‘The fire burns in me again’: Herschel Jantjies on being in Bok setup
The rejuvenated scrumhalf said he had learned from Morné van den Berg's performance against the All Blacks.
Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies expressed his renewed enthusiasm for playing for the Springboks following his recall after a three-year hiatus, stating that the fire inside him has been reignited. The 30-year-old shared that he feels seven or eight years younger, and he promised to give his all in the upcoming match against the Wallabies.
Jantjies has been part of the 13 changes made to the Springbok starting XV for the Perth fixture (kick-off 11.45am) since his brief appearance off the bench in a single Nations Championship game against Wales in July, where he scored a try. Prior to that, he had not played for the Springboks since August 2023, a one-off Test match against Argentina after a 12-month absence.
Despite four years with the Springboks, including their successful World Cup campaign in 2019, Jantjies spent most of his time on the bench due to injuries and the emergence of other talented scrumhalves during his time away. He has praised the competitive spirit within the squad, mentioning his admiration for the performance of his teammates Krappie Morné van den Berg and Cobus Reinach.
Jantjies is determined to learn from his peers and apply it on the field during the upcoming game. While the competition among the scrumhalves may not make it any easier, it fuels his determination to prove himself and earn a spot in the team. Jantjies credits his family, especially his wife Kelsey and daughter Alyssa-Rose, for their unwavering support and love, which keeps him motivated even during challenging training sessions.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
