Boy to man
18 Aug 2011
RYAN VREDE discovers that Frans Steyn has grown up as a player and a person during his time with Racing Métro.
It was in Paris in the World Cup final where a 20-year-old Frans Steyn confirmed his standing as one of the pre-eminent young players on the planet, exhibiting skill and temperament that belied his age. In seven weeks the city had captured his heart, and this would later make it easier for its iconic club, Racing Métro, to capture his signature.
The news of his departure was met with widespread dismay in South Africa. There was a distinct sense in the rugby fraternity that a favourite son had been lost. His advocates slammed the Sharks’ and Springboks’ administrators for meekly conceding defeat in the matter. His detractors pounced, adding mercenary to their list of charges against him.
Neither camp considered the potential benefits of the move. Paris’s aptitude as a foster parent was dismissed. The national discussion centred around why he wanted to leave, when it should have been around why he needed to.
Since Steyn’s emergence in 2006, he had commanded more attention than any player in South Africa. It was obvious, even in his rookie season in 2006, that he was a preternatural Test player, and he hasn’t been an impostor in elevated company since debuting in defeat to Ireland.
Soon every performance was being brutally dissected. Having applied a standard of measurement not befitting a kid whose journey had only just begun, it was somehow deemed acceptable to make an absolute judgement on him after every match.
Escaping the madness must have held a strong appeal, although it would be remiss to ignore the attraction of a reported R8 million- a-year contract, and the incentive of living in one of the world’s great cities during the most impressionable years of his life.
For the more astute, the pain of losing Steyn was somewhat soothed by the knowledge that the Springboks would benefit from the refinement process
he would undergo.
Elite players who have had a stint in Europe have always progressed from a technical perspective. However, former Springbok and Sharks flanker Shaun Sowerby, who spent three years at Paris glamour club Stade Français, says improved technical skills is not the most valuable acquisition in that refinement process.
‘I would place a higher premium on how his experience would have ensured greater emotional maturity,’ he says. ‘I arrived in Paris with a fairly limited view of the world and still plagued by insecurities. But I’m a better man now, with a greater sense of self-awareness.
‘This is due to a couple of factors. You’re in a foreign land for an extended period and you’re forced to cope. The growth that comes from that needs no elaboration. You also meet interesting people who challenge your world view and encourage you to think deeper.
‘Most importantly, you don’t feel suffocated by rugby. I can only assume Frans was feeling this way, given the intense scrutiny he was constantly under in South Africa.
‘Parisians are not obsessed with the sport, unlike every city in South Africa. So unlike back home where it is difficult to develop an identity that is divorced from what you do and the implications that come with that skewed link, you have room to establish a healthier sense of identity.
‘Becoming a better man contributes immeasurably to becoming a better rugby player, which, on the evidence of what I’ve seen when playing against him or watching him on telly, he is.’
Sowerby, however, cautions that Steyn needs to be managed astutely for the Springboks to derive the maximum from him.
‘It would be too simplistic to predict that the Springboks will benefit from this [his refinement] because you have to also consider the influence of the environment created for him at Racing and whether the Boks can replicate that. It’s one that encourages self-expression, and if they [the Springboks] do get it right, like they did in 2007, I suspect he will be hugely influential in New Zealand.’
Steyn isn’t given to moments of deep introspection, but when probed on the issue he admits to feeling like he has left the sometimes impetuous kid in his past.
‘My time in France has been challenging in the sense that I came from a comfort zone into the unknown. I never really suffered from a fear of failure, but it wouldn’t be entirely true if I said I wasn’t very aware of the magnitude of this step.
‘I knew playing in France would improve me as a player, but I probably underestimated what it would do for my personal growth.’
Steyn’s Racing team-mate, former Springbok and Bulls loose forward Jacques Cronjé, offers authoritative insight into his evolution as a player and extols his on-field value.
‘When he arrived there was a lot of expectation on him. He was a World Cup and Tri-Nations winner, but more than that, he had played big roles in those successes. Some clubs recruit players to add depth to the squad. That wasn’t the case with Frans. Everyone here expected him to make a massive difference, and he has delivered,’ Cronjé says.
‘From what I’ve seen, the key to getting the best out of Frans is constant positive reinforcement and not burdening him with too much responsibility. He is your match-winner and you want that to be his only focus on the day.
‘He kicked a 60m drop goal in a match against Clermont last season and the guys were going mad about it in the change room afterwards. He just shrugged his shoulders like that sort of thing is normal. That’s the freak talent he is and it illustrates the self-belief he has.
‘He used to be guilty of trying mad things deep in his half, but he has outgrown that. He has shown the decision-making ability of a mature player. As a coach I would be giving him a pat on the back and saying, “Back yourself to win us the match however you see fit”. Nothing more. That’s how Pierre Berbizier [the Racing coach] deals with him and so did Jake [White, former Springbok coach]. He responds to that.’
