Nick Mallett backs Herschel Jantjies over Embrose Papier for Springboks role

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett says Herschel Jantjies’ speed to the breakdown and composure under pressure are the key reasons he believes Rassie Erasmus has opted for the Stormers scrum-half ahead of Embrose Papier in South Africa’s latest squad.

Jantjies has been retained as the fourth scrum-half in Erasmus’ group, despite Papier producing a standout United Rugby Championship campaign for the Bulls, where the No 9 delivered several eye-catching individual performances and scored a number of impressive tries.

Speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, Mallett outlined why, in his view, Jantjies better fits what the Springbok coaches currently want from their scrum-halves.

“I think it’s more the speed to the breakdown and the speed with which the ball is cleared,” Mallett said.

“It was really noticeable when Herschel Jantjies came on how quickly he got to the breakdown. The ball was away almost immediately.

“The speed of our ruck increased, and the rhythm of our backline improved against Wales because of the speed with which Herschel got to the ball.”

Ruck tempo and attacking rhythm

Mallett argued that Jantjies’ work rate between breakdowns has a direct impact on how the Springboks are able to attack, particularly against organised defences.

“He’s almost the second player to the breakdown,” Mallett explained.

“There’s the tackler, someone trying to counter-ruck or protect the ball, and then Herschel is already there with his hands on it, getting it away and trying to attack before the opposition can set their defence.”

Mallett believes that this urgency accelerates the Springboks’ attacking structure, enabling the backline to play with greater fluency.

He pointed to the win over Wales as an example of how Jantjies’ introduction from the bench changed the pace of the game, with the faster ruck ball helping South Africa find a better attacking rhythm.

Calm presence and squad integration

Beyond his technical impact, Mallett highlighted Jantjies’ temperament and familiarity with the national set-up as further reasons why Erasmus may trust him in a bench role.

“Herschel also has a very calm head,” he said.

“He’s been a leader before, and he’s comfortable in both the Springbok and Stormers environments. He’s the sort of player who’ll come off the bench and never panic.”

Mallett suggested that this calmness, combined with his experience in the Springbok camp, makes Jantjies a reliable option to close out tight Test matches, where decision-making and game management are crucial.

Papier’s talent versus collective fit

Mallett was careful to stress that his assessment is not a criticism of Papier’s ability, noting that the Bulls scrum-half remains highly rated by the Springbok coaches.

“I still think the coaches probably feel that Embrose Papier is an individually very talented player, but collectively, in terms of how he combines with the rest of the team, he’s maybe just a little bit off the pace compared to the other scrumhalves,” he said.

Papier’s form in the United Rugby Championship has underlined his attacking flair and capacity for moments of brilliance, but Mallett’s view is that, at Test level, selection often comes down to how seamlessly a player slots into the broader tactical framework.

With Erasmus opting to keep Jantjies in his latest squad as the fourth-choice scrum-half, Mallett’s analysis offers an insight into the attributes the Springbok management appear to be prioritising: rapid service, control under pressure and a strong connection with the existing team structure.