Why Bok coach opted against Elton Jantjies return: 'It would have been unfair'

In Durban

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber says it would have been unfair on Elton Jantjies if they roped him back into the fray for Saturday's Rugby Championship decider against Argentina at Kings Park.

Jantjies' well-documented absence from the Springbok group, along with injuries to Handre Pollard and Damian Willemse, mean veteran Frans Steyn has been pressed into service at No 10 at international level for the first time in 14 years.

Nienaber said it would have been nice to have Jantjies, a senior player in the Bok back division, back to solve their current crisis, but added they also had the responsibility of looking after a player's mental health.

READ | Springboks turn to veteran Steyn at flyhalf for Durban title decider

"It would have been nice, but for us and the sensitivity that is needed to deal with mental health issues and the external pressures he needs to deal with from a human perspective, it would have been unfair to get him back in the team," Nienaber said.

"There would be a lot of external pressure on him and for us, the individual as a human being comes first."

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Kurt-Lee Arendse

Steyn has been happy to pop up in different backline positions from the Boks, but flyhalf is a position that generally requires specialists.

However, Steyn played the bulk of his formative rugby at flyhalf at Grey College