Morne to measure up to Matt

Morne to measure up to Matt

7 Aug 2009

Morne Steyn is excited at the prospect of gauging himself against the world’s best flyhalf in Matt Giteau.

With Dan Carter having been out since February and having played just one provincial match last weekend, for the time being Giteau has taken the mantle of the world’s top No 10 in his absence. Week after week in the Super 14 he led the Force with his all-round play, and Giteau will have a similar impact on the Wallabies’ fortunes in the Tri-Nations.

Steyn and Giteau faced one another in the Super 14 at Loftus, but the Bok flyhalf realises this will be a far different occasion.

‘He’s one of the best flyhalves in the world and it will be good to get to measure myself against him,’ Steyn told keo.co.za. ‘It’s a great opportunity all-round to see how I’m going.’

Steyn also measures himself against one of the iconic No 10s in the world game in Jonny Wilkinson.

‘I’ve read Jonny’s books and that inspired me to work hard. The effort and practice he puts in all pays off. He’s dropped one or two important goals against the Aussies before, so hopefully I can do the same,’ he said in reference to the 2003 World Cup final.

‘I haven’t met Jonny before but would love to sometime in future.’

Steyn will start his second consecutive Test as the Boks’ first-choice No 10, but doesn’t feel there is any more pressure now to entrench himself in the team.

‘It’s great for both Ruan [Pienaar] and myself – any competition is good competition,’ he said. ‘I’ve had a dream start to my Test career, but I’m just keeping my feet on the ground.’

Steyn has missed just two attempts at goal out of 20 in his time in a Bok jersey, but he says he won’t stray from the basics that have seen him reach the top.

‘My kicking form started in the Super 14 and every week we’re all working hard with Percy [Montgomery]. Some days it doesn’t go too well, so you stay out there a little longer and work a little harder.

‘You’ve just got to stay calm, stick to the basics, and work hard – I probably kick between 200 and 300 kicks a week.’

By Grant Ball, in Cape Town


40 Comments

  • 1.confuzzed: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 04:28 am

    200 – 300 kicks a week dont seem so that much tbh….

  • 2.SAinNZ: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 04:40 am

    “Steyn has missed just one attempt at goal out of 20 in his time in a Bok jersey”

    I was pretty sure that he had missed two kicks in his test career – one in the third Lions test and one last week against the ABs.

  • 3.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 04:40 am

    #1 confuzzed: Ever done it?

    I’m anxious to see what Morne can do? As well as Ruan in the 2nd half.

  • 4.confuzzed: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 04:49 am

    I played full back so did my share of practiceas back up kicker. Just thought at that level and the amount of time they spend training that it would be a fair bit more tbh….

    But I have nothing to measure it against so I stand to be corrected.

  • 5.Peter Mkata: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 05:09 am

    It is gonna be a cracker on Saturday. The rain must stay away please. Really want to see if PdV’s much publicized ‘playing the situation and thinking players’kind of rugby will manifest itself on Saturday. Signs are there and the Aussies are very street wise and smart.

    Matlock vs Fourie – mouth watering stuff. Cannot wait!!!

  • 6.Skim: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 06:46 am

    #5 Peter Mkata: #5 Peter Mkata: Mortlock vs Fourie, Sharpe vs Botha, Smith vs Brussow…. bring it on!

  • 7.Papercut: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:00 am

    #1 confuzzed: Are you mad? If he works a standard 8 hour day, 5 days a week then 200-300 kicks per week comes down to 5-7.5 kicks per hour. That basically means he’s kicking a ball every 8-12 minutes of the day. And that’s only preparation for match day. That’s an incredible work rate, not least of all because they probably practice for a fair amount less than 8 hours a day on average.

    I’d love to see you do better.

  • 8.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:02 am

    #6 Skim: #5 Peter Mkata: mortlock knows his b!tch is jean de villiers! He won’t bother with mossie, watch him & barnes constantly switch between 12 & 13 the whole match

  • 9.Boelie: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:23 am

    #7 Papercut: Jeez, Lighten up.
    The guy did say he had no real point of reference.
    At a quick view that didn’t sound too much until you do the math.
    If you kick a ball every minute 250 times then you have just over 4 hours worth of kicking. A shitload of kicking but what you’ll expect from a professional.

  • 10.SjamBok: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:25 am

    #5 Peter Mkata: Matlock? Mortlock!

  • 11.SjamBok: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:27 am

    #7 Papercut: Nice nick!

    Now i wish Ruaan Pienaar also did that kind of practice….

  • 12.Dunx: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:45 am

    go go springboks and it is so true too often recently in the past it has only been 1 flyhalf no competition and that is why we haven’t dominated as much where competition is is where there is healthy team players

  • 13.nyerembe: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:49 am

    LMAO!! i thought it was only keo who posts articles from the Business day paper but today they have Gareth’s article….

    Bring on the Ozzies!!!!

