Zeenat Simjee IN, Elton Jantjies OUT for Springboks – here’s why

Elton Jantjies has been left out of the Springboks squad for the Rugby Championship and it’s likely to stay that way when the World Cup squad is named. However, Zeenat Simjee is back in the fold in her role as team dietitian.

ALSO READ: No room for Elton Jantjies — Is this the end of his Springbok career?

THE BACKSTORY

By now every rugby enthusiast knows about the alleged love affair between Jantjies and Simjee, a relationship between colleagues which resulted a big scandal that rocked the South African team and undoubtedly did a lot of damage to the Springboks brand.

Since then, the Springboks have had one overseas tour (in November last year) and three alignment camps earlier this year in preparation for the Rugby Championship and the World Cup. Elton missed out of selection for all these events, while Zeenat has been back working with the team since from the start of this year.

Now, nine months after the pair’s affair was first exposed by one shocking headline after the other, Simjee seems to have settled back effortlessly into her role as team dietician, while Jantjies is still out in the cold, even now when he is fit and available for selection.

Some might wonder why that is the case.

WHY ZEENAT IS BACK WITH THE SPRINGBOKS AND ELTON IS NOT

Well the fact that Jantjies has been at the centre of several scandals off the field, which ranged from some shocking behaviour on a flight to his involvement in the alleged tryst with Simjee, certainly has nothing to do with his glaring omission.

But playing for a team languishing in the French second division, where he as a player has been battling with injuries and poor form certainly was the main reason for his non-selection.

For so long, Jantjies has served as the second-choice flyhalf in the Springboks squad, but is dip in form which coincided with the rise of Manie Libbok at the Stormers, has made him surplus to requirements at Test level.

Jantjies’ continued absence from the squad is not due to his infidelity. He was simply omitted from the Springboks’ 40-man squad because he just hasn’t played well enough to convince selectors that he should be there on merit. 

ALSO READ: Three Springboks who’ve seen RWC dream end in past 12 months!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Zeenat Simjee is back currently with the 40-player Springbok squad that assembled on Sunday in preparation for the Rugby Championship.

The 28-year-old dietician and sports nutritionist plays a vital member of the Springboks management team and will in all probability head to the Rugby World Cup in France.

Meanwhile, Jantjies and his family are currently on vacation in Alanya, a resort town on Turkey’s central Mediterranean coast. Jantjies and his wife, Iva, have both posted several photos and videos of their holiday to their social media accounts.

PHOTO BELOW WHEN BOTH WERE IN CAMP WITH THE SPRINGBOKS