Pieter Jordaan

Johannesburg – Are young rugby stars Elton Jantjies and Patrick Lambie good enough to shine for South Africa at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand?

If it’s up to John Mitchell, the Lions’ Kiwi coach, it will just be a matter of time before the two wear the Green and Gold.

Lions flyhalf Jantjies (20) was outstanding as he scored 31 points in their 46-28 win over Western Province at Coca-Cola Park on Friday night.

Lambie (19) scored 15 points in Saturday’s Currie Cup defeat of 34-40 against the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

“South Africa are very privileged to have young players like Elton and Patrick. I believe both of them will become Test players,” said Mitchell.

If the Springbok selectors share that sentiment, the two may well go on the Boks’ European tour at the end of the year.

South Africa will then be able to overcome its lack of depth at flyhalf as both players have been outstanding in the position this year.

Jantjies and Lambie can enter Test rugby in much the same way as Frans Steyn did as a 19-year-old in 2006. Steyn went on to become a key player in the Boks’ World Cup campaign the following year.

Like Steyn, Lambie can be used in any other position in the backline and his utility value is another reason for a Bok call-up.

Mitchell’s support for the youngster is nothing new. He picked Wallaby wing James O’Connor as a 17-year-old for the Western Force.

O’Connor, who is just 20, was outstanding for the Wallabies in their 41-39 win over the Springboks on Saturday. He made his Test debut as an 18-year-old.

For Mitchell the weekend’s win over WP was a fairytale start to his era as long-term Lions coach.

His team had lost 0-32 to WP in his second match as Lions Currie Cup coach at Newlands, but the weekend’s win showed how much they have improved under his coaching and the captaincy of Franco van der Merwe.

The Lions are sixth on the log and with five games left the team is a serious semifinal contender. Mitchell’s team moved past Griquas on the log on Friday.

“We’re back in the running and can make a serious charge for the title, but need to get our feet back on the ground,” said Mitchell.

The Lions play Griquas on Saturday.