Steyn was subjected to public criticism from Springbok coach Peter de Villiers in 2010, with De Villiers arguing that Steyn’s time in France had significantly diluted his potency. That view was given more credibility when Fourie du Preez reiterated it in a recent interview with SA Rugby magazine. ‘Frans is not the player he was,’ he offered.
There was also the suggestion that he had lost his desire to play for the Springboks. Steyn rubbishes both points.
‘I love the Springboks and have never once even been close to ending my international career. I’ve read people say that winning the World Cup at 20 and the Tri-Nations two years later lowered my motivation to continue with the Boks. That’s nonsense. If anything, winning those competitions makes you hungrier to do it again.
‘On the point of playing in the northern hemisphere, yes the pace of the game is generally slower because conditions in winter don’t usually suit an expansive style. But that doesn’t mean the players and teams here don’t possess the skill to play that way. You only need to watch matches between the big sides to know the potential exists when the weather plays its part.
‘To say playing there significantly affects my game isn’t right. Since I’ve played for the Boks as a Racing player I felt like some people were waiting for me to do something wrong so that they could confirm their views.
‘I don’t feel any different, slower, or so on. If anything I feel like a more complete player. Whatever I may lack [initially] in terms of speed and sharpness, I make up for in having better anticipation and vision. I also think my composure under pressure is better than it has been at any stage of my career.’
Sowerby is in no doubt that the Springboks will take a better version of an already formidable player to the World Cup. But amid all the talk of growing up, he also hopes, in some ways, that Steyn never does.
‘Sometimes young players lose an edge when they become better equipped to process the world around them. They lose that fearlessness that made them so dangerous in the first place.
‘I don’t think it will happen with Frans. If he plays with the spirit and freedom of a boy, but the brain and temperament of a man, which is what I’ve seen him do at Racing, boy, the Springboks will have some player on their hands.’
– This article first appeared in the August issue of SA Rugby magazine. The September issue – a 260-page World Cup special – will be on sale from 24 August.
36 Comments
18 Aug 2011, 06:03 am
Overrated Donut Dragon
18 Aug 2011, 06:13 am
He needs to give Warnie a call.
18 Aug 2011, 06:18 am
‘To say playing there significantly affects my game isn’t right. Since I’ve played for the Boks as a Racing player I felt like some people were waiting for me to do something wrong so that they could confirm their views.”
It’s the South African way… it’s disgraceful and the impending comments from the usual suspects below will be the perfect example…
It’s the same South African small-mindedness that saw a small bunch of supporters boo John Smit, the most successful Bok captain of all time and in his last ever test on home soil not too mention the Shark-tank, off the field when he was injured having to fill the gap left by the coaches at TH… after a solid performance at hooker!
Things will never change in the land…
18 Aug 2011, 06:53 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-2:
~~~~~ belly wobble ~~~~
18 Aug 2011, 06:57 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-3:
too true.
As an AB fan, and a Keo blogger, even I got a weird unnatural sensation when Lord Lardy at TH (?) scrummaged the turnover late in the Test at Hamilton’09. The badgering of Smit prior to that test, even then, was disgraceful.
OK, he should have retired immediately, but……..fair dues to the man !
18 Aug 2011, 06:57 am
Look’s like FS has seen an opportunity of taking over Chabal’s role as the “Caveman”. That’s what he looked a bit like last weekend.
18 Aug 2011, 07:42 am
more like a speenvark to a landras beer imo….
18 Aug 2011, 07:49 am
Personal growth?
Ahem.
18 Aug 2011, 08:12 am
well fdp’s right about that, he certainlt isn’t the player he was…especially in the bum,tummy and thigh area.
18 Aug 2011, 08:15 am
frans has grown in more ways than one…
18 Aug 2011, 08:16 am
the south african public and so called rugby supporters do not allow any players to play with the freedom and fearlessness of making mistakes, cos if you do somethign wrong in a Bok jersey, you are crusified. Players seem to be supported and backed more by what they DONT do wrong, instead of what they do right. It takes huge guts and skill to do some of the things that these types of players try and achieve, knowing that if they fail they will be hung out to dry. We have so many players like this in South Africa, who if they felt they had the countries supporters behind them, and not waiting for them to screw up, would be some of the best on the planet. Imagine if Quad Cooper was South African…he would not have last 10 minutes in a South African side. Its taken a cpl of years of support and backing from “informed” coaches to get him where he is today. The SA public wnt the Boks to play like the Aussies and the Kiwis and score 4 tries every game and never lose…..but we dont want to pick players with the ability and skill to do that? When last did we see a Bok player try something with a little X factor to it…and if it didnt work get up and smile and have the attitude of “wow…if that had come off…??” we see this alot from the All blacks and even the reds in super rugby! It shows they are having fun….it shows they are free to express themselves…and it shows in their attitude to the game. The Bok players only ever smile and seem to enjoy things when they have won a game. I know it profesional and i know winning is everything, but these guys need to enjoy themselves and feel supported to truely be the best they can.
