Elton Jantjies has been called up to the Springboks squad to prepare for the Rugby Championship following a spate of injuries at fly-half.
The 46-Test veteran returns to the set-up after he was dropped from the Springbok squad after an alleged affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee.
The 32-year-old featured in the Boks’ July Tests against Wales in 2022 and played against Australia in August but did not return for the November internationals.
Injury crisis
He has been recalled as added cover for Handre Pollard and Damian Willemse, who are both currently rehabbing injuries, leaving South Africa with Manie Libbok as their sole fit fly-half in the squad.
“Damian has a knee injury and will be touch-and-go for the first Test of the season next month while Handre is definitely out,” said Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber.
“It means Manie is our only fit flyhalf as of today, and we can’t go into a Test season without any cover. We weighed up the options available locally and overseas – having tracked all of them throughout the season just completed – and Elton is the next flyhalf in line.
“He knows our thinking and systems inside out and can slot in easily. We kick off against Australia in three weeks, and should Damian Willemse not return to full fitness by then, Elton would be ready to play.”
Jantjies made his Test debut against Australia in Pretoria in 2012 and has been a fixture in Springbok squads for the past six years, helping the side win the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He has been plying his trade in France with Pro D2 side Agen. He joined the club after he was released from his contract with Japanese club, the Red Hurricanes.
The fly-half has played 11 times for the side since December last year, starting on six occasions and scoring 14 points.
SA Rugby confirmed that Jantjies will join the squad in Pretoria on Sunday, ahead of their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on 8 July.
Springboks’ Rugby Championship training squad
Forwards: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92), Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks), Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Munster), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Backs: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Agen), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)
Springboks’ 2023 fixtures
Rugby Championship:
Saturday, 8 July – Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – Springboks vs New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – Springboks vs Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Rugby World Cup warm-up fixtures:
Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – Springboks vs Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
Rugby World Cup fixtures:
Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – Springboks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarter-finals
Weekend of 21/22 October – Semi-finals
Saturday, 28 October – Final
READ MORE: The STACKED Tonga XV that could cause a Rugby World Cup upset
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