Swallow your pride, Pete
29 Jul 2010
JON CARDINELLI says the Bok coach won’t find a better fullback than Frans Steyn between now and the 2011 World Cup.
The Springbok coaches, selectors and Saru bigwigs will meet to discuss the Frans Steyn issue next week. I have to wonder, what is there to discuss? The Boks can no longer afford to ignore his talents and, as Steyn’s stated on numerous occasions, he’s keen to rejoin the side.
Steyn started the one-off Test against Wales in June. He’s since been cast back into the international wilderness. What was De Villiers’s reason? Steyn was off the pace because he’d played all of one season in northern hemisphere club competitions for Racing Metro.
Meanwhile, De Villiers has failed to find a good option at fullback. Zane Kirchner was ordinary on the 2009 end-of-year tour to Europe, and while he’s produced some determined showings in the 2010 Tri-Nations, it’s clear he’ll never be a factor at Test level.
At 23, Steyn has won a World Cup, a series against the British & Irish Lions, a Tri-Nations crown and a Currie Cup. He’s played 37 times for South Africa, starting 20 Tests. In the matches he’s started, the Boks have won 17 and lost only three. Included in those starting wins are the last six 2007 World Cup Tests, four 2009 Tri-Nations games and the first two Lions fixtures.
You can’t compare Steyn to Kirchner or any other South African fullback option. He has the all-round game the Boks require. His powerful boot has become so vital to the Boks’ line-kicking game, and he’s able to kick those record-breaking penalties from within his own half. As seen by his recent exploits in France, he’s also capable of nailing some outrageous drop-goals from 60m out.
Jake White deployed Steyn at centre in the 2007 World Cup in order to extract value from his formidable stature, but the man also provides a useful running option from the back. While Kirchner lacks attacking incision, Gio Aplon is renowned for those gliding runs from the deep. In comparing Aplon and Steyn, you have to ask whether Aplon’s primary threat trumps Steyn’s all-round value. And can you ignore the fact that despite his age, Steyn has won the big Tests for South Africa and has an overall win ratio of 75%? Obviously not.
Conrad Jantjes recently began his comeback to rugby, and after speaking to him, I don’t think the Boks should expect him to be Test ready until 2011. He suffered a broken leg in May 2009 and is still not completely over his injury. He spoke about this year’s Currie Cup as part of his rehabilitation, and it may be some time before he can go flat out.
Perhaps a strong showing in the 2011 Super 15 will bring Jantjes back into Bok contention, but for the moment, it wouldn’t be fair to consider him and option.
If De Villiers needs to make a rugby decision, he should bring Steyn back for the home leg of the Tri-Nations and pick him for the Grand Slam tour. Steyn’s spent a year in northern conditions and his knowledge thereof will be an asset.
But the relationship between the Bok coach and Steyn has been on the rocks since the player announced his move to France last year. There’s been little communication between the two, and although De Villiers released a statement this May claiming they’d resolved their differences, his claim that Steyn was off the pace and his refusal to pick Steyn for more than one Test speaks volumes.
Three consecutive Tri-Nations defeats, however, could lead to that pride being placed on the shelf. De Villiers is desperate to save face in this tournament, which is now New Zealand’s to lose. He must reinstate South Africa’s best fullback option, and invest in him for next year’s World Cup.
So come on Pete, stop wasting time. Give the kid a call, and show the faith in him that you showed in 2008 and 2009. Think 17 wins from 20 starts. You won’t be disappointed.
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210 Comments
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29 Jul 2010, 15:06 pm
@Mike H(Mike H)-139:
any other houses for sale there.
i need an address like that
29 Jul 2010, 15:07 pm
We all know that politicians are corrupt criminals
and that business leaders are all totally corrupt as well
So tell me why do we not know that SPORT is corrupt
and that referees are paid pimps?
29 Jul 2010, 15:09 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-137:
Do you think they will keep Lambie at 12 or is it just a stop gap move? Was Pienaar not released back to the Sharks or was he just not chosen?
