In cricket, a team's mental state is judged by how they conduct themselves when fielding. With rugby, the generalissimo's mood is a window into a match-day 23's head space.
Elton Jantjies was the scapegoat for last year's indifferent performances despite the Springboks' general 2016 incompetence.
While the likes of Siya Kolisi have their performances do the talking, Jantjies's coming of age as an international flyhalf has coincided with the Boks' upswing in fortunes.
In last year's defeats in Brisbane, Australia, and in Christchurch, New Zealand, Jantjies's hangdog expressions and basic errors not only compounded the Boks' miserable showings but also hastened his exit.The ultimate embarrassment was being replaced by the mechanical Morné Steyn and the Boks were no better.
Test matches against the Wallabies in Perth and the All Blacks in Albany over the next two weekends will examine Jantjies's mental fortitude, especially with the Boks being settled. This hasn't always been the case in previous years.
Former Springbok and Lions flyhalf Hennie le Roux said coach Allister Coetzee's backing of Jantjies this season has made all the difference.
Backing is critical
"Backing is critical because the flyhalf makes most, if not all of the decisions on the field and dictates the tempo of the play," said the 1995 Rugby World Cup winner.
"If you're uncertain of your position, it has an effect because it can make a player be conservative even though that's not a bad thing. If you and the coach aren't in agreement in terms of the game plan and the execution of plans, you'll doubt and undermine yourself."He has showed a lot more composure and the most important aspect has been his consistency. He seems to be more mature in the position and knows how and when to make and take the right decisions this season. Those are the key aspects you want to see in a flyhalf as he gets to perform under pressure and in different circumstances."
Springbok one-cap wonder and Western Province veteran Vlok Cilliers agreed with Le Roux on the backing perspective, saying Coetzee heeded last year's harsh lessons and looked at how the Super Rugby coaches treated their star players.
"Look at how Johann Ackerman backed Jantjies and gave him a leadership role. That speaks volumes for a player. Some players are given that responsibility and some players actually want it. I think that's been the case with Elton this season and he's thrived on that responsibility. Allister has done the same," Cilliers said.
"There's one thing that's stood out for me and that's confidence. I think after last year he took his game into perspective, looked at where he could improve and what he could do better. You can see this season he's reaping the benefits of the work he put in during the off-season. Once a player is brimming with confidence in their game and abilities, it makes a huge difference in their game."
Goalkicking woes are temporary
Being a kicking coach, Cilliers said Jantjies has to be allowed to make mistakes even though South Africa's narrow losses in Australia in the past three years will put him under immense pressure.While Jantjies's goalkicking has bordered on excellent, it has deserted him. The Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Sharks and the second test against France are examples.
"Goalkicking will be the game breaker at any level and while his radar departed him at times this season, that doesn't mean he's a bad goalkicker," Cilliers said. "One must realise though that Elton kicked superbly in Super Rugby and averaged more than 80%.
"You'll take that at any day at international level. He missed a few easy ones in Salta [last week] but it shows the heaps of confidence he has in himself that he bounced back and still had a good game."Three years the Boks would wish to erase
Four years is enough time for a governmental regime change and that’s how long they’ve been waiting for a win in Australasia. Their last six outings don’t make for decent reading.
2014: Australia 24 – 23 South Africa  (Perth)The conditioning woes started with this match when Rob Horne’s late try set up by a misplaced Morne Steyn touch-finder robbed the Boks of a win. Then coach Heyneke Meyer bemoaned his team’s conditioning and lack of composure. This was to be a trending theme.New Zealand 14 – 10 South Africa (Wellington)
This was South Africa’s rugby example of ‘Custer’s last stand’ as Handre Pollard announced his proper arrival on the world stage with a sublime performance. The All Blacks had to dig deep to survive as the Boks took the game to them in no uncertain terms.2015: Australia 24 – 20 South Africa (Brisbane)Conditioning and composure got the best of the Boks as Tevita Kuridrani and Michael Hooper scored late tries to quell the Boks. This match was notable for Jesse Kriel’s emergence as a test player despite the narrow defeat.
2016: Australia 23 – 17 South Africa (Brisbane)A disjointed and uninterested Bok side were probably fortunate to have escaped Australia with a sixpoint deficit. It also spoke volumes of Australia’s malaise at the time when they weren’t able to put a weak Bok side away at home.
New Zealand 41 – 13 South Africa (Christchurch)Before the Durban debacle, there was the Christchurch clobbering. The Boks were outplayed in all departments and were fortunate to score 13 points. The gulf in classbetween the two sides was evident on this cold night and things were about to get worse. 
tshwakuk@sundaytimes.co.za..