Former Junior Boks coach Dawie Theron admits Jan Serfontein’s unfulfilled international career remains a mystery.
Serfontein earned 34 Test caps between his 2013 debut against Italy at Kings Park and his final appearance against the All Blacks in 2017 – a respectable tally that nonetheless fell short of expectations for a player who burst onto the scene aged 20.
By the time his Test career ended at 24, Serfontein had played more internationals than the likes of future Springbok stalwarts Steven Kitshoff, Malcolm Marx, Siya Kolisi and Damian de Allende.
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Despite the faith shown by coaches Heyneke Meyer and Allister Coetzee, injuries derailed his momentum. A wrist problem cost him the entire 2016 season, and he never recaptured his earlier form.
Theron, who coached Serfontein to Junior World Championship glory in 2012, told News24 that the centre’s career trajectory baffled him.
“I always thought he was going to make a bigger mark on the bigger stage,” Theron said. “I could never work out what happened, but as far as I can remember, he struggled with some injuries.
“You can only really know what is happening when you walk in someone else’s shoes. We don’t know what has happened behind the scenes or what was happening with him when it came to injuries.
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“If everything went 100% for him, I think he would’ve played a lot more for South Africa. The expectation for him to play more was there, but only he can tell you what was going on and why.
“In 2012, I really thought he was going to be a Bok mainstay.”
Photo: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images
The post Ex-coach baffled by Serfontein’s Test career appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