29 Jul 2010, 15:09 pm
@Skiballas(Skiballas1)-149: ag, the conspiracy theories are all a load of nonsense.
the refs were simply poor and inconsistent.
and being home games, nz were favoured.
such is the way of the world.
29 Jul 2010, 15:10 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-147:
Absolutely, little too slow for 15 I think but not much.
Hope he stays at 12 for the Sharks. The sharks backline worked beautifully against the bulls 2 weeks ago, due in no small part to his distribution and the guy is great in defence, very good tackler.
Didnt watch the Puma game so not sure what happened there.
29 Jul 2010, 15:12 pm
@Boksarenumber5(Boksarenumber1)-152: Dude, doesnt matter how crooked the ref is, it isnt his job to tackle the opposition.
29 Jul 2010, 15:14 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-153: stop gap?
how so bill?
we have swannie (who made pg and jdj kak their broeks in the s14 game).
he was there to ease towards playing at 10 according to plum.
29 Jul 2010, 15:15 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-153:
Read my post above, I think with Ludik there, theyll play him at 12 from now.
Will be interesting to see what happens when Swannepoel comes back. I personally think swannie is very limited tho.
The time of the big big crash ball 12 is at an end in SA i think.
Time for the De Jongs and Lambies to stand up. Added bonus is that they both are good defenders as well.
29 Jul 2010, 15:16 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-144: hahahaha are fuking capostagno ranger? He broke the line, but why should be ‘broke the line beautifully’ hehehe
you sharks fans come across as desperate for you players to be world class, stop talking them up stupidly!
29 Jul 2010, 15:20 pm
they also had to make the wallabies win, so that the NZ games doesn’t look like a conspiracy.
29 Jul 2010, 15:22 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-150: with jlp, sharks bound lambie must forget pivot! Unless when jlp is with the Boks, which he will be come eoyt & next year’s incoming tour!
29 Jul 2010, 15:29 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-150: I think selecting a genuinely creative ball player like Lambie at 12 would represent progress on crashing centres like Olivier and De Villiers and provide the Bok backline with more cohesion. If the Boks were short at 10 he could move into the flyhalf position a couple of season down the line like Carter and Wilkinson before him.
@John Galt(John Galt)-155: yeah I only caught the highlights, but there little pop offload out of contact and he spread the play beautifully (sorry trans
) on another occasion, something I’m not used to seeing from SA inside centres.
29 Jul 2010, 15:38 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-157:
Sorry I was asking about Lambie not about Swannie. I think you misunderstood. I think Lambie is a great prospect at 15. Will have to see if he swims between 10,12 and 15.
Howzit bro!
29 Jul 2010, 15:40 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-158:
Size is such a myth in this country mate! I know you think I’m trying to be silly, but nothing grates me more than playing guys 15 this week 12 next and then 10. It may be good for the team but not good for the player. Won’t go on about it, you got my point.
29 Jul 2010, 15:41 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-162:
Afternoon BH – a few weeks ago Lambie was the answer at 15, now 12! Maybe 10 next week? What you think?
29 Jul 2010, 15:44 pm
BEST 15 FOR HOME LEG
15 FRANCE STEYN
14 GIO APLON
13 JAQUE FOURIE
12 JEAN DE VILLIERS
11 BRYAN HABANA
10 BUTCH JAMES
9 RUAN PIENAAR
8 RYAN KANKOWSKI
7 JEAN DEYSEL
6 SCHALCK BURGER
5 ANDRIES BEKKER
4 VICTOR MATFIELD
3 CJ VAN DE LINDE
2 BISMARK DU PLISSIS(will be fit by then)
1 TANDAI “BEAST” MTWARIRA
16 JOHN SMIT
17 JANNIE DU PLISSIS
18 DANIE ROSSOW
19 FRANCIOUS LOWE
20 FRANCIOUS HOUGAARDT
21 MORNE STEYN
22 JP PETERSON
GIVE OR TAKE THAT COULD ONE OF THE BETTER MATCH 22′S
MIXTURE OF PHYSICALITY, PACE, POWER, YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE.
