Supporting Steyn
10 Feb 2009
Frans Steyn needs to be backed. It’s a plea more than a command, and one shared by the vast majority in the South African rugby fraternity.
He is an exceptional talent and has proven this at Super 14 and Test level, where he shone on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup. The fact that he was 20 years old and playing in a position unfamiliar to him bears testament to what a special talent we’ve produced.
However, 2008 saw him dabble in mediocrity. There were outstanding performances, particularly in the Currie Cup, to remind his critics of his class. But there can be no denying that he regressed from the heights of 2007. Mitigating factors there are aplenty, the primary one being the failure of his coaches to settle on a set position for him.
That problem seems to be alleviated, with Sharks coach John Plumtree confirming that Steyn is set for an extended run at inside centre. Now it’s time to back the boy. That’s the rallying cry from SA Rugby magazine’s panel of experts – Alan Solomons, Murray Mexted, Eddie Jones and John Plumtree.
All believe Steyn to be a rare talent capable of dominating the game in a manner few have if he’s given the right support structures, time to settle and freedom to express himself. In the new issue of SA Rugby magazine, on sale Wednesday, they explain what’s gone wrong in the past and plot the way forward for the best young buck to emerge in the past decade.
Also in the new issue:
– A schoolboy sensation for Bishops, Nick Koster was always destined for greatness. Expect him to live up to the hype.
– USA Eagles captain Todd Clever turned down a lucrative offer with a European club to play Super 14 rugby for the Lions. The flanker talks about that crucial decision, learning Afrikaans, his new nickname and what it’s like to live in Johannesburg.
– Meyer Bosman on playing flyhalf for the Cheetahs, the team’s defensive problems, injury setbacks, and what he loves about Bloemfontein.
– Ex-flanker Derick Kuün believes 2009 will be his breakthrough season at hooker.
– New Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder on why his understanding of the team’s culture offsets his lack of coaching experience, whether he’ll be speaking to Robbie Deans during the Super 14, what he will do differently from Deans, the massive loss of Dan Carter and the ELVs.
– When the Queensland Reds poached All Blacks flank Daniel Braid from the Auckland-based Blues, it ushered in a new era of Super Rugby.
– Joe van Niekerk reveals how his playboy lifestyle affected his rugby career and insists he’s not the same person he was 18 months ago. But is this change we can believe in?
– Injury-prone England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has gone from tortured soul to enlightened being with help from mentor Steve Black.
– Wales No 8 Andy Powell wouldn’t be playing rugby today if it wasn’t for Springbok selector Ian McIntosh.
– The budding relationship between the Stormers and English club Saracens is bound to reap mutual benefit in years to come.
– Robert Ebersohn has no regrets about picking sevens over Super Rugby. The 20-year-old explains why he enjoys working with coach Paul Treu, why the Boks will win the Sevens World Cup in Dubai, and his thoughts on South African Mat Turner playing for the England Sevens side.
To subscribe to SA Rugby magazine click on the subs link on keo.co.za or phone (021) 416-0141
796 Comments
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10 Feb 2009, 21:54 pm
# JimT: exactly!
10 Feb 2009, 21:54 pm
# grootblousmile: 742 – What did you say there GBS? I need to know?
10 Feb 2009, 21:54 pm
# carol: cheers princess…xx
10 Feb 2009, 21:55 pm
Look, have to go…
Grant10 you are such a tease….XXXXX
10 Feb 2009, 21:56 pm
# grootblousmile: dont know what that is?
10 Feb 2009, 21:57 pm
Anyways have a good time. Time to say cheers. Go Safa S14 teams…
10 Feb 2009, 21:57 pm
# carol: LOL
10 Feb 2009, 21:59 pm
# carol: love shocking you!
10 Feb 2009, 21:59 pm
# Irish Devil: our team klapped the french…we gonna nail the poms sat as well..
10 Feb 2009, 22:01 pm
# grootblousmile: #730 Het K9 al die pad Kaapstad toe getoer? Hy is mos van Gauteng af
10 Feb 2009, 22:01 pm
# yliad: carstens…jannie du plessis and daniels to start…no botes,beast or j smit…we can take these boys!
10 Feb 2009, 22:01 pm
I can now tell you about an addition to the kama sutra..
ts called the telkom position….you stay inside all day and nobody comes….