18 Aug 2011, 08:17 am
Is he part of the ‘Fat Boys Club’ now?
Can we get an article/interview on why Ruaan Pienaar has been so ****** for the Boks?
18 Aug 2011, 08:28 am
he’s grown his hair and grown his waste-line..
i’ll have to take ryan’s word for it that he’s grown as a man..!!
18 Aug 2011, 08:33 am
Bolski #11.
Agree with your sentiments . Boks play unimaginative , boring bash it up rugby . Plus the up and under . The only time the backs played with flair was when Eddie Jones coached them . With proper direction they can play an expansive game . SA has the players . Just watch those magnificent Cheetahs in the S15 showing the way to play a running , expansive and exciting game.
18 Aug 2011, 08:44 am
What does it matter what his hair look like? Seriously? It’s a very very south african, authoritarian hair-and-nails-inspection-vefore-assembly way of thinking
Yes he’s heavier than he should be but he’s been playing at centre, so obviously he was going to bulk up. Have you seen the size of French club players?
This stupid obsession with him as fullback is also short-sighted (ie he can like to kick de ball far, ne)…we need an able replacement for JDV at 12 and Steyn is it…..unfortunately the SA coaching style (ie do what Oom John and Oom Vic say) is at odds with his club setup (“It’s one that encourages self-expression”). If you as a plkayer had the choice between being allowed to make split second decisions on the field, or having to play domdoos_skopenjag_kak, what would you choose????
As for FDP saying he’s not the player he was LOL….pot calling the kettle black!!! When you go back to being the player YOU were instead of a one-trick-box-kick artist who can’t stop throwing your arms around and yelling at the ref, you can make judgement on other players! Jughead can’t even shoot a zebra properly, lol
The SA way of each poerformance making or breaking your entire reoutation is seriously backward…players learn, evolve, make mistakes…..we so easily forget the moments of brilliance and focus on the negatives, eish….I wonder what Henry or Deans would do with a player like FS. Why are we as a nation always so eager to tear others down?
18 Aug 2011, 08:48 am
@Bolski(Bolski)-11: Yea exactly diude….some people forget it’s a SPORT….not war…..do you also get the feeling tha a lot of the enjoyment has gone out of rugby?? Obviously losing has something to do with that, but hell, I don’t really have that much fun watching it anymore because we aren’t evolving or keeping up with the game
I’ll always support the Boks, but the AB’s are a joy to watch sometime
18 Aug 2011, 08:53 am
the Benni McCarthy of Rugby, all 110kg of him.
the hamstrings don’t lie.
18 Aug 2011, 09:17 am
I’m always amazed at the amount of flak out there fro F Steyn. He could well be a big winner for us next month. Ja he’s big but he’s athletic enough to do well enough with it.
18 Aug 2011, 09:21 am
@Atreides(Atreides)-15: yes the fellow is a 12 now, I’d imagine he’d be pretty difficult to stop with his current physique
18 Aug 2011, 09:24 am
@Marino(Marino)-18: rubbish! frans “athletic” at 110kgs? hehehe
funny guy
18 Aug 2011, 09:25 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-19: he won’t be running anywhere he is too dikgat.
18 Aug 2011, 10:10 am
Typical doos comment by wet pantie @ 1
18 Aug 2011, 13:00 pm
blah blah blah
This bloke is fat at the moment,conditioning is suspect and hasnt been in any kind of reasonable form since 2009.He is speaking about loss of SPEED at bloody 24!!!!! Are you serious??He should be at his peak physically at the moment.
Look at his development as rugby player to that of JP Pietersen who was also a 20yr old at RWC 2007….He has gone the same way Luke McCallister-to a lesser extent but still he isnt at his peak.Never heard all this rubbish of personal growth as a man blah blah blah in NZ when McAllister was below par-which he never fully recovered.
He may be suited to 12 but he will be a route one 12,period.
Overrated.
Happy for him for his personal growth but as a player? regression whether he or his fans wants to admit it or not.32 yr old Mils is more athletic/quicker than Frans….sheesh
18 Aug 2011, 13:20 pm
First off all he hasn’t played since May, so he was a little rusty. second he didn’t get a lot of chances with the ball in hand! Just look at the tackle on Rocky Elsom, he stopped him right in his tracks!
I agree, he should play inside center. What did he do so wrong to piss you people off??? Is it because his hair is to long? Because he weights 110kg? Because he missed a drop from 50+ meters out? He is a solid player, give him the freedom to play his way, he can win any match for the boks! What is it with the speed thing? he doesn’t play wing? And Percy at his final stages wasn’t quick at all!!
