Morné Steyn
South African coach Heyneke Meyer dished out a swipe at the ongoing criticism of Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn.
The 55-Test veteran was a pivotal player in the Boks’ 38-16 (5 tries to 1) demolition of Wales in Durban at the weekend, but still haven’t convinced his detractors that he is the real deal.
Not only did he produce a 100 percent goal-kicking performance (5 conversions and a penalty), but the 37 times he handled the ball he kicked just 10 times – with 21 passes and 6 runs.
The Bok coach, Meyer, pointed out that the high attrition rate among flyhalves makes Steyn an even more valuable asset to the national team.
rugby365
Patrick Lambie is only expected to return in July after undergoing surgery for a pectoral muscle injury, while Marnitz Boshoff rolled his ankle at training in Cape Town recently.
Added to that Johan Goosen his knee at the weekend and is also in doubt for the return Test against Wales in Nelspruit this coming Saturday.
When Goosen left the field in the second half in Durban, minutes after replacing Steyn, Ruan Pienaar stepped into the flyhalf spot and performed admirably.
Meyer admitted that even with his depleted resources he has “options” at No 10.
“It is a pity that Johan Goosen was injured,” Meyer said, adding that Steyn remains a valuable asset to the team.
“Morné has always been written off here,” the Bok mentor said, adding: “When he didn’t play regularly for Stade Francais in France, they said it was the end of Morné.”
“We scored 6 tries with him at flyhalf last week and this match we scored 5 tries against a world class defensive team.”
The coach said Steyn “ticked all the boxes” and was “awesome” in the way he controlled the game.
“His goal-kicking was superb and I think it was a total performance by Morné.”
“He is up there with the best in the world.”
Describing the 29-year-old as a “true character” and a “true warrior”, Meyer expressed his admiration for the manner in which Steyn continues to confound his critics.
“We were a bit under pressure, with all the flyhalves that are injured,” Meyer said, adding: “Morné always plays well for the Boks and I am very proud of him.”
With South Africa Under 20 captain Handré Pollard involved in the IRB Junior World Championship – where the Baby Boks will play their England counterparts in the Final in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday – Boshoff is likely to come into the selection frame as Steyn’s understudy if Goosen is ruled out.
Another player who came in for special praise from the Bok coach is Jan Serfontein, who started at centre for the first time – after getting his first nine caps off the bench.
“They have some big ball carriers and I though Jan was superb,” Meyer said.
“He has never played alongside JP at centre,” the coach said, adding that – given the new combination – he felt the Bok defence was awesome.
“I wasn’t happy about the 1 try.”
“That is a non-negotiable for us.”
“We could have scored 2 or 3 more tries, but I would take 5 tries to 1 in any conditions against any country.”
“We said, for us to play well Jan must defend well and I thought he was awesome.”
@ nortierd:
They have an excellent medical scheme.
Lukas Watsembi has spent more time on twitter than he has on on the rugby field since he’s been there.
@ MacroBok:
Ek onthou Gary in die Cravenweek op Affies in Pretoria, hy het vir die Pumas teen Francois du Toit van Cheetahs en Elton Jantjies van die Golden Lions gespeel…
En die hele wereld was gaande oor hom….en Francois du Toit, hulle was beide ge-oormerk as toekomstige Springbokke. Elton was nie eens in die tel nie….
Maar soos vir Goose, het die beserings vir Gary vroeg-vroeg begin ry in die Kaap.
Ek wonder wat van die Francois du Toit geword het, miskien weet Smallies?
Die outjie het van Warden se wereld gekom as ek reg onthou….maar hel, HY kon skop!
@ nortierd:
Ek sien jy het in die rooi gegaan op Superbru, jy en GBS….en die Crusaders!
Pietman wrote:
Ha ha
Ja nee, daai was nou n gut feel wat meer n dodgy kerrie was as n goeie besluit
@ nortierd:
marquee signings only play when they need to at ep
@ Pietman:
wel gary was laas jaar ook geoormerk na die bulle game lol
gunther wrote:
He gets millions for contributing faarkall to EP rugby…but he is probably immune to criticism by now
Let him stay there in PE and out of the way, as long as we don’t have to witness his ‘ Planet of the Apes’ antics on our rugby fields anymore, R3m is a bargain in my book.
MacroBok wrote:
Springbok flyhalf?
When, EOYT?
Gunther.
Dont know if you saw the 2nd last ball of the test between Sri Lanka and England yesterday but it was a classic.
England needed 1 wicket with 2 balls left in the final days play.
“Broad the Poephol” was bowling and appealed for an LBW and the ump gave it out. England and the pompous MCC patrons went bos with Euphoria.
… but the Lankan batsmen ask for a DRS immediately and on replay it clearly showed that the ball hit a thick edge before it hit the pad.
They survive the last ball and the match was drawn.
