There was a loud cheer when Curwin Bosch replaced Elton Jantjies to earn his first Springbok cap in front of the people who watched him blossom into one of the promising rugby talents in the country.
But some of those cheers were definitely also reserved for the man he replaced. The man who with each passing game is looking more and more like the man who -- just like Bosch -- was considered to be one hell of a talent.
In 2016 it didn't look like Jantjies would ever to live up to the hype and reach his full potential. After a top Super Rugby campaign, he looked lost in the Bok jersey, both as a playmaker and as a kicker. But so did most players who wore the green and gold in coach Allister Coetzee's first year in in charge.
But in 2017 there have been signs that Jantjies, as well as the Boks, are starting to play the sort of rugby that South African fans know they are capable of. It started in June with a 3-0 series win against the French, with Jantjies coming to the fore in a game plan that is more suited to the way he likes to play the game.
But on a cold Saturday night in the Boks 2017 Rugby Championship opener against Argentina, he arguably played his best game in the green and gold of his country. And it wasn't just a performance based on his silky skills, as he also showed his underrated ability to be a shrewd tactician.
This was a match where the Boks had to be patient on attack, because of Los Pumas' line speed on defence. The Boks had most of the ball in the first quarter of the match, but couldn't breakthrough. But Jantjies carved out a 6-0 lead for the home team with two penalties.
The Boks had a lot of possession, as they dominated at scrum time and competed fiercely at the breakdown. Tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen, who as a loosehead has always been known for a his carrying, but not his scrumming when he wears the No 3 jersey, gave the Boks a massive platform with his powerful performances in the set piece.
But the Boks did get impatient in the 32nd minute of the match when centre Jan Serfontein put a grubber through, which led to Argentina's first try of the match through scrumhalf Martin Landajo to make it a one-point game.
The Boks scored just before halftime through Courtnall Skosan after a planned move, which saw Jantjies put the blindside winger away with a wonder reverse pass to make 13-5 at halftime.
Argentina looked sharper on attack at the start of the second half, they pulled three points back through a Nicholas Sanchez penalty. But Jantjies kicked one of his own to restore their lead.
However, the Boks' patience on attack would come to fruition in the 51st minute when Raymond Rhule finished off a great passage of play, where the Boks managed to create space for the right winger to score.
Argentina hit back via an Emiliano Boffelli try in the left corner, but the Boks always looked in control of this match. Especially with Jantjies pulling the strings.
Flanker Siya Kolisi finished off another for the Boks, which was crafted out of a mic of power and skill. The Bok bench has a lot of physicality, with the likes Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Plessis and Steven Kitshoff coming on to carry and hit rucks with a lot of venom.
This created space on the outside, as the Argentines had to commit more players to tackles and rucks. And Jantjies took the invitation of the space with a big smile on his face. Kolisi's try came from good hands from the backs, while Du Toit's try seven minutes from the end was born out of relentless pressure.
It was a great result for the Jantjies, who converted seven out of seven kicks at goal in the night. It was also a great night for the Boks, who are slowly but surely putting the nightmares of 2016 behind them.
Tougher challenges await in the form of Australia and, especially, New Zealand. But it's a lot more positive for the Boks and Jantjies. report