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Frans Steyn of South Africa kicks a conversion during the international match between Japan and South Africa at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan, September 6 2019. Picture: KOKI NAGAHAMBA/GETTY IMAGES
If it was up to Ruan Pienaar‚ Frans Steyn would be in all the teams he has ever played in.
They were teammates at the start of the latter’s career at the Sharks and more recently at Montpellier, and they will be reunited when Steyn moves back to Bloemfontein later in 2020.
Pienaar believes the Cheetahs will benefit greatly from having a player of Steyn’s stature.
“He has always been an X-factor player and he’s got incredible talent. He has shown this for a long time. He brings experience‚” Pienaar said.
“If I had to pick a team of players that I’ve played with throughout my career his name would be one of the first. He gives everything and he is passionate.”
Pienaar believes Steyn’s move back is all about timing.
“His daughter is getting to an age where she’ll need to go to school. Frans has a farm in the Free State and has a house in Bloemfontein‚” explained Pienaar.
He said in all their years in Europe they never played against each other.
“We played with each other for those two years at Montpellier before I came back. We talk regularly and our wives are good friends. We are looking forward to having the Steyns back in Bloemfontein‚” said Pienaar.
Steyn is certainly an interesting acquisition. Though he turns 33 in May he has retained his boyish exuberance‚ as was evidenced in Japan in 2019 when he collected his second Rugby World Cup medal with the Springboks.
Though he did not play in the Springboks’ crunch World Cup opener against the All Blacks in Yokohama‚ Steyn became an integral part of the match-day squad as the Boks progressed in the tournament.
He started at inside centre against Namibia and Canada but he and Herschel Jantjies were selected as the only backs on the bench for the matches against Italy‚ Japan‚ Wales and England as the Boks rolled out their “Bomb Squad”‚ their forward-heavy bench. Steyn’s versatility meant the Boks could use six forwards as subs.
Though he has stated his desire to be part of a second series against the British and Irish Lions who tour SA in 2021, Steyn is likely to have stiffer competition to get into the team.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Pienaar delighted at Steyn’s return
If it was up to Ruan Pienaar‚ Frans Steyn would be in all the teams he has ever played in.
They were teammates at the start of the latter’s career at the Sharks and more recently at Montpellier, and they will be reunited when Steyn moves back to Bloemfontein later in 2020.
Pienaar believes the Cheetahs will benefit greatly from having a player of Steyn’s stature.
“He has always been an X-factor player and he’s got incredible talent. He has shown this for a long time. He brings experience‚” Pienaar said.
“If I had to pick a team of players that I’ve played with throughout my career his name would be one of the first. He gives everything and he is passionate.”
Pienaar believes Steyn’s move back is all about timing.
“His daughter is getting to an age where she’ll need to go to school. Frans has a farm in the Free State and has a house in Bloemfontein‚” explained Pienaar.
He said in all their years in Europe they never played against each other.
“We played with each other for those two years at Montpellier before I came back. We talk regularly and our wives are good friends. We are looking forward to having the Steyns back in Bloemfontein‚” said Pienaar.
Steyn is certainly an interesting acquisition. Though he turns 33 in May he has retained his boyish exuberance‚ as was evidenced in Japan in 2019 when he collected his second Rugby World Cup medal with the Springboks.
Though he did not play in the Springboks’ crunch World Cup opener against the All Blacks in Yokohama‚ Steyn became an integral part of the match-day squad as the Boks progressed in the tournament.
He started at inside centre against Namibia and Canada but he and Herschel Jantjies were selected as the only backs on the bench for the matches against Italy‚ Japan‚ Wales and England as the Boks rolled out their “Bomb Squad”‚ their forward-heavy bench. Steyn’s versatility meant the Boks could use six forwards as subs.
Though he has stated his desire to be part of a second series against the British and Irish Lions who tour SA in 2021, Steyn is likely to have stiffer competition to get into the team.
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