Back where he belongs
15 May 2012
Frans Steyn will be given the opportunity to take ownership of the Springbok No 12 jersey upon his return to South Africa.
Steyn has only started in 30 of his 47 Tests. Neither of his previous Test coaches has been sure of his best position, as he’s featured at flyhalf, wing, in the centres and fullback. Neither Jake White nor Peter de Villiers started Steyn in one position for more than five consecutive games.
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The good news is that the wild ride is over. There will be no roller-coaster, no uncertainty in 2012. No longer will Steyn’s talent go unappreciated or mismanaged. On the contrary, new Bok coach Heyneke Meyer intends to milk it for all its worth.
‘I don’t want to mess him around by playing him in every position, I want him to settle in one position and build some confidence,’ says Meyer. ‘In a crisis he can play elsewhere, but I believe he can perform a leading role at No 12.’
Meyer goes on to explain exactly why Steyn is such an asset to the Boks, while former Bok fullback Percy Montgomery talks about how a player’s ability to kick the ball further than anybody in the game can ultimately fracture even the most well-organised defence.
Also in the new issue:
Coenie Oosthuizen (page 54)
– Coenie Oosthuizen is a non-conformist who wants to redefine the role of a prop
– Heyeneke Meyer tells SA Rugby magazine why he chose his Bok assistant coaches and what his expectations are of them, while Rassie Erasmus explains his new role as Saru’s high performance general manager
– England restored their pride during the Six Nations but will have to raise their game significantly to beat the Springboks in South Africa, writes Stuart Barnes
– England No 8 Ben Morgan has made the most of his opportunity to play Test rugby
– Owen Farrell‘s path to the top has enabled him to cope with upheaval and stay cool under pressure
– Brad Barritt has turned his attention to the Springboks after making an encouraging start start to his Test career in the Six Nations
Brad Barritt (page 72)
– Siya Kolisi could become an important player for the Boks but shouldn’t be rushed into the Test line-up before he’s absolutely ready
– Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett has made the step up to Super Rugby with consummate ease
– Brumbies openside flank Michael Hooper could become one of the greats of the game
– SA Rugby magazine reviews the top schoolboy Easter rugby festivals held in April
– Having broken their Varsity Cup duck, Tuks want to dominate the tournament for years to come
– The Baby Boks are in a strong position to win the Junior World Championship title on home soil in June
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325 Comments
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15 May 2012, 08:11 am
Home coming Dragon!
The sharks will welcome you back at 12!! Things will be nice and competitive!
15 May 2012, 08:21 am
Frans Steyn is the key factor for the Boks. He was our most outstanding player in the RWC before he was injured.
This kid is going to take the Boks to the top again.
15 May 2012, 08:27 am
Happy to have him back and even happier to see the Meyer wants him at 12!
For the punters, put your money where your mouth is…got 42 keolings signed up so far…
• Winter Tours- SuperBru!
http://www.superbru.com/wintertours/pool.asp?p=281628
Pool name: The Meyer’s first test
Pool code: gullrent
15 May 2012, 08:30 am
while i agree he is an automatic pick i think its also important not to make him start to believe he’s entitled. you must earn your place in the bok team and to do that you must fight for it.
15 May 2012, 08:34 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-4:
You mean like saying Morne WILL be there for the next 4 years? Hehehe he will have to earn it and Lambie and Goosen will make it very hard!
15 May 2012, 08:41 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-5:
i wouldn’t want it any other way…
15 May 2012, 08:48 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-4: fransie os one of the biggest competitors in the team he always fights hard and gives his best. that why jean must go too passive and doesnt offer very much.
15 May 2012, 08:49 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-4: you mean like the Bulls players think they all entitled??
15 May 2012, 08:50 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-2: he should have played 12 from the first test in 2008 ou divvy went wp crazy that year though and jean was one of his favs and it cost us badly.
15 May 2012, 08:52 am
kak keo fransie played 12 all through the world cup in 2007 more tha 5 games. difference is that nobody knew much about fransie in 2006 and 2007 he was so new. peter had the benefit of seeing him in action at 12 but was too kak stupid to select him there. hell he rated that freak adi jacobs better and bobo for a while! laughable stupid here folks.
15 May 2012, 08:59 am
quite right, siya is not the “real deal” like say, nick koster who was born to be a bok or say jaque potgieter – who was at the kings last year – and is at this point being mentioned in bok talk.
meyer, before picking ANY of the up and coming player – marcell coetzee, johan sadie, cj stander, johan goosen etc must make sure they’re “absolutely ready”
15 May 2012, 09:01 am
His no is 12, never ever play him at 10. He was super kak at 10
15 May 2012, 09:02 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-9: yes, jean the SA Player of Year in 2008 cost us badly
go rewind your vhs boet
15 May 2012, 09:03 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-7:
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-8:
we are in agreement, there is no argument here.