10 Feb 2009, 22:02 pm
# carol: 737 – We could but I think we’re already full. A lot of hard cases to be dealt with
10 Feb 2009, 22:03 pm
# gunther: LOL
10 Feb 2009, 22:04 pm
# 760 JL1: K9 & Postman Pat, SuperBul & SuperCow…. all down there on holiday, together.
10 Feb 2009, 22:05 pm
# carol: Cheers Carol, now don’t get all hot & bothered
10 Feb 2009, 22:06 pm
cheers all…another long day tomorrow fighting those predator banks…plonkers got themselves in a knot and dont know how to untangle themselves…like a bloody seagull in a fishing net…flapping around sqwaking and thrashing around…a bit like Naas Botha caught in a loose scrum! See you chaps …
10 Feb 2009, 22:07 pm
# grant10: Tjorts Fly Half !
10 Feb 2009, 22:08 pm
Out of the Blue and into the Black
or out of the Black and into the Blue come Saturday
your guess as good as mine but I reckon Sharkies are gonna cop it,
maybe they bitten off more n they can chew this time round
10 Feb 2009, 22:11 pm
# grootblousmile: # grootblousmile: I need a shrink..I will pass the number onto you… lyk my jou moer is flenters gestrip# grant10: Is Carol a hot chic…loads of flirts…# carol: What you got going on carol…got the guys drooling..Always up for a challenge but there seems to be a bit of a queue lol
10 Feb 2009, 22:13 pm
# gunther: 762 – LOL
10 Feb 2009, 22:14 pm
# grant10: 767 – Cheers Grant10
10 Feb 2009, 22:15 pm
# yliad: Didn’t you also predict that the Scots would beat the Welsh last weekend? With that howler behind you I’m going to take your prediction that the Sharks are “gonna cop it” with a pinch of salt, lol.
10 Feb 2009, 22:18 pm
Cheers friends and flippen muppits !
10 Feb 2009, 22:20 pm
Got to go …cheers all and GBS
10 Feb 2009, 22:20 pm
# wooden spoon:
The Scots prediction was a bit of wishful thinking
but by all means take as many pinches of salt as you like
I still reckon Sharks may very well cop it on Saturday
don’t say I never warned you
10 Feb 2009, 22:23 pm
just read that schalk…6….francois Louw,,,,7…and duane vermeulen …8 to start sat …watson on bench..
10 Feb 2009, 22:23 pm
now outta here!
10 Feb 2009, 22:24 pm
# grant10:
Schalks no No.6, never has been
10 Feb 2009, 22:25 pm
big pack!
10 Feb 2009, 22:26 pm
# yliad: i would have watson at 6…out and out fetcher role…schalk 7 ..vermeulen 8 !
10 Feb 2009, 22:27 pm
cheers skop
10 Feb 2009, 22:27 pm
Yup I reckon Sharks may be well aware they in for a big brawl on Valentines day
Comeuppance Day Feb 14th
10 Feb 2009, 22:28 pm
# grant10:
Agree, they been skirting that issue since 2006
see you Grant, good luck with the banks
10 Feb 2009, 23:02 pm
# yliad: # yliad: Well then I’ll be the first in a long queue to dish up a slice of humble pie come the final whistle.
10 Feb 2009, 23:13 pm
Watson on bench for opener?
Sport24
Stephen Nell
Cape Town. – Duane Vermeulen is believed to have the inside track to start at No 8 ahead of Luke Watson in the Stormers’ Super 14 opener against the Sharks at Newlands on Saturday.
While the Stormers held closed training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, the chances are apparently good that the loose-trio will consist of Schalk Burger, Francois Louw and Vermeulen.
