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Johannesburg – Arms up and hands together. One short step backwards, two quick steps forward – and then his body shapes like a scissors as the left foot swings through.
The kicking routine of Lions crown prince Elton Jantjies appears simple. But it’s deadly.
Just ask Free State and Western Province, against whom Jantjies scored 20 and 31 points respectively to help the Lions to unlikely Currie Cup wins.
Jantjies started his sixth match in the competition for the Lions against Griquas on Saturday – and it’s no surprise that the team’s turning point is viewed as the game against the Blue Bulls on May 31, when he was elevated to the starting line-up.
He is currently being mentored by former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer.
Spencer (34) did not amount to much as a player for the Lions in this year’s Super 14.
But the more one sees his trickery come through in Jantjies’ play, the more sensible the investment in Spencer appears. He now coaches the Lions’ backline.
“The Lions should look after him (Jantjies). He has a bright future. He is always prepared to listen and ask questions,” Spencer said recently about Jantjies, who was born in Graaff-Reinet.
A typical Spencer-style chip kick by Jantjies helped to create tries for the Lions against the Cheetahs and WP.
Even so, Jantjies says that he has always been prepared to experiment with that kind of creativity in his game.
“I did it at school as well. But Carlos helps by saying when I should do it in a match,” he said.
Jantjies matriculated at Florida High after the school lured him from Paarl Gymnasium.
His younger brother Tony (18) went to Florida with him, but continued his rugby at Menlopark High in Pretoria and plays flyhalf for the Blue Bulls’ under-19 team.
As schoolboy, Jantjies watched YouTube clips of his hero Spencer.
Now Spencer and Jantjies are in the same camp – a place where Jantjies is feeling far too comfortable to start considering a future elsewhere.
“I will spend the rest of my career at the Lions if it’s possible and I definitely see a future for myself here,” said Jantjies.
It appears to be a foregone conclusion that Jantjies will also wear the Green and Gold of the Springboks. The tour at the end of the year may well be the right time.
The Bok stage is a big one, but with South Africa struggling a year from the World Cup, fresh ideas and faces are needed.
There are serious questions about a Bok understudy for Morné Steyn.
The inclusion of young players such as Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Gerhard van den Heever and Coenie Oosthuizen will be a major investment in the future of the national team.
Johannesburg – Arms up and hands together. One short step backwards, two quick steps forward – and then his body shapes like a scissors as the left foot swings through.
The kicking routine of Lions crown prince Elton Jantjies appears simple. But it’s deadly.
Just ask Free State and Western Province, against whom Jantjies scored 20 and 31 points respectively to help the Lions to unlikely Currie Cup wins.
Jantjies started his sixth match in the competition for the Lions against Griquas on Saturday – and it’s no surprise that the team’s turning point is viewed as the game against the Blue Bulls on May 31, when he was elevated to the starting line-up.
He is currently being mentored by former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer.
Spencer (34) did not amount to much as a player for the Lions in this year’s Super 14.
But the more one sees his trickery come through in Jantjies’ play, the more sensible the investment in Spencer appears. He now coaches the Lions’ backline.
“The Lions should look after him (Jantjies). He has a bright future. He is always prepared to listen and ask questions,” Spencer said recently about Jantjies, who was born in Graaff-Reinet.
A typical Spencer-style chip kick by Jantjies helped to create tries for the Lions against the Cheetahs and WP.
Even so, Jantjies says that he has always been prepared to experiment with that kind of creativity in his game.
“I did it at school as well. But Carlos helps by saying when I should do it in a match,” he said.
Jantjies matriculated at Florida High after the school lured him from Paarl Gymnasium.
His younger brother Tony (18) went to Florida with him, but continued his rugby at Menlopark High in Pretoria and plays flyhalf for the Blue Bulls’ under-19 team.
As schoolboy, Jantjies watched YouTube clips of his hero Spencer.
Now Spencer and Jantjies are in the same camp – a place where Jantjies is feeling far too comfortable to start considering a future elsewhere.
“I will spend the rest of my career at the Lions if it’s possible and I definitely see a future for myself here,” said Jantjies.
It appears to be a foregone conclusion that Jantjies will also wear the Green and Gold of the Springboks. The tour at the end of the year may well be the right time.
The Bok stage is a big one, but with South Africa struggling a year from the World Cup, fresh ideas and faces are needed.
There are serious questions about a Bok understudy for Morné Steyn.
The inclusion of young players such as Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Gerhard van den Heever and Coenie Oosthuizen will be a major investment in the future of the national team.
