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Rising fast: Elton Jantjies
Lions coach John Mitchell has warned against throwing Elton Jantjies into the Test arena so early in his career.
The 20-year-old fly-half has been one of the leading players in his position during his debut Currie Cup season, where he has already scored 110 points to boost his side's play-off hopes.
With South Africa not having a good enough back-up to Morne Steyn, there are growing calls for Jantjies to be included in the Springbok squad for their year-end tour to Europe.
But Mitchell, who recently signed a permanent deal to coach the struggling Johannesburg franchise, disagrees.
"He's a very young fly-half and I know he's been written up, but I believe he first needs to play a season of Super Rugby before he becomes an international," he said.
"He's got a great future, an outstanding one, but we'd be naive to push him into international rugby straight away when he'll definitely get there over time anyway."
Comments
Clinton says...
Please don't let the clown-coach get his hands on Jantjes! He is a brilliant prospect and it would be a shame if his talents are destroyed by a coach who has no creative flair and no ability to blood new players in an acceptable manner. I agree with scot_rsa - rather wait until after the RWC and see if SARU comes to their senses and sack PDV. Jantjes needs to be looked after properly.
Posted 22:03 21st September 2010
scot_rsa says...
Agree with John Mitchell. Anyway, the Boks will need more than a boy-wonder fly half at RWC2011. An exciting talent but wouldn't like to see him stifled by a backward-looking national coaching setup. Once they're gone (sadly only after RWC) then a new era should begin.
Posted 12:15 21st September 2010
MarcoP says...
Mah, Frans Steyn and Pierre Spies didn't seem to have issues playing at a really young age, and in key positions.
Anyway, I'd still like to see Butch James being Morne Steyn's backup.
Posted 16:28 20th September 2010
babybok says...
cipriani hasnt an ounce of his talent!!
Posted 15:17 20th September 2010
benski says...
Shades of Cipriani me thinks!!
Posted 13:25 20th September 2010