Simple solution to Steyn saga
16 Aug 2010
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says Peter de Villiers should have picked up the phone months ago and spoken directly with the Bok fullback.
Frans Steyn has told South Africans he is prepared to die for his country – on a rugby field that is. Personally I’d much prefer him to want to live for his country – on a rugby field that is. Steyn wouldn’t be worth anything dead.
The Springboks are a better side with a living Steyn at fullback, although there has been little life when it comes to communication between Steyn and Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, who last week publicly questioned Paris-based Steyn’s commitment to playing for his country.
Steyn’s response was by way of the media. He said he wanted to go to the World Cup. He said he was prepared to die on a field for the Springboks. He said in an interview with Rapport newspaper that he hadn’t spoken to De Villiers since a one-off appearance against Wales in Cardiff in June. The only communication was from convener of selectors Peter Jooste a few weeks ago to tell him he would only be considered for the Boks’ Grand Slam tour in November.
Then Steyn was picked for the home Tri-Nations Tests.
Steyn said he called the Bok coach and left a voice message. He hasn’t heard from him again. While Steyn was doing his talking in one Sunday publication, De Villiers was doing his in another and had this to say about Steyn and the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand: ‘Regarding Frans, I haven’t thought that far yet.’
It was the most revealing of responses because De Villiers seems to have thought about everything else in confirming he had already identified his World Cup squad and that there would not be enough time (more than a year) to introduce new players.
De Villiers also had a few other things to say, which I’ll get to, but what I can never understand – and De Villiers is not the exception among rugby coaches – is just why it is so damn difficult for a coach to talk directly to a player.
I can only think the problem is the size of so many coach’s egos. Do they consider it beneath them to be the first to call and is it the responsibility of the player to go on two knees in asking for personal communication?
Players don’t initiate communication with coaches because players don’t select themselves, but no coach can expect loyalty from a player when that coach can’t take the time to speak to the player and uses third parties and the public forum of the media to get across the message.
De Villiers did not want Steyn in his squad, which explains why he hasn’t ‘thought that far yet’ when it comes to Steyn’s World Cup ambitions. The senior players then insisted Steyn get selected, and with De Villiers having sworn allegiance to these senior players he was compelled to reintroduce Steyn to the national squad.
Steyn, in the interim, had got hurt in a pre-season club match and did not make it to South Africa. Now there is doubt over the seriousness of the injury and De Villiers, again publicly, questioned Steyn’s desire and how much the medical opinion can be trusted.
Steyn then fired back that there had been no communication between De Villiers and himself. And so it has continues … everything gets said in the media, but nothing gets said privately.
The situation would have been resolved months ago by one phone call, and if the coach had made the effort and Steyn had still played silly buggers then make it public, but the only thing De Villiers has made public is that he refuses to talk personally to Steyn.
Ideally you’d want a coach who actually wants to talk to one of the best players in the world, but generally when it comes to De Villiers you’d want him to do less talking and more coaching, assuming that he has it in him to actually coach.
And it is an assumption that I make with little conviction after reading De Villiers’ Sunday Times interview with Simnikiwe Xabanisa. His answers lacked reflection and introspection and rugby intelligence.
‘Studying our videos, it’s mind boggling to me why we didn’t win,’ was De Villiers’ response to losing 32-12 and 31-17 to the All Blacks and 30-13 to the Wallabies.
Mindboggling is more appropriate to De Villiers’ refusal to dial a number and tell a player he either wants him in his squad or doesn’t.
What should boggle the mind though is when your teams scores four tries and concedes one and loses. And for purposes of clarity De Villiers’ team scored the one try.
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165 Comments
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16 Aug 2010, 14:37 pm
hmmm…
16 Aug 2010, 14:38 pm
Keo’s mail last week below…is there any consistency i.t.o todays article and his mail???
The only person with that answer is Frans Steyn. It is convenient to knock
Peter de Villiers for his stupidity when it comes to certain ramblings, and
no doubt a lot of damage was done in relation to Steyn when he publicly
criticized Steyn after the Boks? win against Wales in Cardiff and then did
not select him for the June internationals or the away leg of the Tri
Nations.
Steyn?s agent seems to do all the talking and the word in the industry is he
is the biggest problem because it stems from the make-up of Steyn?s club
contract with Racing Metro. If Steyn is not there and away on international
duty he then loses on his remuneration ? and by extension so does his agent.
Steyn makes up for it with match fees for the Boks, but his agent gets
nothing while Steyn is with the Boks. Steyn is the agent?s meal ticket. This
is the word in the industry, and the only person capable of giving the exact
breakdown of what the issue is, is the player. Steyn has conveniently
avoided being the bad guy in this situation. His agent talks; De Villiers
responds and the there is little love between the two of them.
