Why aren’t Lambie and Jantjies given space to grow?

Only South Africans would, faced with the prospect of having two genuine world-class pivot prospects, seek to align among provincial lines and do their utmost to tear them down week in week out.

I am talking here of Pat Lambie of the Sharks and Elton Jantjies of the Lions. Ex-teammates at age group level, now rivals at their respective unions and both in line to wear the green and gold jumper for years to come.

It is almost a cliché to say the Bokke have not had an all-round genuine world-class flyhalf since Die Lem hung up his legendary boots. Butch James has had his moments, Gaffie showed promise, Ruan Pienaar threatened to live up to his talent before taking the Gaffie route and then heading north in a huff and now we have Morne Steyn. Ace goalkicker, decent defender, and if truth be told, not as bad at the running game as his detractors point out. But the thing with Morne, and it is not exactly all his fault, is that he is not quite the same without Fourie du Preez.

Jantjies and Lambie have shone without the benefit of having the world’s best scrumhalf beside them. They have also had fragile moments, Lambie less so with the privilege of the cocooning effect of having a plethora of Boks and experienced players around him. So why is it that with barely two dozen first-class outings against proper competition between them, we are seeking to champion one player over the other based on how they did last time out?

Both boys are good kickers. Both are good distributors and have an eye for the gap and putting those around them in the gap. Both are solid in defence and will only get better as their bodies and guile mature. We know this. So what if they have one bad game every so often.

So what if Lambie is yet to be tested without the benefit of an in form stellar cast around him? That sometimes he seems to shirk responsibility in directing play. Why should it be such a big issue if Jantjies had a slow start to his Super Rugby career? If they should both live up to their talent, will we care that Jantjies alternated poor kicking/great running performances with great kicking/poor option taking matches in his first three Super Rugby outings?

Morne Steyn will likely be the Boks pivot at the World Cup. With Butch James and one of the youngsters shadowing him. Beyond that, the ball is firmly in their court. Seeking to bring them down by analysing all their faults and seeking to write off their learning and improvement potential will not help the Bok cause or their own.

You don’t see Australians looking to rubbish every mistake by Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Berrick Barnes because of regional allegiances. You don’t even see the youngsters written off if audacious moves do not come off. Those three, and Kurtley Beale among others, have been nurtured and encouraged to go out there and make mistakes. Even at Super level.

Is it any wonder then that despite having no tight five worthy of the name and such youth at key positions, and indeed all over the backline, Australia remain a threat at the upcoming World Cup?

There is a lesson there, South Africa.

This article first appeared on www.newstime.co.za