Will Jantjies make Bok RWC squad?

Cape Town - Back in the Lions starting line-up for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Brumbies at Ellis Park, Elton Jantjies is enjoying one of his better seasons on South African soil.

READ: ELTON JANTJIES CHATS TO SPORT24

The Johannesburg side are very much in playoff contention and Jantjies has become coach Johan Ackermann’s first choice pivot along the way.

A few rugby minds have now started wondering whether or not Jantjies has done enough to work his way into Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s World Cup plans. The smart money remains on the flyhalf slot going to either Handre Pollard or Pat Lambie, and while Jantjies has not ruled out any possibilities he chooses instead to letting his performances do the talking.

 “I can talk a big game but if my performances on the field don’t match up, there is no point in me saying that I want to go to the World Cup and be the first-choice flyhalf,” Jantjies told Sport24 in an exclusive interview.

“I believe my performances will determine where I play. I want to become a regular for the Springboks and want to make sure I get a starting place in the match 23. I believe the strong competition at flyhalf is good for South African rugby.”

Jantjies will have another opportunity to advertise his capabilities against the Brumbies – match that he is eyeing out given their high penalty count against the Stormers last weekend.

“As a goal-kicker, those stats are good to look at because you can get extra points from a side’s ill-discipline,” he said.

The match on Saturday kicks off at 17:05.

Teams:

Lions

15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Ruan Combrinck, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Faf de Klerk, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Robert Kruger, 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Martin Muller, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Schalk van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16. Armand van der Merwe, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. MB Lusaseni, 20. Warwick Tecklenburg, 21. Ross Cronje, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Howard Mnisi

Brumbies

15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 Allan Alaalatoa

Substitutes: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Jordan Smiler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 James Dargaville, 23 Robbie Coleman