South Africa won the World Cup without a flyhalf on the bench, unless you count utility back Frans Steyn, who is predominantly a centre and fullback on the pitch.
This means they went through 80 minutes in their big games with just one man – Handre Pollard – suitable at flyhalf. While Pollard is certainly a brilliant player, injuries are always an emergent threat. If Pollard had been injured in the World Cup final, Steyn would have been forced into a position not quite his type.
Now, with a new coach, there may be certain space for changes. Many Springboks, including Pollard himself, have been supportive of the 6-2 substitutes makeup which, in the World Cup final, was two backs; Herschel Janjities and Frans Steyn.
A scrumhalf is certainly necessary, but a utility back is not so. In the knockout games during the World Cup, Pollard played the full 80 minutes for his side, with both the backline substitutes coming on. In most games, Faf De Klerk has been replaced in the dying moments by a replacement scrumhalf.
However, now with several Test matches in the coming years, South Africa have the chance to mix-and-match and find their ideal starting squad and substitutes.
If a flyhalf were to be one of those backline substitutes, who should it be?
We have contenders from inside Super Rugby itself and there are contenders from each team. From the Stormers, we have the rising star Damian Willemse. From the Lions, we have long-time stalwart Elton Janjities.
Then we also have Curwin Bosch from the Sharks. This year, Morne Steyn mad a prodigal return to the Bulls. While finally, on loan from the Sharks, Robert Du Preez has been a star in Manchester with the Sale Sharks alongside De Klerk and multiple others.
Prior to lockdown, RugbyPass had rated the young man as the form flyhalf of Super Rugby. He is certainly a quick man and a risk-taker, perhaps one of the class to play for the Boks.
| Attacking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Points | 86 |
| Tries | 0 |
| Metres | 49 |
| Runs | 23 |
| Defenders beaten | 4 |
| Clean breaks | 0 |
| Passes | 82 |
| Clean breaks | 0 |
| Try assists | 3 |
However, he has achieved a measly 41 per cent tackle completion, – a dismal nine successes from 22 tackle attempts.
In kicking, he has managed a 72 per cent strike-rate, second to Morne Steyn.
| Kicking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Kicks | 59 |
| Conversion goals | 15 |
| Penalty goals | 16 |
| Attempts | 43 |
| Successful | 31 |
According to Sport24, given the man’s size and skill set, he is theoretically a like-for-like replacement for Pollard.
Apparently, he has been impressive as the second-highest points scorer so far in this year’s premiership with 116 points. According to Sport24, he has accumulated a record of handling skills at Sale. He has made 174 passes without one going awry, which is certainly quite a feat.
To begin with, few flyhalves even throw that many in a season, and to have that count without even one going awry is extremely impressive. Such a record points to more-than-solid and perhaps spectacular distribution.
His 187 running metres is extremely respectable and surpasses many others. His tackle completion of 84 per cent is also solid.
According to Opta Sports’ stats, he leads the premiership with eight try assists – no small feat considering the quality of his contemporaries.
With such an overall attacking performance in the Super Rugby, Elton Janjities has been a firm two under Pollard for a long time. He has been rated as the South African Super Rugby player of the decade.
This year has been no different with a strong attacking influence for the Lions.
| Attacking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Points | 42 |
| Tries | 1 |
| Metres | 161 |
| Runs | 45 |
| Defenders beaten | 12 |
| Clean breaks | 6 |
| Passes | 133 |
| Try Assists | 6 |
| Defensive statistics | |
| Tackles | 16 |
| Tackles missed | 8 |
| Turnovers won | 0 |
| Turnovers conceded | 10 |
| Kicking statistics | |
| Attempts | 22 |
| Goals | 15 |
His kicking accuracy of 68 per cent is not the best, but it is certainly decent. Janjities may lose out in defence, where he has missed eight tackles just from 24 attempts. Tackling is his weakness, but at least he is not the worst of the lot, still with an overall tackle rate higher than Curwin Bosch. His attacking record is certainly respectable.
Also, with reference to a video published by Squidge Rugby, might I add that Janjitites has been a crucial part of the expansive Bok gameplan that was used against lower-level sides in the World Cup.
Rassie Erasmus had a gameplan to maximise the abilities of Elton when this man was on the pitch. While he is far from the most well-rounded no.10, he is certainly a strong distributor.
With some reviewed footage in the Squidge video, it has been consistent that when Janjities takes the ball, he has a strong distribution to set another in space, sometimes causing line-breaks.
Firstly, he often takes the ball from the scrumhalf flat, before spotting the space and dropping off the pass. Sometimes he switches off the pass to a forward runner, while on other occasions he finds it through to a gap, bringing out the Bok runners.
| Attacking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Points | 38 |
| Tries | 1 |
| Metres | 164 |
| Runs | 40 |
| Defenders Beaten | 20 |
| Clean Breaks | 4 |
| Passes | 57 |
| Try Assists | 4 |
He is perhaps the best running no.10 of the lot; 164 metres, 20 defenders beaten, and four clean breaks. However, he has made fewer passes than Janjities and Bosch. He has been electric with his pace, which is one of the best in the world for a flyhalf.
| Defensive statistics | |
|---|---|
| Tackles | 37 |
| Tackles Missed | 10 |
| Turnovers Won | 7 |
| Turnovers Conceded | 14 |
A total of 79 per cent tackling is strong but not the best. The number of turnovers conceded is not as far as egregious as a missed tackle, and seven turnovers won has been strong.
| Kicking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Kicks | 41 |
| Conversions | 9 |
| Penalty goals | 5 |
This is one statistic that goes against Willemse. Sure, he can score a kick, but this kick rate places him next to Jonathan Sexton in this year’s Six Nations. This kicking consistency is rather poor.
