A spate of injuries among Springbok flyhalves has led to the call-up to the Rugby Championship training squad for veteran playmaker Elton Jantjies.

The 32-year-old – who last played for the Boks in August last year – has been added as injury cover for Handre Pollard and Damian Willemse. The only fit No 10 in the training squad is Manie Libbok.

Jantjies 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 Boks were in Argentina to face Los Pumas.

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“It means Manie is our only fit flyhalf as of today and we can’t go into a test season without any cover. We weighed up the options available locally and overseas – having tracked all of them throughout the season [that] just completed – and Elton is the next flyhalf in line.

“He knows our thinking and systems inside out and can slot in easily. We kick off against Australia in three weeks and should Damian Willemse not return to full fitness by then Elton would be ready to play.”

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A World Cup winner, the 46-test Jantjies has been a fixture in Bok squads for the past six years. He is currently in France with D2 club Agen and will join the squad in Pretoria on Sunday.

The Boks’ first test of the year is against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on July 8.