@ Pietman:
springbok in quotation marks. He he
gosh luke is always violently dragged into every conversation related to the Kings
@ Tuff Gong:
Loved it.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
I,
like many others around this little pile of dirt we call Earth,
have,
in recent times been watching a most intriguing TV show called “Game of Thrones”.
The similarities between the characters of The House Lannister, and those of SA Rugby, in recent times is quite amazing.
Tywin………..a manipulating arse-hole. Loyal only to his own………….. = …………….Danie Craven.
Cersei……….a complete and utter bitch, but gorgeous……………………..=……………..The Slut known only as Suzie.
Jaime, (The King Slayer)…….starts off as a c*nt, but grows on you….=………………Victor.
Tyrion, (The Dwarf),……….a truly great man…………………………………….=……………….Luke Watson.
@ cane:
Richie reminds me of Goffrey.
😆
@ Tuff Gong:
why does he spend entire episodes lying on the wrong side of the ruck chatting to the ref?
@ gunther:
Dean Greyling will never play for the Boks again because of that shoulder charge on Richie.
But who can really blame him…
Joffrey would be Jimmy Cowan. insufferable and you just want smack him.
Eben would be The Hound. Just because he’s about the meanest sonofabitch around.
Richie would be that Giant chick. A great competitor but when you get down to it he’s still a girl.
ps if anyone gives me any crap I will post the spoilers from last night’s finale……
@ Stormersboy:
Boozer Cowan.
The human dartboard.
@ Pietman:
Francois du Toit (“Franna”), eks-Grey Bloem, het vir Shimlas in die Varsity Cup gespeel sedert 2009, ek dink. Hy is in 2010 gekies om saam te oefen met die SA O/20 span (Gary van Aswegen was ook in daardie oefengroep).
In 2012 het hy vir die SA Studente gespeel teen Namibië.
Daarna het hy maar verdwyn van die toneel af. Hy bly nog steeds in Bloemfontein en is nog steeds betrokke by die Shimlas – hy het hierdie jaar nog vir hulle gespeel, maar meestal as ‘n plaasvervanger-losskakel.
Contains swearing
Frankie Boyle
@ WP Till I Die:
Thx man, gewonder wat van die outjie geword het.
@ MacroBok:
Here he is, the little scoundrel is back! I thought he had a sore throat, but seems he had a foot problem…..
Port Elizabeth – After a lengthy layoff through a foot injury, Luke Watson is excited to be back in the EP Kings team to face the Bulls in a Super Rugby friendly at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday.
The 30-year-old loose forward was named by coach Carlos Spencer as captain of the team and would lead the side from the back of the scrum.
Watson has been out of rugby since the Super 15 competition last year, having been hampered by a broken foot bone.
“The injury was actually initially misdiagnosed and I played a few games last year with a broken bone,” Watson said on Tuesday.
“So the recovery has been a long process but I am really excited to be back and looking forward to helping the EP Kings.
“We know we have a long way to go and are far from the finished article, but we are enjoying Carlos’s input and being allowed a bit of freedom in the way we play the game.”
Spencer made several changes from the team which faced Wales last week and said the matches were a chance to “have a look at all the players”.
After playing the Bulls on Friday, the Kings would host the Sharks on July 4 before turning their attention to the Currie Cup premier division, starting in August.
“We are just taking it a game at a time and making sure everyone gets some game time,” Spencer said.
“There were quite a few things we needed to work on after the Wales game such as missed tackles, ball retention and better cleaning out, and we have focused on those things for the last week.”
Veteran lock Darron Nell will spend some time on the bench as Spencer ran the rule over Steven Cummins and Cameron Lindsay on Friday, while former Sharks Super Rugby player, Tim Whitehead would make his first appearance for the Kings at outside centre.
Whitehead was considered superfluous to the Sharks’ requirements this season and would be keen to make an early impression on Friday, partnering Dwayne Jenner in the midfield.
Scrumhalf Jaco Grobler would get a chance to start, with Kevin Luiters on the bench, while Scott van Breda, who played wing against Wales was moved to fullback.
Teams:
Kings
15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Dwayne Jenner, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaco Grobler, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Paul Schoeman, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Steven Cummins 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 BG Uys
Substitutes: 16 Dane van der Westhuizen, 17 Brenden Olivier, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Darron Nell, 20 Devin Oosthuizen, 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Shane Gates, 23 Hansie Graaff
@ Pietman:
Look they probably took longer than expected to diagnose the foot injury because they had to remove it from his mouth first.
@ Pietman:
O boy, Keo’s hero returns to lead his side to……erm, was going to say glory, but that’s probably stretching it, can’t think of any glory when it comes to the Kings
Plus they have signed Gary Van Aswegen. Which annoys the crap out of me.
@ Stormersboy:
I’m sure the Stormers physio is relieved about that.
@ gunther:
And their medical insurance should halve
Stormersboy wrote:
I imagine Skop is livid
@ nortierd:
Fuckadilly was born livid.
gunther wrote:
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