MOST WILL NOT AGREE WITH BUTCH AT 10. BUT GIVE HIM A CHANCE HE IS STILL BETTER AND MORE EXPERIENCED THAN MORNE!!! SAY WHAT WANT. BELIEVE IT. BUTCH IS BACK!!!!
29 Jul 2010, 15:47 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-154:
the refs are corrupt to the hilt
and the Boks are cr@p
29 Jul 2010, 15:47 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-165: well the Sharks have cover at 10 now with Meyer and Potgieter and Ludik/Terblanche can play 15 so 12 might make the most sense if his defence is up to it.
SA have Kirchner, F.Steyn, Joe Pieterson, Aplon as possible full-backs but are lacking a 12 (De Jongh will end up at 13 imo) as Olivier doesn’t look up to it and JDV is getting on so perhaps an EOYT spot beckons in that position.
29 Jul 2010, 15:55 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-129: Ja not saying now but definitely one for the future
29 Jul 2010, 15:57 pm
Ja , JA , Ja. Province
29 Jul 2010, 16:04 pm
If only the coach could swallow his pride ja. Good article this.
29 Jul 2010, 16:06 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-153:
I see Ruan is on the bench. It looks like Lambie is being groomed for 10 by starting at 12. The old Kiwi tactic.
29 Jul 2010, 16:13 pm
Just thinking of what the people in bloem are feeding the boys…look at the current players that hail from the rowwe free state and in contention/close to being in contention for Boks:
Bismarck du Plessis
Adriaan Strauss
Tiaan Liebenberg
Jannie du Plessis
CJ van der Linde
Wian du Preez
Coenie Oosthuizen (watch this boy…he is going to be great)
Flip van der Merwe
Heinrich Brussouw
Deon Stegman
Ruan Pienaar
Frans Steyn
Joe Pietersen
(all Grey boys)
Morne Steyn
(Sand du Plessis)
Juan Smith
(think Bloemfontein Hoerskool)
They breed them well in the States!
29 Jul 2010, 16:14 pm
@David(David)-172:
Why does ruan kick every ball he gets away in hopeless up and unders that go 10 meters?
29 Jul 2010, 16:15 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-166: Bekkers out for the season and Matfield clearly needs a long break but most importantly you need a genuine fetcher, you loose trio wont work against the ABs and Aussies
29 Jul 2010, 16:16 pm
@David(David)-172: Got the right temperament
29 Jul 2010, 16:16 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-166:
Agree…Butch at 10…Frans can kick for posts.
We will run them stukkend!
Wont Fourie miss out though due to suspension (is he missing just the first game?)
Bissy is the best…the business…but think he shouldnt be thrown in so quickly…that was quite a serious injury.
29 Jul 2010, 16:18 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-177:
and bekker out for long time
29 Jul 2010, 16:18 pm
@Boksarenumber5(Boksarenumber1)-174:
Because his forwards are too slow to run any further.
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-173:
Are these all Free State born, or just went to Grey for schooling, do you know?
29 Jul 2010, 16:20 pm
@David(David)-179:
lmao good one
29 Jul 2010, 16:22 pm
Bring our FS back please we beg thee!!!
29 Jul 2010, 16:34 pm
@David(David)-179:
I might be wrong, but here is what I think:
Bissie, Jannie, Fransie Steyn: born in Bethlehem (eastern free state)
Tiaan, CJ, Wian: THINK all of them hail from Bloem, and not boarders at Grey
Brussouw, Ruan Pienaar, Morne, Juan Smith: all Bloem boyes born and bread
Flip van der Merwe: Leeudoring Stad (think thats somewhere in Northern Cape)
Adriaan Strauss (Family farms somewhere, but think he was in Grey all of his schooling)
Joe Pietersen is a surfer boy of note…he didnt like the Bloemfontein that much – this I know for a fact. Went to Grey in grade 10 (his from Margate)
And Coenie Oosthuizen…comes from somewhere up north! Like springs or nigel or the likes…
29 Jul 2010, 16:39 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-182:
Thanks.