The prodigal return of Morne Steyn was not brilliant. It was not equivalent to Aaron Cruden’s in the return to Super Rugby but, in certain areas, he was solid.
| Attacking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Points | 40 |
| Tries | 1 |
| Metres | 7 |
| Runs | 9 |
| Defenders Beaten | 0 |
| Clean Breaks | 0 |
| Passes | 71 |
| Try Assists | 3 |
He has had a decent overall attacking influence with 71 passes but it was still lower than that of Bosch. With a measly running record of seven metres made in the entire season, he is certainly not a running type.
Three try assists match Bosch, but lose to Willemse. However, try assist stats may not tell the full story as they often favour the man who throws the last pass.
He has been solid in two areas; kicking and defence.
| Kicking statistics | |
|---|---|
| Kicking | |
| Kicks | 36 |
| Conversion Goals | 4 |
| Penalty Goals | 8 |
| Attempts | 15 |
| Successful | 12 |
Given his metronomic nature, it is no surprise that he kicks solidly. An 80per cent kicking record surpasses all other South African flyhalves in the competition.
| Defensive statistics | |
|---|---|
| Tackles Won % | 83% |
| Attempts | 42 |
| Successful | 35 |
This tackling record on the cards beats that of Willemse, Bosch, and Janjities.
Robert du Preez has shone for Sale and may have a strong chance with a strong count on the statistics and the point count for Sale. However, Elton Janjities has been in the team in the 2019 World Cup, while none of the other contenders have.
Curwin Bosch has been a strong attacker this season, but not so defensively, and his attacking record could put him in contention. Meanwhile, Morne Steyn and Willemse lurk in the wings.
Disclaimer: All chart statistics are from Rugby Pass International
AussieBokkie
Roar Rookie
Would love to see Willemse wrestle the no.10 shirt from Elton but the Springbok Showdown could not have gone any worse for Willemse. An absolute shocker . Elton’s grip just got stronger
AussieBokkie
Roar Rookie
Nice article. Lord help us all if Morne is picked in the squad. Rassie won’t do it but the thought makes me sick. Du Perez is very one dimensional and has been quite pedestrian for Sale this season. My hope is that Kade Wolhuter is groomed to be the understudy and is no. 2 come the 2023 WC. But in the next year or two I suspect the no. 2 job will remain Elton’s. He’s not inspiring but a known quantity that Rassie has faith in it seems.
Pundit
Roar Guru
Morne can be a sub.......i doubt he'll get it but he was rather decent this season
Pundit
Roar Guru
Flyhalves are distributors, not sidesteppers
Pundit
Roar Guru
My main problem with Willemse is kicking-other than that ill have him my Bok 10. To solve that problem they could put Frans Steyn at 12, 13, and 15 so they have a ready metronome to kick the points over. Anyways they dont have many centres and Frans isnt too shoddy in other areas. Decently solid centre and excellent goal-kicker
pm
Roar Rookie
Interesting article, Pundit. I look forward to seeing the Boks with some new players and a new coach, even if they won't be at their best
Harry Jones
Expert
Lovely
BackInBlack
Guest
It’s time to cease these pointless articles. The South African side is second rate and now their provincial sides deservedly will be playing in a second rate competition. Take away a couple of good Bulls sides and for a large part they have been the a speed bumps with a serving of jet lag. Kia Kaha Aotearoa !
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
The Stormers Bias is strong with Skywalker... Is not Elton's biggest problem his "head"? In glimpses, it is clear to see that he has a lot of talent and skills.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Well written article Pundit. Thanks. If I was a Saffa I’d really appreciate it. ???? Regards Bob
Yeah Rassie confirmed it is Jantjies, definitely Willemse next, Bosch doesn’t fill me with confidence, look low on confidence last weekend and it showed in his play, defensively a turn-style
Ulrich
Roar Rookie
They all have their downsides. Pollard is really the only complete 10 we have. Jantjies is surely second best, yes. Willemse needs to give the ball to his teammates more often. It seems he tries to step all the time which doesn't work in his channel - especially if you try stepping the same way all the time. His kicking is also woeful (to posts). He still has a lot to learn. I reckon 2 seasons before he becomes a real option. For now he will get a chance here and there. Bosch is tactically astute, but yes, he is a turnstile and you can't blame that on size. Kolbe is also small but makes his tackles count. It's an attitude thing it appears. Maybe some time in the Bok camp with Nienaber will help Bosch. Morne is just not an option for the future.
Harry Jones
Expert
Rassie has made it quite clear, with Pollard's ruptured ligament (and probable return only just before the Lions) opening the No 10 door again, finally, that Elton has the jersey unless Willemse can take it. Bosch simply cannot man that channel in the Bok defence system; Elton isn't great, but he isn't a turnstile like Bosch. Willemse is superior as a tackler than either by a few country miles, but still needs to learn a few things on positioning, and if anything, he is too eager and sometimes jumps out of the line too much. I think this Green v Gold trial is a nice way to see how Damian and Elton handle the contrast, and my sense is (secretly) Rassie and Jacques WANT to see a real horse race. If Damian nails his kicks (off tee and for touch) and can find a few times to bust through Elton, or flatten him, too, it will become tempting to throw him into the starting role. He has big upside. Rob du Preez lost his starting jersey to AJ McGinty at Sale, gets charged down too often, and does not have the cool, confident temperament needed for a Bok 10. So, I think it's Elton's jersey, unless Damian takes it, and he has an excellent opportunity to show Bok World he is the man, this Saturday.