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, 16:15 pm
# SpringbokSarah:
i’m with you on that one!
10 Feb 2009, 16:16 pm
# SpringbokSarah: lol bekker better help his tight five girl as thats where they gonna get klapped first
10 Feb 2009, 16:16 pm
# SpringbokSarah: Someone earlier on this blog said that Frans looked like Napoleon Dynamite. That was kind of mean.
I do not enjoy Frans Steyn as a player, but his hair has nothing to do with his rugby. He is actually a good looking kid, who prefers his hair in a certain style. So what? His choice surely.
I know you guys are joking around, but still. Talk about his game. His hair is his business.
10 Feb 2009, 16:16 pm
# WP Till I Die:
My head agrees with you
# RedLion:
Bulls by lots more I think. I will be watching Daniel Braid.
10 Feb 2009, 16:18 pm
# ashley: Yup lucky me was the 1st winner and got to go on the field!
Hannes won the 2nd and Ben won the 3rd.
Both “friends” of mine
# Zulusharkess: After sure… but now until Saturday, sorry no.
# RedLion: Well then, watch me scream for the Cheetahs.
10 Feb 2009, 16:19 pm
# hater:
I think that was BlueBlood – I think you can safely ignore him, what with his mysogynystic paranoid delusions about Jonathan Kaplan in a TinkerBelle outfit…
10 Feb 2009, 16:19 pm
Is everyone experiencing random involuntary smilies?
10 Feb 2009, 16:19 pm
# church – like chch but pronounceable: Sorry chch never saw the whole game had so much work to do today and had to go out aswell. Watched as much as I could. Will watch inbetween the rugga on Friday. Just hoping for a NZ win. Your guys can do it. Won 2 already.
Agree its always good to have neutral refs. Hope this experiment in the S14 works aswell. As some saffa refs are going to ref some of our own games. Not so sure if that is a good thing.
10 Feb 2009, 16:21 pm
# WP Till I Die: I must admit, I would love to see Jonathan Kaplan in a tinkerbelle outfit. Ought to be a scream.
10 Feb 2009, 16:22 pm
# church – like chch but pronounceable: Is that a metaphor for are we happy?
10 Feb 2009, 16:22 pm
# Zulusharkess: Jeez where have you been? Have not seen you around for a long time.
Should go to the our Sharkies on Saturday but Stormers wont be a push over. Going to be a huge game.
10 Feb 2009, 16:24 pm
According to the draw on super14 dot com the Highlanders are playing the Bulls in Palmerston North. Given that this is not even the correct island I think that someone is having a laugh so that the Bulls fly to the wrong city and lose by default
10 Feb 2009, 16:24 pm
# ashley: better with me than against me!
# sharks_lover: You’re gonna try to klap us, and the only thing thaty’s gonna hurt is your hand as we are rock ha
rd!
# hater: No that is mean.
I don’t like his fair or his rugby (his eyes are a different story). He really annoys me cos whenever he gets the ball, he always tries holding on to it even when there is this mountain of a man infront of him. And often the Bokke lose the ball in situations like that. I sit their thinking “my word, just pass the damn ball, if somebody else in your team scores a try, it will count in your favour”
10 Feb 2009, 16:24 pm
# hater: I think Jonathan Kaplan in a Tinkerbelle outfit would give my daughter nightmares for a month. (and possibly some players as well)
10 Feb 2009, 16:25 pm
Hey have you guys seen Grant Ball’s picture at the bottom of the page?
10 Feb 2009, 16:25 pm
# church – like chch but pronounceable: no?!?!
10 Feb 2009, 16:26 pm
# hater: yeah shame. Wanna redraw it for him
10 Feb 2009, 16:26 pm
# SpringbokSarah: Totally agree with your assessment on his rugby.
10 Feb 2009, 16:27 pm
# Puma: I reckon the SA refs doing SA games can work well. They have alot of experience with theplayers and are the top guys in the CC. They also interpret the rules in a similar way to the SA players so it could result in very few stoppages and a real spectacle.
10 Feb 2009, 16:27 pm
# Puma: Nice to be missed ! Difficult for me to log on at work, and the site has been having problems while they did the upgrade as you know. Have been following the chat though without being logged on. There have been some hectic debates too that get to be unpleasant and I prefer to avoid those. So, good highveld storm then, we need one here to break the humidity.
10 Feb 2009, 16:27 pm
# Scrumdown: Hahahahahaha! Still it ought to be a good giggle.
10 Feb 2009, 16:28 pm
# hater: What’s he wearing that’s so last season.
10 Feb 2009, 16:29 pm
# Corndog: WP Stripes?
10 Feb 2009, 16:30 pm
# Corndog: 419 – I agree and its going to be great having a good ref reffing our games. Just see so much complaining going to happen from the Nz and Aussie sides. Even if its fair I see a lot of pointing fingers. Not so sure if its going to work. I hope so as I for one really want a great ref for our teams.
10 Feb 2009, 16:31 pm
# SpringbokSarah:
You so are
10 Feb 2009, 16:31 pm
# Corndog: We’re just commenting on this post: “406. WP Till I Die :
February 10th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
# hater:
I think that was BlueBlood – I think you can safely ignore him, what with his mysogynystic paranoid delusions about Jonathan Kaplan in a TinkerBelle outfit…”
By the way, you guys realize the site will not let you log off?
I’ve tried twice. Gonna try again. Bye.
10 Feb 2009, 16:32 pm
# RedLion:394 So you only give 2 away teams a chance?
You don’t think the Blues could catch the Force cold? Their pre-season prearations could have been seriously disrupted by the whole “we don’t like our coach shouting at us” affair.