29 Jul 2010, 16:41 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-166: why wont add some more shark player’s to the mix while you at it?
surely there is space for lambie,daniel,ludik,mvovo?
by this rate even monty du plonk will wear the green and gold one of these days?
29 Jul 2010, 16:44 pm
@Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-166: why not add some more shark player’s to the mix while you at it?
surely there is space for lambie,daniel,ludik,sykes as the inforcer?
by this rate even monty du plonk will wear the green and gold one of these days if you were the coach,TG?
do yourself a favour next week, watch other teams play too, u’ll be amazed that there is rugby going on if the sharks dont play
29 Jul 2010, 18:17 pm
JC are you deliberately writing on the ignorance or lack of information available to the average rugby supporter or are you just that much of an amateur?
Why not phone Frans, or his agent, and ask him what the real story with his club and club commitments are, and let everyone here know?
29 Jul 2010, 18:23 pm
Frans is a 12, he always was a 12, will continue to be a 12, and will forever be a 12. ALL of his best games have been at 12, then wing, THEN fullback. he is not a complete 15, and does not possess the mentality of a 15. Aside from his booming boot, he doesn’t offer anything else that anyone else couldn’t. Joe Pietersen on the other hand is a fine 15, and easily our best. Unfortunately, we do not possess world class 15′s, not of the ilk of Muiliaina, Dagg, Kearney, etc…
But to play our best and most complete 12 in living memory out of position to mask other deficiencies, as was done last year, is something I don’t agree with.
29 Jul 2010, 18:42 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-187: based on what ? your opinion ,frans steyn in my opinion is the bestfull back in the world by a country mile, his drop kicks and huge boot are so dangerous -and i beg to differ about him being the best 12 i think jdv is our best 12 maybe even the best 12 in world rugby at the moment or best wing …whatever haha
@toe-jam(toe-jam)-185: why get so defensive about it ,again his opinion ,jean deysel has been great in the last two years and the others have been regulars in the springbok setup- oh just a thought on frans louw ,was once a great great fan ,now realise he isnt hard enough to be a blindside flank -doesnt tackle or run as well as deysel smith alberts so on and is not quick enough to be an open side flank-so what is he ?a blindside flank that is good at fetching not chasing ruks that isnt anything special when it comes to ball carrying ,sad to say ,after the italy game i thought we had a real gem in the making ,now just realise he is to slow realy
29 Jul 2010, 18:56 pm
@Alucard(Alucard)-187:best 12 in the country? Better than 2008 SA Player of the Year Jean de Villiers? Even Jake rated Jean waaaaaaay higher than Frans, substantiate!!!!!
@baw(maxed)-188: best foolback in the world “by a country mile” nogal?! Did you read Alucard’s post?
Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Robe Kearney! Are you clueless about these names
29 Jul 2010, 19:05 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-189: i dont rate them as much as i rate frans steyn …out of all of them dag is the only one who realy is top class ,well he has potentiall ,then occonor is the next big thing at fb
but fransie is a great fb ,just becuase he doesnt fall into the running fullback that we are all in awe of right now becuase of mills good runs doesnt meen that he isnt a dam good full back ,maybe even the best in the world ,he is so dangerous in the back 3 ,a points machine and huge defensively- i think it is a sad thing not to recognise how important a huge boot is at the back -why jpp never cut it at fb ! the abs are ready to fall apart once carter falls out of the picture ,game over ,check mate they are screwed -we can praise them now but we know they are a 10th the team they are without the boy wonder ,then we will notice mills terrible kicking instead of his great running …well what i think 
29 Jul 2010, 19:07 pm
@baw(maxed)-190: and sorry i know that is realy hard to read
29 Jul 2010, 19:14 pm
@baw(maxed)-190: israel dagg & o’connor are quicker than fransie, they’re more accurate goalkickers than fransie! They’re better thinkers, tactically and skill wise than fransie! How can Fransie be even close to being the best fullback in the world?
