Elton Jantjies has revealed that it was Rassie Erasmus who advised and checked him into a rehabilitation centre, to help him focus on reviving the flyhalf’s Springbok career.
Jantjies, who recently admitted to having an affair with team dietician Zeenat Simjee, previously denied enrolling for drug rehabilitation.
In a wide-ranging interview on the latest edition of Rugby Pass’ ‘Offload Podcast’, the veteran playmaker said he spent a fortnight at the Harmony Clinic in Cape Town to treat insomnia, as well as take a “break” from rugby and intense media scrutiny.
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“For me, personally, it is just to focus on my family, I have got a break and this is the reason why I am here, and then afterwards I will probably get back to rugby and that is the main two things I will stick with,” Jantjies said.
“I was in a facility in Cape Town just for like two weeks. I had a chat with Rassie and he told me he has got a spot where I can just switch off mentally and then afterwards I can get a break with my family.
“My main thing was just to switch off from a psychological point of view, especially with all the media going on. And all the speculation, they keep on speculating until they probably want me to speak up but I don’t get involved in media stuff.
“But I think this break came at the time that the whole media thing was on, so obviously it looks a bit different. It looks like I am out of the Springboks because of certain reasons but it’s not like that.
“I haven’t seen my family this whole year so me and Rassie had a chat and I agreed with him and so I have taken time off to spend with my family. It has been tough but I had to do it instead of going on tour because the following year is going to be a hectic year.
“The main reason was just to switch off from a public point of view because I have been followed by people, I have had media, journalists follow me, I have had private investigators follow me, I have a lot of things on my plate and it was quite scary for my wife.”
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While SA Rugby has been tight-lipped over Jantjies’ future with the Boks, Erasmus has said “the door will always be open” for the World Cup winner.
Asked if it meant a lot to have the SA director of rugby in his corner, Jantjies replied: “Yeah, a big help, massive help. He took me there and we chatted and I said, ‘Coach, I think it is a great idea. Let’s do it’. From his perspective whatever he tells me I’ll do it 99.9 percent.
“Hopefully, a lot of the boys can say the same things. He is a good friend for me and a good coach as well, he is very honest with me. I take his opinions in high regard.”
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Jantjies’ wife Iva Ristic has reportedly urged Erasmus to take action against Simjee, adding that it’s unfair that she is currently touring with the Boks while her husband is sidelined.
But, Jantjies said: “The way it looks, it looks like that and it is obvious what people are going to say. It is an obvious thing to say, ‘Elton is out, she is in’, things like that but believe me, it’s nothing like that.
“Me and Rassie had a chat and we will stick to the plan for me to switch off and then get back to club rugby and then get into the Springboks squad again.”
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images