I also think that if the Sharks “click” they could win by more, but as I said previously, first weekend games are wide open as the adrenalin is pumping, and every player is “up for it”. Lots of games could end up with strange results this weekend.
10 Feb 2009, 16:34 pm
# hater: thank you. His60m drop goal attempts woek on my nerves… and the fact when he’ll miss then 5 minutes later he tries it agian.
When your having a bad day, you don’t make it worse.
But I think that’s all cos he young. Maybe a stint in France would have made him mature a bit.
10 Feb 2009, 16:34 pm
# SpringbokSarah: It looks more a french peasants fishing shirt. Those are light blue stripes.
# Puma: It could be interesting but who are us saffas going to blame if our teams lose in a game where a SA ref is blowing? It’s about time someone else starts to complain about the refs.
10 Feb 2009, 16:34 pm
# WP Till I Die:
now, where did i put that dictionary?
10 Feb 2009, 16:35 pm
# Zulusharkess:420# I hardly ever get involved in the nasty comments. You don’t have to get involved just scroll down. Sometimes its hard to avoid but I normally just scroll down. EASY hahahaha. Its been the upgrade that has been very, very frustrating. Was goint to just stop blogging until it got sorted. Now they have so its great. Just think we need the number back next to the posts we answer too. Think we all should just put it there until it gets sorted. Easy to go back and see what one has said. Also our nicks should be in black bold. Cant find your mates quick. The green does not stand out as much as the yellow either. Otherwise its fine. Just wish they would bring back the one page where we can just scroll down with out having to click show all. Anyway its all good.
Some good rugga coming up now.
10 Feb 2009, 16:35 pm
# church – like chch but pronounceable: What am I?
# Corndog: True.. but when I see blue and white all I can think is, “een, twee, drie, WP!”
10 Feb 2009, 16:35 pm
Jdv has got Steyn in his pocket, right where he wants him.
10 Feb 2009, 16:36 pm
# Scrumdown:
Never underestimate the power of healing crystals but I do admit that the Blues will be strong without Braid
10 Feb 2009, 16:36 pm
# Wezwp:
10 Feb 2009, 16:36 pm
Frans Steyn is the most talented player to hit the world scene in many a year…
there must be a reason why certain clubs are willing to ofeer him the biggest and most lucrative contracts in the history of the game?! but offcourse you other peeps know best…
the rest of you probably support the stormers or bulls and dont know your rugby anyway…
10 Feb 2009, 16:38 pm
# SpringbokSarah: 428 Frans in France? Maybe playing for Racing Cub de France? Commentators nightmare?
Despite his talent, he needs to put some hard yards in to “mature and temper” his game. (IMO) I believe that he really needs a mentor to help bring that talent to fruition. Someone like Andre Joubert comes to mind.
10 Feb 2009, 16:38 pm
Why has Eddie Jones left the Saracens, is it because of the Sa connection? I think he is still bitter by the beating he got from Rassie’s troups.
10 Feb 2009, 16:38 pm
# crikey mate did you see that shark: I’m sorry now that I can’t agree on.
I think: Ruan, Jean have more
10 Feb 2009, 16:39 pm
# SpringbokSarah: Sarah just think of that long range kick he took in the wc final? It went over the posts and after that there was no coming back for England. That sealed the game for us. FS yes, his drops most of the time don’t go over but when they do it can win us games. Remember Newlands in 2007 against the Aussies.
10 Feb 2009, 16:39 pm
# SpringbokSarah: True once the hoops are in your blood it’s difficult to think of anything else.
10 Feb 2009, 16:40 pm
gonna b a very close game
SHARKS by 23
10 Feb 2009, 16:41 pm
# Wezwp: Ja me too hey
# Scrumdown: He needs to grow up. I think if he was taken out of his comfort zone and put in a position where people don’t think he’s all that he would have matured.
But you’re right, he needs a mentor.
10 Feb 2009, 16:41 pm
Steyn is going to be needing all the support in the world against the best inside center in the world.
10 Feb 2009, 16:41 pm
# Puma: 431 – agree with your comments on the site – is it my PC or is it very slow though ? Instead of ‘Show all’ I just press F5 key and it refreshes. As for the nasty comments – I certainly don’t want to get involved so do just move on. But I can’t help feeling uncomfortable with the nasty stuff. Too old for that. Been through it all, and if us oldies can accept the new era, why can’t the rest of them.
10 Feb 2009, 16:42 pm
# crikey mate did you see that shark: I for one just pleased that FS is playing for our Sharkies. Just wait and see him play his best rugga this season after playing in just one position the whole S14. Under Plum too this youngster is going to show a lot of people why so many rate him. He is pure class. No doubts about that.
10 Feb 2009, 16:42 pm
crikey but u guys are a bunch of pathetic whiners…
this guy is probably the biggest rugby talent this country produced in quite a while… sure he has some bad moments and so, but what he has accomplished in his short career, how he had adapted to different positions and opinions etc is a true sign of greatnes… and sorry if it takes a woman to point this out to you.
which other player would have put his hand up like he did in WC 2007 at centre? wynand – whatever! get real an be thankful we have a guy like him in this country…
eish some people..
10 Feb 2009, 16:43 pm
# crikey mate did you see that shark: Nice one. If we can just ensure all our props go down in the first fifteen it will be a fair contest up front in the uncontested scrums.
10 Feb 2009, 16:43 pm
# Wezwp: He walks around with a Brats doll Steyn look alike in his pocket, those with really big hair. I just did not know that they made them in males too.
10 Feb 2009, 16:43 pm
# Puma: Yeah he definately has his moments! But dude, when you miss a 60m dg you don’t attempt a 65m dg 5 min later. He does not seem to be getting that!
# Corndog: You a Stormers supporter?
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