Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus doesn’t have it easy when it comes to selecting his scrumhalves for this year’s World Cup.
And the man giving him his biggest headache at the moment is the Stormers’ Herschel Jantjies.
Erasmus preferred Faf de Klerk, Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl last year.
At the time, Jantjies wasn’t in the picture.
But a look at his performances in this year’s Super Rugby tournament has put him firmly in the frame now.
The problem for Erasmus is that it’s not only Jantjies who is making a case for inclusion at No.9.
Over in the UK, Cobus Reinach has been one of the stars in the English Premiership.
So much so, that Reinach and De Klerk were both nominated for the league’s Player of the Season award.
Now back to Rassie.
Based on form, he must take a look at Jantjies and he would be wise to take a closer look at Reinach too.
The problem is all three of De Klerk, Jantjies and Reinach play a similar type of game.
It means the Springboks still don’t have a Fourie du Preez-type No.9 who can dictate the game with his boot.
Newsflash, though, Van Zyl is not that guy either.
And that’s why I would test Jantjies, Reinach as well as Van Zyl and Papier in the Rugby Championship.
De Klerk is the only No.9 guaranteed of a World Cup spot in my books