De Villiers says there is no problem between him and Steyn, but opinion on
this within Bok circles is divided and the most commonly held view is that
Steyn does not rate De Villiers, has little respect for his coaching ability
and does not want to play under him.
If this is the case then Steyn must go on record and say so and make
himself unavailable for Bok selection until such time as there is a new
coach, which will be after the 2011 World Cup. It is a player?s right to
chose the environment in which he plays, even though the average supporter
would be disgusted at players being selective about when they play for their
country.
If Steyn does not have the desire to play Test rugby ? and that well may be
the case because he started so young and at 20 years-old had already won a
World Cup medal ? then he must be mature enough to say so. It could be he
needs two years at club level in Europe, without the enormous pressure that
comes with having played for your country at 19, and then returns to Test
rugby rejuvenated at 25 and ready to commit to those pressures for the next
five years.
To get closure on the immediate situation, it is Steyn ? and not De Villiers
? who needs to be doing the talking. The bad guy here is not De Villiers.
The bad guy, by continued silence, is the player every South African
supporter wants to see wearing the Bok No 15 jersey. It is time Steyn spoke
with the same clarity and authority with which he kicks a ball.
16 Aug 2010, 14:41 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-98: OK thats a plain stupid comment from you
good grief do you understand zero about laws and commitments??
dont thumb suck and make up you own little version
he said i am available with the understanding that things were would go through the club that pays his salary
, its a mere 14 days planning
i guess the idiots that run SARU must be as stupid as you because they too cant seem to understand this simple requirement
16 Aug 2010, 14:42 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-100:
Well if the coach didn’t pick him or think he is good enough, shouldn’t he prove on the field he deserves to be there?
Or is his public screeching a passive aggressive ploy to get the coach to butter his properly?
16 Aug 2010, 14:43 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-103:
aaah, yes, the typical KEO.co.za standard for commenting, calling everybody stupid and SARU stupid. Point is, he is not playing and he is making a name for being a problem child.
16 Aug 2010, 14:44 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-97: then you dont understand there is a difference between the rules down south then up north
there is a 14 day prior to match period up north
its pretty simple
fit in with their rules or do not choose the players from up north
again if you dont choose him , dont publicly trash him and question his loyalty
16 Aug 2010, 14:45 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-105: oh BS you made a damn idiotic comment , live with your own stupidity and have the balls to admit it
16 Aug 2010, 14:46 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-106:
I’d rather pick Patrick Lambie or Joe Petersen instead of 50% Steyn.
16 Aug 2010, 14:47 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-50: i commented during the game about how Zane showed up Jantjies consistently in that game
Jantjies still far off his best but the gap was pretty evident
16 Aug 2010, 14:48 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-102: Big HIt eplained earlier that the rules i speak of will change in 2012 , to accomdate the SH players
partly because of the fact that Argintina is joining the 3 nations
to many players from our countries
this meaning it will mean less effort to have players released up north when they have to play for the SH countries
16 Aug 2010, 14:48 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-107:
No, I think you stupid. Stupid Stupid…you live with that hahahahaha, this is fun.
Is that the best comeback…you stupid? What are you 5?
Face it, PDV is going to be there till next year’s world cup. If Steyn wants to be there he should keep quiet, and get a meeting with John, Vic and the coach. As easy as that. Else post world cup, the coach that is picked will see him as a problem child.
16 Aug 2010, 14:49 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-108: thats fine thats ur choice of who you like or dont
that has nothing to do with the fact that the coach has been an idiot in the way he publicly does things
we all have players we like or dislike , no harm in that
16 Aug 2010, 14:50 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-111: no moron ur the one of 4 now piss off ur becoming a bore with your child like attitude
16 Aug 2010, 14:51 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-112:
Calling the coach an idiot is not going to get Frans Steyn in the team. Just like calling your boss or your ceo an idiot will not get you a promotion. So who is actually the idiot here? PDV will have his job at the world cup. Where wil Frans be?
16 Aug 2010, 14:52 pm
i mean…Y MUST we carry on like this for 1 player
Bok team doctor Craig Roberts also confirmed he is yet to receive any information regarding Frans Steyn’s injury. The Racing Metro-based player arrived in South Africa last Thursday after undergoing a scan to assess the seriousness of his leg injury. The results of that scan are yet to be released from the French club.
16 Aug 2010, 14:52 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-113:
No moron, you are 3.
Now you say I’m 2.
16 Aug 2010, 14:53 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-115:
Maybe it is not serious and they don’t want him to play.
16 Aug 2010, 14:55 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-115: i cant believe you guys actualy cant read
they do not have to choose him
papoose its simple dont select him , but then shut your mouth about him , dont come with this is his heart there to play for his country
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-116: and so you maturity levels hit new lows , grow up kid
16 Aug 2010, 14:57 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-106: i understand there’s a difference
i do however admonish the vitriol being spewed because “we should’ve sent the request ages ago”
14 days is a LONG time in rugby
“PdV should’ve called Steyn months ago”
WTC
as Adi said @ 47 ‘JDV called the coach to inform him , his coming back.