@Transformation(Transformation)-11:
notable exception transie,
etzebeth is a springbok…end of…
15 May 2012, 09:06 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-13: yeah in 2008 jean floated a pass that killed the game for us against nz. they scored an intercept try as he threw it wildly on his goaline. he was run over by mortlock for a try and every time he made a break he got turned over. so yeah jean was kak. he did make breaks but that was in a couple of games. sa player of the year means bugger all.
15 May 2012, 09:06 am
@whatever(whatever)-12: fransie is great at 12, he’s played against england, samoa, fiji, tonga, wales, argentina and looked fantastic!
15 May 2012, 09:07 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-11: sadie is the worst centre in super rugby right now.
15 May 2012, 09:13 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-16: fransie is ten times the player jean is. jean is kak outright against anyone. 2010 eoyt? 2005? 2007? 2009 was a doozy. against everyone he played.. italy, scotland, wales, ireland, samoa, england… yep nice perspective from you once again.
15 May 2012, 09:13 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-17: even worse than jordaan?
15 May 2012, 09:15 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-16: also look at how fransie lifts our entire backline. he adds length to out attack with his passing and is very quick in spotting opportunities. faster more mobile than all our other 12s but rock on defence. has that kicking game and can step his defenders as well as run right over them. he offloads awesomely in contact and very assured in everything he does unlike bumble jean.
15 May 2012, 09:15 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-18: what is a “doozy”?
15 May 2012, 09:16 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-19: sadie akes by far the least ground and is weak on defence. he does literally nothing. i think he averages something like 5m run per game and maybe 1 out of 3 tackles. why not just start with 14? at least the bulls wouldnt be kidding themselves that they have another centre on the field.
15 May 2012, 09:17 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-20: he has never done all of this against new zealand, australia & france.
15 May 2012, 09:18 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-21:
15 May 2012, 09:19 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-21: sarcastically saying it was great. he did nothing all year ball in hand and was weak in defending his channel. thanfully habana was the assigned cleaner and drove over jean as he hit the deck so they could actually win the ball back unlike 2008! jean loves to hit an brick wall and flop to ground except when playing really kak 12s which only happened once in the last five years… mccabe but he looks pretty hot right now so he wont have that again.
15 May 2012, 09:19 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-16:
Even Olivier would look great against those teams…
15 May 2012, 09:22 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-19: So tell me JOrdaan is now ****?? bwahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, so typical
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-10: Boet, Jacobs was a decent center and pray tell why is he a freak??? I can tell you Adriaan is one of the most decent guys you could wish to meet in your life, dont get personal because you didnt rate the player, and did he choose himself for the boks??
15 May 2012, 09:22 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-23: he has nothing to prove. he has played against new zealand and australia once each at 13 and upstaged Jean. but the fact is he is far better than jean end of story. youll be eating your words yet again if you want to argue against this very real fact. you play down his opponents but you dont take into account the strength of them. samoa had jean smashed in 2007 and he had no answer, fransie came on a changed that whole game instantly!! argentina were a revelation in 2007 and tonga gave a frikin hard fight as well as fiji. england are a team that have seriously shown up jean every time hes played them so dont bring that one up. thankfully meyer is not so stupid that he would doubt frans.
15 May 2012, 09:24 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-27: jacobs was kak and thats pretty funny coming from a guppie. you guys tossed out your three best centres and had jacobs moered! hahahha. adi coulda just refused selection like floors did. floors didnt want to be a quota so rejected jakes invitation. he did play well when convinced further adi has never had a good test eva!
15 May 2012, 09:25 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-11:
I concur Trans…..
I think in Kolisi’s case, is there is a clutch of up and coming flankers.
We have heavy hitters in Elstadt and Jacques Potgieter.
The hybrid class of CJ Stander, Marcel Coetsee and Siya Kolisi.
Out-and-out fetchers in Brussouw and Stegman.
You’d think that Etsebeth is a shoe-in for national duty, simply because he is the best no.4 lock going around in Saffa. That makes him ready.
Is Siya ready – hell yeah..!!
He is however amongst a clutch of decent flankers.
So should Heyneke select hin, it will be on merit, and nothing else. He would have convinced the Heineken that he’s the front runner of the class, and I for one would have no squables ’bout it
15 May 2012, 09:26 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-26: if he did then hed be better than jean coz jean hasnt looked good against them at all.
15 May 2012, 09:27 am
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-30: kolisi is better than schalk so i say he deserves a bench spot at least. why not?
