Herschel Jantjies, who debuted for the Springbok against Australia in 2019, believes that playing against the Wallabies after seven years feels like a second debut. The thirty-year-old scrumhalf stated that he feels refreshed.
Over the last three years, Jantjies spent most of his time on the periphery of the national team, with his last start for the Springboks being in 2021. Now, he has been given a starting position against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday.
He previously made a brief return to the squad, coming on as a substitute during the Springboks' 43-0 victory over Wales in Durban in July. However, this was his first appearance in the national colors since the match against Argentina leading up to the 2023 World Cup.
Now facing a much more significant opportunity, Jantjies believes that the time spent in France with the Bayonne team has made him a better player and reignited his desire to play.
"My debut in 2019 against Australia left many special memories, but that was a long time ago," Jantjies said from Perth. He added that he was outside the main squad for about three years, and he doesn't feel that the team he is getting a chance against holds any particular emotional significance.
"It's more about the fire burning inside me again. I feel like a 22-year-old again. I am just grateful for this opportunity, and I hope I can come out this weekend and play my best."
Jantjies earned 23 out of 25 of his caps between 2019 and 2022, when the Springbok coaching structure changed, especially among the assistants. His return also required adapting to new faces.
"Obviously, a lot has changed. It's incredible to work with coaches like Tony Brown, Jerry Flannery, and Felix Jones. Thanks to them, I have learned a lot by watching how they see the game and how they want to run it. For me, this is a very exciting time."
Jantjies also used the time spent in the squad to learn by observing other scrumhalves. A particularly useful benchmark was the game of Morne van den Berg in Baltimore against the All Blacks.
He noted: "The opportunity here to show what I have learned, and obviously being in the squad but not playing, I have learned a lot in training and at team meetings by studying other scrumhalves." He continued: "I mean, a player like Krappe (van den Berg), who played in the last test match against New Zealand and showed amazing play, it was great to watch how he came on and how he worked." He expressed a desire to replicate this in the upcoming weekend.
Jantjies realizes that he has returned to an extremely competitive position, as Van den Berg, Grant Williams, and Kobus Reinah are competing for the number 9 spot. Faf de Klerk is also in the general pool of contenders.
"The competition in the nine position in the squad is incredible. We help each other wherever we can, and I am just grateful for this opportunity," he said. He emphasized that high competition prepares players because they challenge each other in a healthy way. "They are wonderful players, and each brings something special to the game."
Jantjies believes that this challenge also involves absorbing knowledge from opponents and coaches. "I wouldn't say it makes my job easier, but it gives me the energy to show the coaches and the team that I belong here. I am lucky to get this opportunity on Sunday. I hope that thanks to the preparation we did, going back to July and the first match against England, I can demonstrate it."