Supporting Steyn

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.

sar-coverHe 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:

sar-koster– 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.

sar-big-joe– 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.

sar-ebersohn– 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

Pages: « 1 … 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 [15] 16 » Show All

  • 701.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:24 pm

    # carol: 693 – no, you have to vent. That’s why we, your counselors, are here. let it all out, you’ll feel better about it :-)

  • 702.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:24 pm

    # grootblousmile: Good plan, see what K9 is up to…

  • 703.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:25 pm

    # grant10: 698 – So with the blondes deal too you should be cracking open a Windhoek!!

  • 704.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:25 pm

    # carol: goodwill…the more you give the more the universe provides…and the lady needing advice is blonde!!

  • 705.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:25 pm

    # carol: 699 – as an older woman you’re more aware of that than I , he, he :-)

  • 706.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:26 pm

    # JimT: 701- Jim, remember we are English, say it 10 times and compose yourself. We do NOT vent in public!!!

  • 707.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:28 pm

    # carol: 706 – But you are in the privacy of our clinic. It’s ok you can do those things here. Think of it as another form of rehab :-)

  • 708.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:28 pm

    # gunther: thats a fact ! Hope once they squeezed us they open the lending taps…damn difficult when comms squeezed and volumes decimated…double edged sword!

  • 709.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:30 pm

    # carol: she has just got back from her decadent dinner..i think she has already…LOL..she deserves it..a complex transaction and she handled well…with a little bit of help from the CEO…LOL

  • 710.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:31 pm

    # 702 carol: SuperBul, K9, Pietman & Pampoen and Postman Pat are having the party of their lives…

    SuperBul phoned me at 23:20 last night…. the were all on a station or 2 away… singing along with Pietman playing guitar…

    Just received a call from SuperBul again…. seems like they never stopped drinking last night and are going BIGGGGGGGGGGGG tonight !

  • 711.Cuito Carnivale: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:32 pm

    # grootblousmile: I will like to be addressed as El Commandante…but this thing with you and Carol…got my blessings…nice to come here chat up the chics… my missus checks my posts..

  • 712.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:32 pm

    # grootblousmile: they gonna be making a bit of noise at newlands on the weekend!!

  • 713.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:35 pm

    # Cuito Carnivale: 711 – Do you have a bit of a “Track record” there Cuito!!!?
    Does she read your texts too?

  • 714.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:35 pm

    # Cuito Carnivale: i met Deon Kayser once at the Holiday Inns in P E ..very cool guy and a class act…rated him highly..will never forget the robbie fleck tackle!

  • 715.yliad: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:36 pm

    Good Golly Miss Molly
    who let the dogs out

    Lord take this badge off of me
    cause I can’t use it any more

  • 716.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:36 pm

    # grant10: 709 – Good girl your blonde…

    I am having modem problems if I disapear again..

  • 717.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:36 pm

    # carol: Cuban Don Juan…salsa and all that …cool hombre!! [ that may be Mexican ] LOL

  • 718.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:37 pm

    # JimT: 707 – Jim our clinic will be well worth a visit….

  • 719.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:37 pm

    # carol: not my blonde that needed the help…

  • 720.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:38 pm

    # grant10: 717 – who is this cheeky chap, does he not know who I am? :-)

  • 721.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:38 pm

    # 711 Cuito Carnivale: El Nipplenose… thanks man…. we soooo need your blessings to be friends….

    It’s easy for you, pull the plug on little mrs Cuban, let the wind out (carefully, she might fly out the window),fold her up and put her back in the cupboard….

    Then you can come sit here in the corner, nice and quiet and well behaved…. that’s a good choppie !

  • 722.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:39 pm

    it appears j smit on bench and beast to miss out…sharks undercooked…botes also not ready…hier kom n ding!!!!!

  • 723.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:40 pm

    # carol: grant 10 s favorite..favorite,,LOL

  • 724.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:41 pm

    # grootblousmile: that is bloody funny! LOL

  • 725.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:42 pm

    # Cuito Carnivale: 711 – Too bad :-)

  • 726.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:42 pm

    damn…another Originator in distress..back in 5

  • 727.JL1: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:43 pm

    # grootblousmile: Are they in P-Town

  • 728.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:44 pm

    # 724 grant10: That funny little oke needs a funny little answer !

  • 729.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:44 pm

    # carol: 713 – Ah a penetrating question, only a woman could ask :-)

  • 730.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:45 pm

    # 727 JL1: Slaapstad… or to be exact, Franskraal… or is it Gansbaai…

  • 731.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:45 pm

    # carol: 718 – highly recommended, can deal with any condition a patient aspires to :-)

  • 732.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:46 pm

    # grant10: 723 – Just explain that the cuito chap would you?

  • 733.yliad: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:46 pm

    Gonna be a sweet sweet song to sing come knockin on the change room door, could be quite a ringing in their ears when Stormers storm all over the Sharks on Valentines day down at the Newlands victory scoreboard

  • 734.Cuito Carnivale: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:46 pm

    # carol: 711…I am a legend out here….much like the great Fidel…but I was joking about the missus…but she would rather have me looking at porn than sitting on this blog…she thinks I am addicted to controversy…

  • 735.JimT: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:47 pm

    # grant10: 722 – Smit benched? I think I had better check the lineups before I make my picks for Saturday :-(

  • 736.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:47 pm

    jeez…puma is such a cool guy i may even feel sorry for him after we nail the sharks sat…but i will get over it!!

  • 737.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:48 pm

    # JimT: Jim, shall we start to take bookings now?

  • 738.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:49 pm

    # 734 Cuito Carnivale: Hey legend (In you own mind)…. you are addicted to controvercy !!

    Ha bloody haaaaaaaaaaa

  • 739.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:49 pm

    # carol: cuito…carol and i are about to embark on a torrid,passionate affair…leave GBS out of this…3 is a crowd !! LOL

  • 740.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:50 pm

    # grant10: Gorgeous I have to go, may get back later if not I owe you a mail ***

  • 741.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:50 pm

    # yliad: matter of time before egos dented…

  • 742.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:51 pm

    # 739 grant10: Hehehehe

    Kan ek maar poppekas speel ?

  • 743.Irish Devil: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:51 pm

    Hey Hey.

  • 744.carol: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:52 pm

    # grant10: 739 – Blimey – Now the cat is out of the bag.. :-)

  • 745.Irish Devil: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:52 pm

    Must be my aftershave Carol. But hey that is also okay…

  • 746.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:52 pm

    # 743 Irish Devil: Horses eat hay !

    Hoeziettttttt ?

  • 747.Irish Devil: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:52 pm

    # carol: 744 In a hurry

  • 748.yliad: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:53 pm

    my my

  • 749.grant10: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:53 pm

    # Cuito Carnivale: when you attack Frans you make me nuts as well…otherwise you a cool dude!! In my opinion anyway!

  • 750.Irish Devil: Reply to this comment
    10 Feb 2009, 21:53 pm

    # grootblousmile: Sure – its meant for Carol – Times are tough world recession mate. hehehe

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