Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies has not given up hope on making the 33-man squad for this year’s World Cup, with his sights set on a June return for the world champions.
Jantjies last played for the Boks on 22 August in the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Adelaide.
The 32-year-old was left out of the squad that toured Europe last November as he was without a club and lacked match fitness. His absence came after an alleged affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee made headlines and he was sent home while the Springboks were in Argentina for the match against Los Pumas.
Jantjies, who was recently reported to be in line for a call up to the Springboks’ current training camp in Cape Town, has since been contracted by ProD2 side Agen and has played his way back into fitness and form.
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“I definitely believe that hard work and good play will still give me the opportunity to play myself into the World Cup group,” he told Sunday newspaper Rapport.
“My coach at Agen [Bernard Goutta] also supports me a lot in my pursuit. He is working hard on me so that I’m ready for the World Cup. I am satisfied with my own game. Of course there is room for improvement.
“My attention is currently on Agen. With my level of play, it will give me an opportunity to play for my country in June.
“The World Cup is my number one priority. My preparation in Agen is all to prepare for the Boks this year.”
The Boks will kick off a bumper 2023 season against Australia in Pretoria on Saturday, 8 July, in the opening round of the shortened Rugby Championship, which will be followed by clashes against New Zealand in Auckland a week later, and Argentina in Johannesburg on Saturday, 29 July, in their final match on home soil before the build-up to their World Cup defence starts.
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