  • 14.Boelie: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:56 am

    #11 SjamBok: :)

  • 15.Staal: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 07:59 am

    Morning all,

    it all depend on who gets the quality possession……

  • 16.David: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:07 am

    Hopefully, the good thing about the competition between Morne and Ruan will see both learning from each others strengths and trying to improve that area of their own game in order to retain the top spot.

  • 17.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:22 am

    sorry morné but i fear you’ll come a distent second against gitts and if you’re gonna struggle then so will jdv and jf

  • 18.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:27 am

    sorry morné but i fear you’ll come a distent second against gitts and if you’re gonna struggle then so will jdv and jf expect ruan to be on the park sooner rather then later

  • 19.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:29 am

    sorry morné but gittaue and you are not in the same league and won’t be anytime soon, he’s worlds ahead of you

  • 20.Staal: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:33 am

    stop screaming please

  • 21.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:33 am

    why am i repeating myself?

  • 22.WP_: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:35 am

    #18 st.a.t.w: i think you.re wrong mate, morne will hold his on, and produce a good performance

  • 23.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:37 am

    Giteau is the best running scrumhalf in the world. Pienaar is also a very good runner, pity about his recent kicking form!

  • 24.st.a.t.w: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:41 am

    #22 WP_:
    only time will tell but i doubt it besides kicking most of his goals he has done nothing spectecular and we all know that is what’s keep him in the team

  • 25.Rum And Maple: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 08:52 am

    #23 Lions_Soutie: “Giteau is the best running scrumhalf in the world…”

    Uhm… the last time I saw Giteau play scrumhalf was at the 2007 WC…

  • 26.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 09:14 am

    #25. Lol! Must be Friday

  • 27.dWeePer: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 09:29 am

    Talking about flyhaves, Willem de Waal is out of todays game. WP play Griquas in Kimberley. It is live on TV.

  • 28.newera: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 09:31 am

    #7 Papercut: well in durban accademy sides practice 5 hours a day so …

  • 29.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 09:48 am

    Matt Giteau. worlds best flyhalf my arse!!!!! come on Grant get real go the bokke for tomorrow

    u must have be on the brandy grant

    all matt giteau does is run sideways any clown can do that

  • 30.kevin w: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 09:55 am

    So you have to be from NZ, Aus or currently playing in SA to be the world’s best flyhalf.

    Stephen Jones, Butch, Michalak, Hernandez might disagree

  • 31.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 10:06 am

    ronan o gara isnt so bad either or gavin henson
    lets not forget luke mcalister either he isnt bad or the new oke natal just signed

  • 32.bok1906: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 10:34 am

    #29 klippies101: Currently Giteau has to be the number one 10 in the world… who else is there anyway? He may have had an average game against the blacks first up but you will find very few rugby minds who would agree with you there… This kid can play…

  • 33.lapoftherugbygods: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 11:15 am

    #30 kevin w:

    Stephen Jones, Butch, Michalak, Hernandez are all sitting on the bench. Not on the same planet.

    Giteau and Carter have been consistently the best five eigths over the five years.

    Steyn is extremely accurate but he still hasn’t quite shown the attacking prowess of either those players. He is only starting really. Hes been in great form this year.

    Australians have always enjoyed great 9 and 10s. Its one area of the game where they traditionally excel. Ella Lynagh, Gregan, Farr Jones,Larkin etc

    Giteau is up there as well and follows that great tradition. His ability to threaten the line is his greatest attribute coupled with an educated boot and the passing skills to organize. He has the complete game.

    Carter has had a Roy of the Rovers career . From S14 – tri nations to.Grand Slam success. NZs failure at world cups had more to do with his absence rather than performance on his part.

  • 34.klippies101: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 11:38 am

    i still dont agree matt jsut runs side ways he never goes forward he had the leat line breaks in the super 14 out of all the aussie backline players

  • 35.CenturionShark : Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 12:10 pm

    #30 kevin w:

    Stephen Jones???????? Freddie Mich?????????? Come on mate….

  • 36.Corndog: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 12:41 pm

    IMO Matt is def no.1 flyhalf at the moment. Not sure what Hernandez has done in the last season but he was a contender during the WC.

    Steyn and Ruan both have a very long road to walk before they come close to the Giteau’s, Wilkinson’s and Carter’s of the world.

  • 37.Ratel Brussow : Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 12:45 pm

    #30 kevin w: Pretty much. As for your recommendations, hahahaha

  • 38.Ratel Brussow : Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 12:46 pm

    #36 Corndog: I wouldn’t include Gits in with johnny and DC, he’s definitely a wrung below them at top form. He is the best at the moment though.

  • 39.confuzzed: Reply to this comment
    7 Aug 2009, 13:14 pm

    #7 Papercut: you dont have a life do you?

  • 40.Papercut: Reply to this comment
    8 Aug 2009, 10:08 am

    #39 confuzzed: Way to get your panties in a bunch. Why did you have to go get all personal? I was just pointing out that 300 kicks a week is a lot.

    Also, to the other guy that suggested he kick a ball every minute. Are you for real?

    You guys must chill with the supplements, seems there’s roid rage going around the forums.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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