2019 Rugby Championship: South Africa prepare for Argentina test
Updated 17:00, 31-Jul-2019
South Africa have a golden opportunity to be crowned winners of the 2019 Rugby Championship, but first they will have to get past Argentina this Saturday as they look to end their painful wait for silverware. CGTN's Sais du Plessis has more from Johannesburg.
The Springboks are a bonus point victory away from securing a first Rugby Championship title for over a decade, but that is easier said than done when you are facing one of the toughest teams in world rugby, Argentina and flyhalf Elton Jantjies knows that being consistent is key to winning titles at International level.
ELTON JANTJIES SOUTH AFRICA FLYHALF "We gave ourselves chances and we didn't take the opportunities and then there is game, we play world-class rugby and we win and the next weekend, things don't go our way and then we win again and thing doesn't go our way, so that is something we were looking at why we weren't consistent enough."
The 35-cap Springbok pivot is aware of the perceived competition between himself and Handre Pollard for the coveted flyhalf position, but insists it isn't like that and that he is focused on his performance and driven by the desire to play in the famous green and gold jersey.
ELTON JANTJIES SOUTH AFRICA FLYHALF "For me I have got my own standards. I know what I have to do to be the Springbok flyhalf, I know, as an individual, when I am happy, I know when I played a good game or I have reached that standard, you know, as an individual, when you had a good game, or training went well, I am happy with that."
The Lions stalwart opted to play in Japan after missing out on selection for the last World Cup in order to be accustomed to and gain invaluable experience in the country where the 2019 event would be held.
ELTON JANTJIES SOUTH AFRICA FLYHALF "Obviously I have missed out on two World Cups 2011, 2015 but I gave myself another chance, making sure that I'm in the best possible position to be in the squad and obviously play in the World Cup and obviously winning the World Cup."
SIAS DU PLESSIS JOHANNESBURG "Many feel that Elton Jantjies is very much in the shadow of regular starter, Handre Pollard, but the left-footed Lions playmaker has a point to prove as he aims to cement his place in the sought-after Springbok flyhalf role and produce that x-factor performance that delivers the 3rd global rugby title back to South African shores, Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Johannesburg."