Herschel Jantjies: Springbok Star Opens Up on Return to Rassie Erasmus’ Team Ahead of Wallabies Test
- Herschel Jantjies returned to the Springbok starting XV for Sunday's Test against Australia in Perth, one of 13 changes to the side
- The 30-year-old scrumhalf had been largely absent from the national setup for three years, with sporadic appearances in between
- Jantjies credited the fierce competition among South Africa's scrumhalves with reigniting his hunger for international rugby
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Herschel Jantjies says reclaiming a place in the Springbok starting lineup has sparked a renewed drive to prove himself at Test level, with the scrumhalf set to face Australia in Perth on Sunday at 11:45am.
The 30-year-old is among 13 changes to the Springbok XV for the clash against the Wallabies, a significant reshuffle that hands Jantjies his first start in some time. He told reporters that returning to the national environment has made him feel several years younger, reviving emotions he last experienced when he first broke into international rugby.
Jantjies' long road back to the Springboks
Jantjies made his Springbok debut against Australia in 2019 and was part of the squad that lifted the Rugby World Cup that same year, serving primarily as cover for Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach. In the years that followed, injuries and growing competition at scrumhalf saw him fall down the selection order.
His most recent Test appearance before a brief cameo against Wales in the Nations Championship in July was against Argentina in August 2023, which was itself a comeback after a 12-month absence. He was not selected for any of the four Tests against New Zealand during the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
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Rather than treating the prolonged absence as a sign his international career was over, Jantjies has used it as fuel. He described the competition at scrumhalf, which includes Grant Williams, Morné van den Berg and Cobus Reinach — as exceptionally strong, with each player offering distinct qualities. He said he had drawn lessons from all of them, as well as from assistant coaches Tony Brown, Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones.
Van den Berg's display provided a blueprint
Jantjies pointed specifically to Van den Berg's performance in the final Test against the All Blacks in Baltimore as a template for how he wants to approach Sunday's opportunity. He watched closely how Van den Berg managed his start and intends to channel similar intent when he takes the field against Australia.
Off the pitch, Jantjies credited his wife Kelsey and their daughter Alyssa-Rose as central pillars of his motivation. Their support proved particularly valuable during his season in France with Bayonne, where he worked on broadening his game away from the Springbok environment.
With a starting berth now secured, the experienced scrumhalf has the chance to demonstrate that his appetite for Test rugby remains very much intact.
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Source: Briefly News
