Elton Jantjies has set the Springbok benchmark other flyhalves have to aspire to, says the team's backline coach Franco Smith.
You wouldn't necessarily think of him as Mr Consistency, but it's exactly that that Smith found so laudable in Jantjies' performances against the typically flaky French.
"The real measure of a class player is to deliver consistent performances," Smith reminded. "He was consistent in the series. That's his next step as a person and as player.
"To be the point of reference for the team. He showed that in these three tests."
Jantjies' form in the 3-0 whitewash wasn't a shot out of Les Bleus. He was the one who was cocksure following stellar performances in last and this year's Super Rugby."Well, he played his way into the squad," noted Smith. "He showed after his performances in Super Rugby that he is a contender. I also played in that 10, 12 role. I know what confidence is and what it means when the management and coaching staff believe in you. That certainly enabled him to express the same confidence at test level."
Johan Ackermann, Jantjies' coach at the Lions, believes the flyhalf has now moved up a level. "Hopefully he doesn't have to prove himself any more," he said, almost in anticipation of those who prefer to reserve judgement until after the Rugby Championship.
"He showed he can play at that level. He brings calm. He is calm about his own play. You sense that he is in control. He's in a good space. That permeates the whole team, certainly the guys around him. He is important, almost conductor of the team."
Jantjies' form is in part owed to wider belief in his ability. "Last year he had to try and prove himself all over again, well that is the feeling I got. This year is different."
Ackermann also noted the role of familiar faces played in Jantjies' performances.
"That is where Ross [Cronjé], Courtnall [Skosan], Andries [Coetzee] and Warren [Whiteley] were key. All that helped put Elton in a good space. He has grown. He has always prepared meticulously. He puts in the hours. The fact that he went into the Bok camp with confidence and had a brilliant first test helped put him on another level."
Putting in the hours helped
Jantjies bagged 52 points from the test series, banging over 16 from 19 kicks at goal. That makes for a success rate of 84%.
"If you just look at his goal-kicking, he is almost 10% better than he was last year. He's grown in all facets," said Ackermann.
Jantjies moving into a higher strata coincidentally comes at a time when no obvious backup is knocking the Bok door down.
Handre Pollard had recovered from long- term injury only to pick up another niggle ahead of South Africa A's match against the French Barbarians in Durban, while Pat Lambie's career is in the balance after he was concussed again.
In the end, the backup role in the test series against France fell to Frans Steyn, who was originally earmarked as cover at inside centre and fullback...