It is anticipated that Watson will be on the bench when coach Rassie Erasmus on Wednesday announces his 22-man squad for the game.
Burger, who will play his 50th game for the Stormers, has apparently shaved off his blonde locks. “He almost looks a little like Wicus Blaauw,” said a team insider.
Vermeulen had an outstanding Super 14 with the Cheetahs last year and signed for Western Province in November. The composition of the Stormers loose-trio is one of the big talking points ahead of the game.
It is believed that Louw has recovered from his injury and Vermeulen did enough in the pre-season to win a place in the starting line-up and by yesterday afternoon there was still no certainty over the back three.
Fijian wing Sireli Naqelevuki is still recovering after injuring his ribs in the warm-up game against Boland. Erasmus said last week he would not expose Naqelevuki to risk.
The Stormers coach has several options, including asking Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes to wear the No 11 jersey. Jantjes struggled with a groin injury in the pre-season, but is expected to be in the Stormers’ 22-man squad. Joe Pietersen and Nick Koster can also play on the wing.
10 Feb 2009, 23:28 pm
Nice new site guys..
10 Feb 2009, 23:41 pm
Yeah, I really like the new site too.
Just the numbers for the post you replied to need to come back, but I’m sure Roy knows this already.
11 Feb 2009, 00:22 am
if steyn is 12 from now on. i’d like to see how he stands up to jdv.
11 Feb 2009, 03:19 am
# wooden spoon: I would like to see more of the comments at once, the color scheme is good, but you lose the thread when you only see 2 or 3 posts at a time.
Hello Spooner.
11 Feb 2009, 03:46 am
# SodaJoe: Suppose the idea is to make it look less clustered but maybe drop some empty space along the side and stretch the comment block will allow us to see more…
Roy, you around?
11 Feb 2009, 03:47 am
# wooden spoon: Woodie, still able to click on the name and jump back to the post….but a number will be good!
11 Feb 2009, 04:10 am
Tasesa Lavea was today given the nod as the Blues’ starting first five-eighth in their Super 14 rugby season-opener against the Western Force in Perth on Friday night.
Lavea, returning to the Auckland-based franchise after two seasons with the Chiefs, gets the No 10 jersey ahead of former Hurricane Jimmy Gopperth.
However, Gopperth is likely to play some part in the match, with new coach Pat Lam indicating that all 22 players named in the squad would get a run because of the heat.
Lam has resisted rushing Josh Blackie into the side, the flanker having joined up with the Blues in Perth after completing two seasons in Japan.
Six of the squad named have yet to play Super rugby — winger Rene Ranger and No 8 Chris Lowrey in the starting 15; and forwards Charlie Faumuina, Dean Budd and Peter Saili, and back Jamie Helleur in the reserves.
Gopperth and fullback Paul Williams, a former Highlander, will be making their first appearances for the Blues.
Blues: Paul Williams, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger, Tasesa Lavea, Taniela Moa, Chris Lowrey, Onosa’i Auva’a, Justin Collins, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain), Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Dean Budd, Peter Saili, Chris Smiley, Jimmy Gopperth, Jamie Helleur.
11 Feb 2009, 04:13 am
the blues look really poor in depth. their backline has had a shuffle with Ice at 13 now. other than the front row the pack looks quite average.
with lavea there trying to direct things i reckon the blues are gonna struggle to finish even mid table.
11 Feb 2009, 05:12 am
Come now Frans… this is your year to turn the tide… and you can start by cutting off those ridiculous looking locks…
11 Feb 2009, 05:33 am
# grant10:
Don’t you watch rugby… Luke Watson is NO fetcher pal… other than a few turnovers many moons ago… he shies away from the breakdown… spending his time in the backline… hence Rassie’s use of him as a ‘utility-link-8′ last year… but now with Vermeulen in the mix… and an excellent 7 in the making in Louw… once all injury free… Watson will be lucky to warm the bench….
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