National interest could save Lions from waving goodbye to Elton Jantjies
Irish giants Ulster are cozying up to the Springbok flyhalf but there's an ironic stumbling block in the way.
Elton Jantjies. (Photo by Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images)
Rudolph Jacobs
Elton Jantjies is reportedly the latest star from the Lions primed to join the exodus to Europe.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Irish giants Ulster have shown an interest in signing the 27-year-old Springbok flyhalf after a spot for an overseas import opened up following the departure of former All Black Charles Piutau.
Jantjies’ contract with the Lions expires at the conclusion of this season’s Super Rugby campaign.
Ulster also needs reinforcements in the No 10 jersey after Paddy Jackson, an Irish international, had his national contract torn up due to a rape charge, of which he has been subsequently been acquitted of.
However, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) needs to approve all player recruitment and in this instance, Jantjies might not actually be able to get clearance.
The IRFU apparently want Ulster to sign a locally-based flyhalf as Ireland need to develop backups in the position for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Perhaps national interest will save South African rugby another high-profile departure.
Meanwhile, it’s no state secret that Lions flyer Aphiwe Dyantyi has been on national coach Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok radar since the start of the Super Rugby season.
Tipped to be one of the 40 chosen players in Erasmus’ first 40-man squad on Saturday for the one-off Test against Wales and the three-match Test series England next month, Dyantyi is still remains a work in progress.
That was evident in last weekend’s victory over the Brumbies.
After excelling at wing early in the Lions’ campaign before being ruled out for a few weeks with a chest muscle injury, the 23-year-old was moved to outside centre against the Australians to form an untried midfield combination with Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
But the gamble didn’t quite pay off the way Lions coach Swys de Bruin had hoped.
“In all honesty I thought it was probably a gamble from the word go, but it was forced on us to an extent,” said De Bruin.
“At stages I thought he went well, but unfortunately there were too many unforced errors. It’s nothing to panic about.”
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