Ross Roche

By Ross Roche

Senior sports writer


Herschel Jantjies not worried about who plays next to him

Jantjies admits the Springboks will have to be even sharper if they want to get another positive result against Scotland this weekend.


Springbok scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will get his second start in a row when the Boks take on Scotland in their second end of year UK tour Test at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon.

However, he finds himself alongside a different partner with Elton Jantjes having switched places with Handre Pollard who drops to the bench, although the change makes no difference to Herschel as all the players follow the same game plan.

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“Whether I’m playing with Polly (Handre Pollard) at flyhalf or whether I’m playing with Elton it doesn’t matter to me. I know whoever it is, is aligned with what we want to achieve as a team, and for us it is all about just executing the plan,” Jantjies said.

“We all have our own specific skillsets and it is up to us to make it work within the structure, and I think it is going to be no different this weekend.”

Looking back at their previous match against Wales, Jantjies admits the Boks missed out on a number of opportunities, and they will have to be even sharper if they want to get another positive result against Scotland.

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“It will again be tough conditions, so we have to make sure when we spot the opportunity that we take it,” he said.

“I think last weekend was really tough with the conditions, so hopefully this weekend they will be a bit better… but the main thing for us is to go out there, play quality rugby and execute our game plan.”

One of the biggest strengths in the current Bok setup is the strong competition for places, with Jantjies keeping out the in-form Cobus Reinach, while there are a number of other players also waiting in the wings.

“We have a healthy competition in the whole squad, not just at scrumhalf, and that’s a really good thing for the team,” he said.

“It’s maybe something that the coaches have to argue about, but for us as players it’s a good thing. It keeps everyone on their toes and it can only bring the best out of us.”

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