Herschel Jantjies says missing the 2023 World Cup squad remains a powerful motivator as he targets a place in the 2027 squad for Australia. The scrumhalf returned from a near three-year Test absence to score off the bench in the Boks' 43-0 win over Wales last week, and the experience has sharpened his appetite for more.
Jantjies was part of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad in Japan but was left out when the 2023 squad for France was announced. He recalls the moment vividly. "I can still remember the evening the squad was announced — where we sat, how we sat and how coach Rassie Erasmus put everything on the board," he said. "It was unbelievably heartbreaking."
Erasmus spoke to him directly that evening. "Coach Rassie told me it was not the end of the world, but later on I started realising what he basically meant — just work harder on my game and I would get my chance again."
Jantjies is under no illusions about the competition he faces. "Grant Williams is playing amazing rugby and could cover wing as well. The same could be said of Cobus Reinach and Jaden Hendrikse, who are also in the mix. It's incredible, and it is not just at scrumhalf but every position."
Next for the Boks is the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 8. Erasmus is treating the fixture with caution. "Argentina is going to be tough. Like Wales, they've had our number a few times, and our biggest loss since we've been together from 2018 was to them."
Reflecting on the Wales performance, Erasmus acknowledged the trade-offs of squad rotation. "Our defence was better than last week and our set-piece was really solid, but we also had a lot of handling errors. A lot of guys came through it with tick marks, but rotating does take cohesion away."
Erasmus confirmed a squad of 26 will travel to South America, while a group of 15 or 16 players remain in South Africa with some coaches to begin preparation for the Rugby Championship matches against New Zealand.