Steyn still seeking perfection
8 Aug 2009
Despite scoring 64 points in his last three games, Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn believes he still he has much to improve on.
Steyn was once again at his best in front of the sticks at Newlands on Saturday slotting seven penalties and a drop goal for a personal haul of 24 points. While the 25-year-old was pleased with his goal kicking on the night, there are a few areas he will be working on ahead of the Boks’ second Tri-Nations clash against the Wallabies on 29 August.
‘I’m very happy with the way I am striking the ball at the moment and I think it is all down to the work I’ve been doing in practice,’ Steyn told keo.co.za. ‘But I think there is still a lot of room for improvement.
‘There are some areas of my game I am still not 100% happy with. My tactical kicking still needs work. I had one kick that went out on the full tonight, so I still need to improve there.
‘My defence is another area where I need to do some work.’
Having now started Tri-Nations games against the All Blacks and the Wallabies Steyn believes they are two very different teams who provide different challenges.
‘The All Blacks have a great pack of forwards and a very dangerous backline, while the Wallabies are very good at the breakdown and with a pair like Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes you never know quite what to expect.’
One of the other stars for the Boks on the night was Heinrich Brussow who was once again a menace at the breakdown, where he had the upper hand over the highly rated George Smith, but the youngster believes the Boks’ efficiency at the breakdown is down to a solid group effort.
‘The Aussies are a good side at the breakdown so it’s not easy, Brussow told keo.co.za. ‘I have to give credit though to guys like Bismarck du Plessis and John Smit and I think as a team we did really well in that department tonight.’
The Wallabies were at one stage in the game reduced to 13 men, yet the Boks were unable to register any points during that time and while Brussow admits it was disappointing, he praised the Australians for their play during that period of the game.
‘We tried to take advantage when they were down to 13 men and we came close on two occasions towards the end of the first half, and we said at half-time that we needed to score during those five minutes when they were still down two men.
‘But I think they played really well when at that time and slowed the ball down, so it wasn’t easy to score points.’
By Andrew Worling, at Newlands
11 Comments
8 Aug 2009, 21:18 pm
Steyn would be well advised NOT to get too enamoured with his kicking success and to continue with the significant attacking and distribution skills he has been developing for the Bulls over the last two years.
8 Aug 2009, 22:11 pm
Wilko style efficiency.
8 Aug 2009, 22:12 pm
… without the injuries
8 Aug 2009, 22:25 pm
I wanna see PdV try Ruaan at 12.
Would give us varied options at first receiver, much like the Wallabies.
But seems Adi will take over there when JdV goes abroad….could work on attack but Adi needs to be 100% otherwise he’s a liability on defense
I guess Ruaan will be FB when FS goes…could work too.
Hopefully those are the only two positions that needs replacing for EOYT.
Dont want to f@ck up a good year by losing against the Oirish w@ankers.
9 Aug 2009, 00:00 am
#4 The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine: Actually I would have Ruan at 15. He has tremendous pace, which Francois is not showing in truth. He also kicks well and runs head up and aware. He’s not really a center. Francois Steyn is a GREAT 12.
My backline for 2011 would be
15. Ruan
14. JPP
13. Jacques/Adi
12. Steyn
11. Habs
10. Morne
9. FdP
9 Aug 2009, 00:31 am
When will Ruan Pienaar concentrates on one position? Jack of all trades.
9 Aug 2009, 00:33 am
#6 dWeePer: ? He plays flyhalf. And if he doesn’t the coaches pick the team.
9 Aug 2009, 00:48 am
Morne Steyn is 25 not 24. Also try to come up with an original article (I’ve seen this trife in he media before when they said that Jonny Wilkinson, and Daniel Carter were searching for perfection).
9 Aug 2009, 11:28 am
#5 SodaJoe: Pienaar didn’t cut it at 15 last time he played for the Boks there, shaky and error prone.
9 Aug 2009, 22:57 pm
#4 The_Green_Machine_is_a_Mean_Machine: Ruan is no No.12, there are better at this position, his defence is sub par for this channel.
Ruan can slot at any of the back three positions at Test level with ease and is the most potent attacking fly half in the land.
What MS gives us is something we have missed since Stransky: a truely football player who can kick at above 75%, being the Bulls’ fly half he isn’t gonna turn into a new Henry Honyball or Hennie LR type of FH, although he certainly has the potential, that’s not going to happened!
He just makes the Bulls and the Boks keep winning, can’t ask for more.
12 Aug 2009, 07:16 am
#10 Hondo: He used to be known as the tunning flyhalf that can’t kick. Then he practised his kicking all day and all night.
Shows you can learn kicking!! Now he must relearn his running…
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