Steyn’s basic instinct
11 Dec 2007
Frans Steyn always backs himself on a rugby field.
There’s a story dating back to Steyn’s days as a schoolboy, writes Clinton van der Berg in the new issue of SA Rugby magazine on sale Wednesday, 12 December. It’s a story that perfectly illustrates the man, and the player, he has become.
He was in grade 11 (standard nine), playing flyhalf for the Grey College 1st XV against traditional rivals Paul Roos, whom they hadn’t beaten for four years. It was one of the big games of 2004. Indeed, Grey’s loose forwards alone were stellar names: Richardt Strauss, Heinrich Brüssouw and Deon Stegmann. Grey trailed for most of the time and were three points adrift with 10 seconds to go. And then, bang, a penalty in front of the Paul Roos posts; chicken feed for a kicker of Steyn’s class.
Instead, the cavalier kid booted a short kick, regathered the ball and sprinted for the corner, colliding with the flag. Grey lost by three points and there was outrage from parents, spectators and even team-mates.
‘Listen,’ he told them, ‘I play to win, not to draw. There’s no honour in drawing or losing.’
Later, he was congratulated by school headmaster Johan Volsteedt for expressing a philosophy he holds to this day.
Read more about Steyn in SA Rugby magazine, on sale 12 December.
Also in the new issue:
– Gary Teichmann on Ryan Kankowski
– Bismarck and Jannie’s brotherly bond
– Jake book extract: How he fell out with Mallett and Solomons in 1998
– Tributes to Os and Smit
– Why the All Blacks must keep on playing attacking rugby
– IRB World Cup analysis: We look at stats that matter
– Currie Cup final review
– Eddie Jones Q&A: “Boks are best I’ve ever coached”
– Mallett: “Saru are incompetent and incapable of doing anything right”
29 Comments
8 Dec 2007, 20:10 pm
drakensteyn……
8 Dec 2007, 20:13 pm
Steyn should play 13 or 15. The kid needs space.
8 Dec 2007, 20:16 pm
no; the backline is most potent with him at 12
8 Dec 2007, 20:18 pm
I am getting to like the idea of the backline selected on a previous thread:
9. FdP
10. Ruan
11. Habanero
12. JdV
13. JF
14. JPP
15. Frans.
Frans and Ruan need to be given the time and space to grow into those positions. Arguably the two most talented backs in SA at the moment to fill two of the most important spots on the rugby field.
8 Dec 2007, 20:30 pm
I think Steyn needs to change his philisophy.
There is more honour in playing for a draw, than being the idiot who loses a game.
Maybe someone should remind him to do his role in a game (S14 final, Tri-Nations vs AB). ‘nuf said.
8 Dec 2007, 20:33 pm
Play Steyn at 12. There will be a new fullback to come.
8 Dec 2007, 20:50 pm
I woulda killed him.
8 Dec 2007, 23:12 pm
#4 that’s my backline of choice too.
Butch, Steyn, Habs… Has anyone mentioned how much better JP has got? We dont have a weak link on the wing anymore – its a pretty decent unit.
8 Dec 2007, 23:26 pm
Mark these words: The persistent SAcan ambivalence and current inability to allow Steyn the space and personal freedom to select and develop in the position of his choice will destroy one of the most talented players to arise from SA or anywhere else for a very long time.
The illness of “fear of failure” has paralysed many a coach and the national insanity that forces some coaches to that position is clearly prevalent in SA (God knows why?) – but beware for the last coach and country to come to a fall because of that policy is Graham Henry and NZ!
Like Mallet and others before him he lost confidence in his stated policy that attacking rugby will win the World Cup. As a result he went driving around the fringes agaiunst France and NZ lost.
Had they had the courage to saty with their attacking format they would have reached the final, presenting SA with an entirely different prospect.
If so the saving grace may very well have been have been the fact that JW saw the light (albeit belatedly) and finally brought Eddie Jones in to add some inventiveness to the SA backline.
In that SA/NZ scenario SA might have been able to counter such and attacking team – but primarily because the very same Steyn gave them an aura of danger and unpredictability on the attack!
Hiding Steyn at fullback and nullifying his ability to confound opposition defenses would simply be a direct shot at SA’s own (iexplicable) feet of clay.
And why? Beacuse of the fear he may take a wrong option – at 20, perhaps a few, at 24 none!
And 24 = Steyn’s age at next World Cup.
Give me strength!
Give me strength!
9 Dec 2007, 02:09 am
Steyn is a center. end of story in my opinion.
World cup 2011
Fdp and Ruan S/h and F/h
Centers Steyn and JF
wing Habana
Only have to find another star like Habana, and a world class full back. Should not be too hard.
9 Dec 2007, 03:26 am
#10 You may not have too wait long for another great fullback. Watch that kid that moved from Griqwas to the Bulls at the end of the CC (can’t remember his name). He has it all and with better exposure and coaching he may bloom to be the next star #15.
9 Dec 2007, 07:40 am
Sounds like a good issue, not sure if we can get it here in NZ
9 Dec 2007, 12:41 pm
Steyn was the best 12 in the tournament, bar perhaps the fijian who moved to 10 against us, but steyn has far more than the fijian in that you have a 12 with a monster boot in addition to a sidestep and a 100kg inside centre that tackles everything. many 12′s nowadays also uses the boot to spectacular effect in Catt, Traille, Giteau, etc. with his sidestep and ability to find space, its what ppl have been crying out for ages.
9 Dec 2007, 19:37 pm
The man has talent, but is fast gaining maturity. I watched the final on tv
for the first time yesterday and the kid actually played it safe and very mature in one or two situations in the game by holding on to the ball. not to mention he was the only bok to break the line besides butch’s regather.
now, back to the above article and his reckless youth lol.
