team.
“There would be a lot of external pressure on him and for us, the individual as a human being always comes first.”
Saturday’s Test between the Springboks and Pumas at Kings’ Park kicks off at 17:05.
Springboks - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse
Argentina - TBA