Why should the coach phone players to ask them to play for the boks.’
16 Aug 2010, 14:58 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-118:
No you grow up, since you think that calling people stupid negates their points, valid or not. So, I think you need to grow up, seriously.
16 Aug 2010, 14:59 pm
as @RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-117: but this is the same thing that happens in soccer with club versus country
we deplore PdV for saying things like “i would like to see the medical report myself”
even the Springbok team doctor hasnt seen the report
16 Aug 2010, 15:00 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-119:
Exactly my point. What Frans Steyn is saying to the rest of the team that made their commitment to SA is; Look I’ve got my millions you idiots, now pick me or I will tell the media.
16 Aug 2010, 15:03 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-119: because a player does not select himself
read the ariticle, Steyn sms’d the coach as he did not answer when phoned
whether 14 days is long or not is irrelivent
its the laws up north as untill its changed ion 2012 its how it has to be
the coach did not even reply to the sms
come now mate surely this is not difficult to understand
, head selector informed steyn he will not be required to play for the boks till EOYT
just to suddenly find out he has been selected , but again his club who pays his salary has not been contacted for his release as per the required needs of clubs up north
16 Aug 2010, 15:04 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-120: ffs kid move on
16 Aug 2010, 15:09 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-118:
How can he shut up about Steyn when all the journos at every press conference ask him about the “saviour” of the Springbok rugby who has a powerful pysche (I know I sound like Transie
) which he will use against 3N opposition but just could not bring it against Wales?!! 
16 Aug 2010, 15:10 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-124:
ffs YOU move on
SO if he is so wanting to die for SA a club contract wouldn’t scare him right?
So let me get this straight: if you don’t get picked for the team, didn’t get a reply from the coach and the team didn’t protest your omission, then what you do is make a public statement? Yeah those are the kinda Boks we want.
16 Aug 2010, 15:10 pm
Hmmm – opinion is divided on Frans Steyn and those in favour of his inclusion side with his version of events and those opposed to his inclusion take on the problem child mantle.
I fall in the latter category. I just think that he made a bad career move to go to Racing Metro in the first place. If he is prepared to die for his country, he should have made the decision to play locally in order to prevent any problems with his selection for the Boks.
Yes, everyone will ramble on about it being a professional sport etc, but there are stacks of youngsters who, out of loyalty to their country, do not accept lucrative offers from Europe because they know the chance of being selected for national duty is greater while playing in local competitions
The truth is:
1. Steyn is in the majority of people’s Bok teams based on reputation alone
2. The game has evolved in leaps and bounds in the SH – Steyn has no experience of this evolution
3. It is still, officially, SARU’s policy to not select overseas based players.
PdV said that he will give preference to players who play in SA. He was true to his word by not discarding a mediocre Wynand Olivier for JDV and now he will not just include Butch for Morne – even though I think the latter needs a rest.
I think it is quite rich of Steyn to now plaster his loyalty to SA and the Boks all over the Rapport’s cover page.
Where do rumours originate that he does not like PDV and does not want to play under him? Who the hell does he think he is? If FDP, Vic and JS are willing to play under PDV why should he think that he is above PDV’s coaching?
He is a bad apple and the Sharks should be very relieved that he is gone. They have unearthed a far greater talent in Lambie because of Steyn’s absence.
16 Aug 2010, 15:11 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-125:
I sincerely hope he never loses form or misses a drop from 50m else he’d look like the biggest idiot ever.
16 Aug 2010, 15:11 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-125: lol oracle
i guess it is hard :sigh:
16 Aug 2010, 15:15 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-127:
Very good point. How much will Steyn’s boot count now besides giving balls back to the opposition. Has he learnt to pass yet?
16 Aug 2010, 15:21 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-123:
Maybe the sms went something like this:
“Bon Jour, Piet. My agent says I must sms you to tell you that the ZAR is stronger against the EURO so I can fit a couple of games in for the Boks in the 3N. I tried to ‘phone you, but my airtime ran out…to be continued”
The three biggest lies in the world:
1. The cheque is in the mail
2. I won’t come in your mouth
3. I phoned but only got your voice mail
16 Aug 2010, 15:25 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-130: Listen, a flyhalf who plays for the BAABAAS and kicks every ball away proves to me that passing is and never will be high on his priority list. You know, Frans Steyn cannot shine when he gives the ball to someone else, now can he? That is why he plays for a second division club in France because he will have more opportunities to shine. And they want to play him at 12 for the Boks? The mind boggles
16 Aug 2010, 15:40 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-132: Racing Metro are a top division French club, finished in the top 6 last season. Chabal plays at No.8 for them and Juan Hernandez has signed for them too.