29 Jul 2010, 19:31 pm
As much as I like Steyn this is not an issue about the player, but more the type of player that he is and the edge he gives any team.
Either we need to find a guy that brings a similar edge (not necessarily the same qualities) or we need to bring Steyn back.
Kirchner is a good player, but he does not bring that.
Time to give Aplon and extended run in the home leg I reckon to see what he can do.
If he does not cut it, get boy wonder back for the EOYT
29 Jul 2010, 19:45 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-193: he pissant…here’s a blast from the past i saw the other day
you’re a funny guy 
38. PISSANT :
August 24th, 2006 at 5:07 pm
“Pienaar, who slept in his Springbok kit the
night before his first match for the Boks
against the World XV, doubts he will do the
same tomorrow night. ”
And Jake White sleeps in a Luke Watson
Western Province number 6 jersey before
every match.
29 Jul 2010, 19:47 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-194:
Haha, my god that was long ago…
29 Jul 2010, 19:48 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-195:
Over 5 years on this blog…
**** I am one sad individual…
Must say I enjoyed the reporters of old much more.
29 Jul 2010, 20:10 pm
@baw(maxed)-190: Agree – although I definitely don’t think Frans Steyn is the finished article yet. He is a great distance kicker, potentially an imposing last line of defense (although it still needs a bit of work and bloody-minded attitude), and he is actually pretty good at running back at the defense and usually crosses the gain-line due to his bulk and occasionally takes amazing gaps… And he really has that Xfactor that totally unsettled the All Blacks last year. (Part of the reason why PdV has copped so much flack from the NZ press, I think, is because they think he is a complete fool to have left Frans out!!)
Now if he could only be taught how to draw and pass and be a bit less selfish, we will definitely have a world-class fullback. I am definitely with Cardinelli that he is the best option at fullback for SA at the moment. I really believe that if he gets another season-and-half concentrating on his best position (i.e. fullback) and with good coaching and mentoring he could be one of the best fullbacks in SA history. Just a pity he has won so much so early, it has all come a bit too easy, and I don’t know if he has the stomach or the attitude to grind it out and become the really amazing fullback that he could be….
So -come PdV, please bring him back, I know he has a bit of a childish sulk, but jeepers, he is a good player, and you need to have your best players if you want to beat the AB’s and
Aussies!!!
(Just a little aside – if one could just marry Gio’s incredible attitude, hunger and speed, and Frans’s size, boot and x-factor we would have the most incredible fullback!!!
)
29 Jul 2010, 20:12 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-196: Well I have enjoyed your postings over the years more than the journalists. But I suppose that is the point.
29 Jul 2010, 20:22 pm
This feigning and fawning and gat kruip gat lek crawling all over Frans Steyns overrated @ss is totally unnecessary and uncalled for.
we got plenty enough talented full backs far better at full back play than that self proclaimed rugby god genius.
Viljoen – watch this lad – got more speed and almost the same prolific boot and hardly the groot kop status of Frans Steyn
Joe Pietersen
Aplon
JPP
even Jaque Fourie
or Morne Steyn can play big part at full back.
I’d take Morne out of fly half straight up and play him 15 tomorrow and play a more front foot fly half immediately.
They already missed the boat because both Pienaar and Peter Grant are now gone with the wind, all we left with now is doldrum Steyn and potential JL Potgieter to make into prodigious fly half generals, far too late to read the writing on the wall, it was there for all to see clear as daylight in 2008 now its buried under the ditch. Idiots.
29 Jul 2010, 20:26 pm
@skopskiet(yliad)-199: Thanks for that uplifting post, broe! Surely a bit morbid? Although putting Morne Steyn at fullback isn’t a half bad idea, particularly if PdV is going to continue to ignore Frans for whatever reason. And then Butch or Peter Grant at flyhalf…
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