Enduring Frans Steyn keeps hitting the spot
Vastly experienced Bok utility back plays down talk of another World Cup
Frans Steyn, man of the match in the Springboks’ 23-18 win over Wales in Cardiff, took a philosophical view of his performance on Saturday.
At the age of 34, Steyn, who came on for Damian Willemse after he left the field with a head injury inside the first 20 minutes, knows he has to wrestle Father Time as much as he must fight the opposition.
“I realise this could be my last Test. I wanted to enjoy it and use the opportunities that come my way. Next week I can have a shocker again and that is how rugby works,” Steyn stated matter of factly.
After such a stellar performance the much decorated Steyn, who boasts two Rugby World Cup winners’ medals, found talk of him sticking around for the 2023 edition unavoidable.
“2023 is far away and not in my planning,” said Steyn. “I’m not sure where our path will take us or what is happening at Free State [where he farms and plays domestic rugby]. There are lots of uncertainties.”
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber paid tribute to the man of the match who helped set up the victory in the opening game of their tour of the UK, their first win there since 2013.
Steyn made some valuable contributions including a long-range penalty, but it was mostly the calmness he exuded in atrocious conditions that benefited those around him.
“He has more than 70 Tests,” Nienaber noted. “When it started raining I stood with him and some of the outside-backs and he explained how to catch the ball in weather like that.
“He gave some technical pointers. He’s played a lot of games in this weather. That is the positive that players with experience bring. He is competitive and a team man.”
Jesse Kriel, another experienced campaigner, had a less assured day. His game time has been limited this year and his deployment on the right wing played away from his strengths.
Nienaber, however, sought to highlight the player’s contributions over the build-up week.
“I thought Jesse was outstanding,” said the coach. “If you look at our 13, our 12 and 15 that started, there is a lot that happens in a week’s build-up. You can see with the 49 Tests he’s played there is a lot of work that he does off the field, the analysis that he does. The meetings he has with small groups. The details he goes through, the things his eyes have spotted through 49 Tests. The things that help other players. There is the game but there are five other days where guys have to give input.”
Most pleasing for the Springboks perhaps was their ability to bring to the fore their champion qualities by shifting gears when they need to.
Their forwards gradually gained the upper hand and they shot into the lead through a Malcolm Marx maul try in the 72nd minute.
Nienaber noted its significance. “The maul try was a big thing. Up in the box we said ‘this is probably the game’. Thanks to the forwards for making that one happen.
“People often talk about the contribution of the bench but forget about the poison the starters put into the legs of the opposition. They take energy, like in the mauls. The foundation was laid by the starters and then obviously the guys who come on must utilise their opportunities and kick on. That’s why I always say they work in tandem.”