16 Aug 2010, 15:43 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-129: Look no one is saying Frans is not talented because he is. All some are saying is that he will have to prove himself (when selected EOYT) that he is still the force he used to be. He is young and I have no doubt he can regain form again (by form I mean SH playing style form).
Obviously I have not seen him play lately to judge his fitness/form but then again neither have those who are calling for him to be in the starting line up!!
ahead of Zane who plays week in week out nogal!
Mind boggling I say!
16 Aug 2010, 15:46 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-131:
16 Aug 2010, 16:11 pm
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-133: amazingb how some cannot understand english boet
they cannot understand it has nothing to do with , is steyn on form or good enough
but how Saru and our coach do not do things accoring to protocol
all they can get in their minds is the dislike for him
pretty sad when ones mind cant think straight or a simple language cannot be understood
16 Aug 2010, 16:12 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-131: LOL
hjahahahaha
i’ve never laughed SO HARD
The three biggest lies in the world:
2. I won’t come in your mouth
WHAT is wrong with you
i’m still laughing!!!
16 Aug 2010, 16:28 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-102: journalists are similar to prostitutes – especially mark keohane. He panders to the highest bidder. One day he is slating Jake White saying Jake is a clown, the next he is having coffee with Jake and his floozie in Paris before the RWC final. *****!!!
16 Aug 2010, 16:35 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-138:
Hahahaha, true, how about Keo’s lobbying to be a Boots and All presenter, saying they don’t have anything to add.
16 Aug 2010, 16:41 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-137: Gone for tests and spent three weeks in an assylum and they still don’t know what is wrong with me. I am currently under house arrest and was released into my 9-year-old son’s care.
I take tablets, but I must have taken them upside down this morning because it had a nasty effect on me. They say the damage is not permanent and I may walk again before Christmas if I stick to the physio regime.
The only symptom that they cannot control with medication is my tendency to talk absolute tripe when I read stories of players with inflated ego’s and who use the press to wash their dirty laundry.
And they are thick enough to use the Rapport – I would not wipe my backside with that paper because the collective lack of intelligence of their reporters will suck my brains out through my *** through the process of osmosis.
16 Aug 2010, 16:41 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-139: Dude, without Darryn, and not even he blows my hair back, that show is so sad.
They need a character to spice it up! Seriously! When Matt Pearce and Bob Skinstad sit there and yack their usual nonsense with Owen not adding much, it just gets boring.
One starts counting the minutes to the Rugby Club segment, or to Reunion for some “QUESTIONS”.
16 Aug 2010, 16:42 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-136:
Man have you got vasbyt in explaining something that needs no further explanation.
16 Aug 2010, 16:43 pm
@Couchcoach(GI POT)-140: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. :LOL: You are on a roll!
16 Aug 2010, 16:50 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-141: Yeah, don’t even bother to watch it anymore. Typical SA mentality – they are not willing to ask the hard questions. Except for John Robbie, but I think he ruffles too many feathers because I have not seen him on the show recently – but then again I don’t watch it so I would not know.
We need someone like Zandberg Jansen of old who is not afraid to say things as he sees them and calls a spade a shovel
16 Aug 2010, 18:09 pm
@SuperStirrer(SuperStirrer)-142: well i am a patient person
16 Aug 2010, 18:20 pm
See Zane is out injured. So Aplon will start. Have no problem there would have wanted Aplon ahead of Zane. Now we in a bit poo though. Who to cover?
We should have sorted this Frans Steyn issue out from the start. Why has it taken Saru so long to get the paper work done?
JPP will have to cover if Aplon gets injured.
16 Aug 2010, 18:23 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-145: Sharky that section of the Tribune I wanted to scan for you. Could not do it. Came out a blur. Tried to see if I could pick it up on the net but nothing. Sorry about that.
See Zane is out injured too now. Read rugby365. Just hope they don’t bring back Conrad. That would be a mistake. Would just let JPP cover for Aplon this week if he got injured. Then wait to have Frans in the team for the two Oz games.
16 Aug 2010, 18:25 pm
@Puma(Puma)-147: hiyas puma bro
thanks np mate
yeah all we can do is wait and see
email me boet so i have ur email
16 Aug 2010, 18:27 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-148: is it not sad to see on sharks world how the most of the so call sharks supports have now turned against cockott??
i mean he loses a bit of form and the hate starts
seriously sharks have some very fickle supporters
16 Aug 2010, 18:29 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-148: Will do Sharky. Just wish you could have read that article. Would have put your posts here in perspective. We need Steyn back pronto mate.
See Dewald has got whiplash fromt he game on Saturday. So don’t expect him to start this Saturday maybe on the bench. Will probably see Louw start at 6 now. Well hope so and not Burger. Burger must start at 8, Juan 7 and Louw or Potties at 6 if Potties is over the whiplash. He never trained today.
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