General Elton not a 'one-man band'

Jantjies, speaking ahead of the second Test between South Africa and France in Durban on Saturday, the Bok pivot made it clear it was a team effort.

He earned rich praise from coach Allister Coetzee for his commanding performance and the manner in which he directed play in the 37-14 win over Les Bleus in the opening Test in Pretoria last week.

However, the 26-year-old flyhalf said other players had equally important roles in the win and the rest of the three-Test series.

"For me it is all about the team," Jantjies told a media briefing in Durban, adding: "The guys are really buying into the way we want to play, taking personal responsibility for your own jobs/.

"That is they key for me, take responsibility for my own job – making sure I am the game manager on the field and communicating well."

He said having Lions teammates like captain and No.8 Warren Whiteley and scrumhalf Ross Cronje at his side has its benefits.

"We [also] have No.2 [Malcolm Marx], No.5 [Franco Mostert] and we have Boeboes [fullback Andries Coetzee]," he said of other Lions players making up the spine of the team.

"We communicate well, so it makes it easier on the field.

"The guys are calm and know exactly what to do."

When it comes to making decisions, he is not alone.

"Everybody should take responsibility [for] getting themselves into position and communicating well.

"Everybody has that role and accountability in the team."

Asked about the possibility of facing French veteran François Trinh-Duc this week, Jantjies said he has a lot of experience and is a good player.

"He will challenge us in different areas of the game,: the Bok No.10 said, adding: "We will have to make sure our defence works well and retain the ball when we have it."

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