15 May 2012, 09:30 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-9:
Donkey de Villiers is too one dimensional. Runs straight and that’s his one and only trick. Fourie was the real deal in the centre pairing.
15 May 2012, 09:34 am
I reckon both Marcel Coetzee and Siya Kolisi will be included in the squad for the England tests. And I reckon both of them are ready to start their Bok careers. As is Etsebeth, as is Kitshoff, and as would Goosen have been had he not got himself injured. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
15 May 2012, 09:37 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-29: again your view, and yes i am a guppy supporter as you call them , atleast i dont let my maturity levels drop to ground zero to try make a point, even though i agree 100% with you re Fransie being our best 12 i dont have to insult other people to make or trash a player that is not in here to defend himself
Pretty much sums you up huh??
15 May 2012, 09:45 am
Did anyone watch the Boks/British Lions 1997 game on ESPN Classic last night?
Henry Honnibal was a monster,he changed the way flyhalves played for a while.
He made the game unpredictable and exciting,for awhile.
So where did it all go wrong again.
When Heynekke Meyer introduced our rugby to the Morne Steyn model no 1,Hougaard.,or was it old ginger drop kicks, can’t remember his name,was brought in to play the boring safe Bok/Bulls kick it to death game Meyer so likes.
15 May 2012, 09:55 am
Frans Steyn with the proper mentoring could have been the best 10 we ever had.
If you look at what the Crusader’s/Allblacks are doing with that kid flyhalf playing inside the world’s greatest 10,now that’s how you blood a youngster.
Play him at the highest level give him a chance to shine,but if it doesn’t come off don’t risk everything by throwing him to the wolves.
At any time Carter can step in with the kicking or the 10 duties,but everytime he doesn’t have to that kid grows 10 metres.
You can already see the pressure telling on Jantjies,he will be the next Gaffie/Earl Rose.
Maybe Goosen’s injury was a godsend,he was almost at the point of being expected to rescue the Cheetahs entire season on his own
15 May 2012, 09:59 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-34:
siya kolisi deserves to be a springbok imo and i hope he will never be a political pawn or labelled as such.
15 May 2012, 10:02 am
Is there any confirmation that Steyn will be joining the Sharks???
15 May 2012, 10:05 am
Katman
Why does he deserve to be a Sprinbok,on what evidence 2 games for the Stormers.
Maybe at some stage yes,but now ,your statement is laughable.
Ashley Johnson,now he deserves to be a Bok,chosen on merit.
To even include Kollisi now could only be a token gesture.
15 May 2012, 10:07 am
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-39: Nope
15 May 2012, 10:08 am
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-39: Steyn according to what i have heard will be discused on thursday as his asking rate is way above the norm
15 May 2012, 10:10 am
Thanks Sharks lover… I reckon the Stormers might try break the bank for him then…
15 May 2012, 10:10 am
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-32:
That’s I suppose a nice dillema to have as Boks coach.
Kolisi, Stander and Coetsee has all put their hands up, and has done admirably. We’re blessed to have these youngsters.
In Kolisi’s case – the bloke has been a near constant 80mins player over the last 10 or so weeks, one of the finds no doubt.
15 May 2012, 10:13 am
@mad eye(mad eye)-40: Two games? Have you been hiding under your bed since February?
Pay your DSTV so that your contribution here can be meaningful, or stick to read-only.
15 May 2012, 10:13 am
@mad eye(mad eye)-40: **** , Joe Van Niekerk played for the Boks without playing super rugby ! Many will choose Johan Goosen without a blink on the basis of last years CC and half a season super rugby. Yet pick Kollisi who also played CC last year and even more Super rugby than Goosen by the way and its tokenism ? LOL jaa right !
Kollisi on current form is the best loosie in South Africa in the absence and form of the like of Burger,Duane,Juan Smit,Alberts etc
15 May 2012, 10:14 am
@Pot Blou Gevaar(Pot Blou Gevaar)-44: Exactly. 10 weeks or so. Old Mal-oog here thinks he’s played two games.
15 May 2012, 10:18 am
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-43: they cant afford him either,
no union can, however it depends on SARU, as his asking rate would then be split between SARU and for example the Sharks
This was also said to be the case by B van Zyl when he announced some time ago that they were in negotiations with Fransie
Frnaise has however indicated he would want to return to the Sharks, it does hang in the balance however as per what is negotiated on Thursday with Saru and i suppose the Sharks and fransies agent
15 May 2012, 10:19 am
@mad eye(mad eye)-40:
Kolisi far more consistant than Johnson who blows hot and cold,whichever way the wind blows his afro locks imo.
15 May 2012, 10:21 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-48:
Thing is,is that if he does go back to the sharks he is bound to be shunted around between 12,15 and 10 wherever plum makes his pick of the week.
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