In 2004 he also failed to find touch in the last move of his 1st XV game against Grey High of PE and much like in the S14 final the Grey PE winger went on to score the match winning try against Grey Bloem. I am glad to see he is maturing.
9 Dec 2007, 22:33 pm
Steyn moet 15 speel tot hy geleer het om nie al die goeie balle vir homself te gebruik nie. En op heelagter is daar meer spasie tot sy beskiking. En lyk my almal het al klaar vergeet hoe hy die S14 trofee op ‘n skinkbord aan die Bulls gegee het…
9 Dec 2007, 23:11 pm
King Paul I have to disagree. I agree with Cab he is a 12.
He has the great side step can step inside or outside his man, has the pace, and his kicking at 12 with the opposition backline drawn up, is very usefull. And he will improve as he gets older.
He would be wasted at 15.
And missing a kick to touch was just one error in Super 14 final. What happened with the build up to the try at end of game was not his doing, plus Walsh missed the knock on anyway.
10 Dec 2007, 00:35 am
5 & 7 what are you saying? Are you mad?
That attitude is exactly what is wrong with SA rugby. It really is not about winning & losing, it is about how you play the game.
What is better for rugby? Unquestionably he did the right thing! What a breath of fresh air. You guys should start watching league, you can get all the boredom you want from that game.
Actually quite sad.
10 Dec 2007, 00:39 am
Everyone is writing off Ruan Pienaar. They guy could still become an amazing 10 or 15 for the boks!
10 Dec 2007, 02:59 am
mmmm. it’d be interesting to see if he would’ve done the same in the world cup final!!
I dont rate ruan as a flyhalf or Fullback. He is plainly a scrum half, who can play FH well, but not naturally, he is not robust enough. Steyn is also not a flyhalf, he is centre (12,13) and a FB.
We are going to need to find a flyhalf if we want to play like world champs for the next 4years. Pienaar deserves a chance to show what he has. Hopefully Petoors can stay injury free
10 Dec 2007, 07:57 am
Allways play to win. Only losers play to draw or minimise the damage. It makes him unpredictable and that’s sometimes what we need. If he had scored that try he would have been the hero.
10 Dec 2007, 08:05 am
Pienaar is NOT a fullback and, at the moment, he is a promising flyhalf at best. Yes he may develop into a better 10 but, for me, he seems like the perfect backup to du Preez at scrummie. They play a similar type game.
But that still leaves us with a problem at 10.
Allthough I rate Heyneke as a coach, I’m afraid he will pick Hougaard if he becomes Bok coach.
10 Dec 2007, 09:15 am
The Boks are very lucky to have two young players of the calibre of Steyn and Pienaar coming into maturity.
Have they seen how nice living on the North Shore in Auckland is.
Haha
10 Dec 2007, 10:02 am
#11 Amerifikaner, the kid you are talking about is Zane Kirshner from the Griquas, but he has just signed with the Bulls. He is going to be a great fullback one day. I can see the like’s of Andre Joubert in him!!
Leave Ruan at No 10!!!!!!!!
10 Dec 2007, 10:14 am
#23
I agree!!! i have said from the start that Steyn should play 15 and Ruan should move to 10!!!
10 Dec 2007, 10:52 am
It’s a tricky one. I have always thought Steyn would make one of the most lethal attacking fullbacks – like a more unpredictable Chris Latham. And I’d really like to see what Ruan can do at flyhalf if he’s allowed to settle there. Plus I think we need to have de Villiers in the team – he’s got a feel for the game like no other – and 12 is certainly his best spot. Which is why Jake’s suggested team (as mentioned at 4 above) could be a winner.
But Steyn has also really shone at 12. And I think that guys like Ludik, Kirchner or Jantjes could prove to be the real deal at fullback.
Luckily we have plenty of good options. And we have time. This Super14 is going to be one hell of a Bok trial for a couple of key positions: flyhalf, fullback, no.5 lock (if Matfield goes) and both props.
10 Dec 2007, 12:13 pm
good post katman, but think Ludik is a better wing. He occassionally does an italian roundballer type dive when tackled, which is hopefully overcome tho.
10 Dec 2007, 12:30 pm
not sure if anybody watched the BBC sports personality of 2007 awards ceremony last night. Habana was a guest and did very well. Also walked on stage with the WWE trophy whilst the entire England squad looked on. Good one for the boks
11 Dec 2007, 08:58 am
JDV has to earn his way back into the Springbok side – fate dictated that Frans played 12 and what a difference it made to the Springbok backline – let him stay at 12.
12 Dec 2007, 12:31 pm
“Stew”
Frans Steyn is definitely not all that great..
He doesn’t pass & his “double inside” step is as predictable as tommorrow.. I can’t remember him passing the ball wide once in the Barb. game… everytime he crashed it up & once he kicked a crappy grubber kick.
His Philos. is a clear indication that he is a careless risk taker who will cost the springboks games & in this country it could cost a coach his job.
+ If you are trailing by 3pts a few minutes from full time it means that you are not breaching the opponents’ defence & so running at them would probably result in failure & you’ll be losers. Not taking the draw is indirectly conrtadicting his own philo. as a draw means you are co-loser but also co-winner.. & it still beats being the sole loser which he caused his entire team to be… & I dont wanna hear drawing is like kissing your sister because thats just utter ****, especially if you haven’t beaten a team in 4years.
The oke has a **** attitude which needs to be weeded out immediately… or he’ll soon become
the next hated player in the team.
Finally, Steyn’s difference to the backline was for the worst… Sure he made some breaks here & there but he’s no JDV & sure he’ll get better but for now JdV is & should be our first choice inside center.
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