‘Frans a big boost for Boks’
17 Aug 2012
Jean de Villiers says Frans Steyn’s return to the Springbok line-up will give the team much-needed grunt in their Rugby Championship opener against Argentina.
The Springboks started their new era under Heyneke Meyer with a 2-0 Test series triumph over England in June. Their displays were inconsistent over the three Tests, with the Boks dominating the tourists but also showing vulnerabilities which allowed the Poms to get back into the contest.
The third clash in PE was their most disappointing performance as it ended in a 14-14 stalemate. This fixture was played without inside centre Frans Steyn, who was a main source of momentum in the backline. He proved to be a massive loss at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as he was unavailable for selection because he got married that weekend.
With Steyn returning to the midfield to play his 50th Test, Springbok captain De Villiers expects his centre partner to make a big impact against the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday – especially with his strong ball carrying abilities, resilient guard on defence and big boot.
‘Frans is a big boost for us,’ De Villiers told keo.co.za. ‘Wynand Olivier did a good job as his replacement during the Test in PE, but Frans will offer a lot this weekend. With it being his 50th Test cap, I’m sure the whole team wants to make it a match to remember. And with Argentina pumped up for their Rugby Championship debut, this will be an exciting match-up.
‘We were very happy with the way we played during the first half of the second Test. We let ourselves down in the third one. But we have the opportunity to rectify things this weekend.’
De Villiers added that the extra preparation time the Boks received after Super Rugby has been a big advantage. Especially considering they only had several days to prepare for the June Test series.
‘We had a good two weeks of preparation, and that will make a huge difference,’ said De Villiers. ‘The Sharks players have also been very well managed since arriving after the Super Rugby final.
‘We faced several challenges ahead of the series against England. I was appointed at a late stage and we only had about three training sessions before the first Test. But now the squad feels more as a team and we are heading in the right direction together. Here’s hoping we can put together a strong performance for the full 80 minutes.’
By Gareth Duncan, in Cape Town
9 Comments
17 Aug 2012, 15:54 pm
Welcome back tothe dragon’s lair
17 Aug 2012, 17:22 pm
@TooMuchRugby-1: One of the Biggest Dragons is back!
Vuilgebooste Dragon Frans! maak skade en skop skepskoppe tot hulle huil
17 Aug 2012, 17:51 pm
The Rich man’s SBW!!!
17 Aug 2012, 18:47 pm
Frans Steyn is overrated as a centre in SA and the sooner he moves to no 15 the better.
17 Aug 2012, 19:12 pm
One of, if not, the world’s best 12. Hasn’t had a lot of recent game time but the Argentina fixtures will allow him to play himself into form.
17 Aug 2012, 21:27 pm
Yep Big Hit is right – he’s massive at 12 -meyers masterstroke
not so sure about Tarzan lord of gaystroke tho.
18 Aug 2012, 10:33 am
Biggest problem in this backline is the captain himself…..
JdV has always been hopelessly overrated….and is now a mere shadow of his overrated previous self. If you compare him to the likes of Jordaan and Whitehead….and soon the upcoming Serfontein and Small-Smith…..he’s a dinosaur and needs to pack his bags and bugger off into the realms of extinction.
Hopefully next season we’ll have a complete Super15 season with Frans Steyn running inside of Jordaan and Whitehead…..and they’ll prove to be best 3 center combo in SA…..and than we can forget about rubbish like De Jong and pension off De Villiers…..
A season more and I think the likes of Small-Smith and Serfontein would be coming through…..and THEN our midfield will be looking strong. Of course this all depends on whether our conservative plank of a head coach will actually start to use this young talent coming through…..or will stick to his “experienced” geriatrics?
A ****** with “experience”….is still a ******…………..
18 Aug 2012, 10:34 am
******* = m.onkey……and that;s a REALLY bad word now? Seriously?
18 Aug 2012, 13:21 pm
I am 100% behind Frans Steyn, and an avid Sharks supporter, but feel that Frans Steyn’s heart is not in SA rugby anymore.
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