Jantjies boost for Boks
Jantjies underwent surgery on a fractured finger earlier in the week and was initially ruled out of action for three to four weeks.
However, after consultation with the medical team, Coetzee is confident the in-form playmaker will be ready for the first Test in two weeks' time.
Jantjies is one of three flyhalves in the 31-man squad to face the Irish. Patrick Lambie and Garth April are the other two pivots in the group.
April's inclusion in the squad came as a surprise to many – the 24-year-old was still playing club rugby last year and is currently involved in his first season of Super Rugby with the Sharks.
Despite his lack of experience, Coetzee believes April should be given an opportunity to showcase his skills at the highest level.
"We got a Kurt Coleman injured, we got a Handre Pollard injured, we got a Robert du Preez injured and I am sure those three players would have been in one of the squads," said Coetzee at the unveiling of the Springbok and SA 'A' squads at Newlands on Saturday.
"Garth [April] showed tremendous composure when he was chucked into the deep end playing against Toulon overseas. He is one of those flyhalves who can really take it to the line and he also has a good kicking game.
"I like the way Garth has shown composure as a youngster at No.10 in top games and I think it's important to note that. One should not be scared to expose your young flyhalves at that level early – New Zealand does it and bring [Lima] Sopoaga to Ellis Park and they play against the Boks and they win.
"We are actually scared to do that. This boy has got the ability to do it and I was never going to select an overseas-based No.10 to become a third flyhalf for South Africa. That is how serious we are to make sure that we do give our younger players an opportunity to come through."
If Lambie is taken out of the equation, then there are only four Test Caps between the rest of the halfbacks in the entire squad. April and scrumhalves Nic Groom and Francois de Klerk all have zero international caps to their name.
Jantjies and Rudy Paige have two caps each. Lambie leads the way in terms of experience with 50 Test caps.
Coetzee drew comparisons with the squad he and former Springbok coach Jake White selected in 2004. Coetzee was the national team's backline coach during White's tenure.
"We have rewarded players with the eye to the future and it's also important to make sure that we win against Ireland come June 11. We got a mixture of experience – we got young experience players.
He added: "It is exciting rather than a concern.
"I think somehow they have to start. I remember in 2004 when I started out with Jake White, the big thing was to make sure that these guys got the necessary experience come World Cup 2007 and they did accumulate those Tests."
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