I can’t wait for the day he comes through for the boks in a big why and each and every critic is gonna eat his words!!! He is rated just fine!!
18 Aug 2011, 13:56 pm
@Dudeson77(Dudeson77)-24:
Dude its digraceful that you have to compare him to Percy speed wise at 07 WC….Steyn is 24…Percy WAS 33 then full 9 yr difference.Plus he isnt dead eye d*ck like Percy was nor is he is as good a tactical kicker-accuracy.
And yes he is 110kg AND BADLY conditioned one at that.Not like 110 in the SBW/Freaun mould….More like 110kg Tiaan Joubert style.
Give him the freedom to play his way? Fair enough but the same could be said for a lot of players like Gio Aplon for instance who hasnt been given licence to run the ball from the back-just skiop/jag instead of playing to his instinct and how modern 15′s like Mils/Beale/Dagg/Toeava/Foden etc tear defenses to pieces from bad kicks which Aplon is built for.
Steyn is 24 years old and should be at the peak of his powers physically-speed-power and experience wise as he has around 40 tests….
Can u honestly say since his move to France he is the above? Seriously?
18 Aug 2011, 14:01 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-25: steyn is channeling matthais bastareaud
who at 112kg was a phenom in france a couple of years back until his ill-discipline caught up with him.
18 Aug 2011, 15:31 pm
How can you judge him on 50 min performance??? The guy is just rusty, he hasn’t played since may, surely that counts against him? Maybe he isn’t all of the above, but he is certainly not *** kak as everyone says he is!!
18 Aug 2011, 18:42 pm
This guy speaks like a seasoned veteran already. There’s just something about this guy that pisses me off.
2 Sep 2011, 00:26 am
This is ridiculous, Francois Steyn is rubbish. The boy is overweight, slow, has an ability to pass the ball. In 2010 when he played a few trinations games ge was just woeful against both the wallabies and the AB’s. The idea that Steyn is in the mold of serge blanco, Negro diablo, is just too sad to contemplate, Steyn has never been this free flowing rugby player who ignites a backline and offers counter attacking options! Israel Dagg, The Jew, provides a more complete picture at full back. The slow turfs in Europe suit Steyn to a tee, these very same slow surfaces have ensured the girth growth this boy has loaded on tremendously, and let’s not lie to ourselves he’s obese. Without Eddie jones providing him with direction and skills development, Francois Steyn is as interesting as a rugby player as Joe Biden is as a vice president, and no US vice president is that appealing. With all the fanfare that some laud on him the boy has never evidenced himself as the best in his position in the world. I’m still astounded that this furry goat even gets coverage. Shaun sowerby being at best mediocre during his career cannot stand to substantiate the virtues of any player at all. well at the end Carter is offered $8m per year and sonny bill Williams is offered $5m per year to both play in France respectively. The Aura I’m certain will be in the Steyn bracket of income, SA players still need to reach stardom, this idea that these guys hold this considerable appeal for their one dimensional play must come to a stop. Equally, people must sensitize themselves to the fact Europe is the graveyard of premium international players. Personal development and all that nonsense is wonderful but does nothing for a southern hemisphere player who’s looking to get back into international level! Ask mccallister he has become awful, compare this to his game up until 2007.
2 Sep 2011, 00:31 am
Francois Steyn, really, the author is going to be extolling his bloody virtues, I’m at a loss! This guy presents nothing but a scrum cap and many kilo’s of fatty acids. He should return to France and enjoy his R8m per annum.
2 Sep 2011, 00:38 am
This guy is 24 and we are already examining his post mortem, and I’ve provided the perfect rugby eulogy! At his age I’d be expecting to speak of the growth of his game as one would have mentioned of Percy’s development after his stint in wales. No maaan!
2 Sep 2011, 00:41 am
For Fourie du Preez to come out and say Francois Steyn is not worth the old five rand note then that’s all I need to hear!
2 Sep 2011, 00:51 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-32: did FDP REALLy say that about Frans Steyn?
love it, sounds like the ideal statement to build team unity and morale just as you are heading off to a WC..
dissension in the ranks before the tourny begins? this statement has the potential to cause a serious rift within the Bok team..
(Rider: Trans, note the word Potential )
2 Sep 2011, 01:52 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-29: Who Is the Jew?
2 Sep 2011, 03:57 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-30:
” kilo’s of fatty acids” ? Really now?
Your biochemistry is grossly flawed. Not even a refresher course will help you with that non-existent foundation.
6 Sep 2011, 02:48 am
haha @mpundulu(mpundulu)-30: i had a good laugh at the ‘fatty acids’ comment too…wow!
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