That’s right, guys. There’s a lot of noise right now about Frans Steyn trying to pull every trick in the book to get out of his Sharks contract early. Apparently some or other French club is prepared to throw a bazillion Euros his way and all he wants is to get the hell out of Durban as fast as he can. Of course, it’s all rumour and conjecture at this point but if it’s true, I say let him go.
Steyn is a youngster of undoubted talent and potential – that much is true. What is also, unavoidably, true is that one can count his truly outstanding Sharks performances over three seasons on the fingers of one hand. The Afrikaners have a saying – “vroeg ryp, vroeg vrot” which basically translates to “ripe too soon, rotten soon after” and I feel this applies to Steyn in buckets. He has tasted too much success too early and doesn’t honestly believe that he has anything more to learn. Being part of a World Cup winning team at the age of 19 has got to have an effect on any player and there appears to be a definite sense of ennui in Steyn’s play ever since reaching that great height in 2007.
He has been, on average, poor in 2008, at times touching on woeful, as he did in his ill-fated outing at flyhalf for the Barbarians earlier this month. He looks a player devoid of ideas, devoid of coaching and simply coasting based on past achievements and a natural ability that will tempt most selectors to close their eyes and pick him, regardless of current form. He has been exposed as far too slow in everything that he does to be considered a flyhalf option, yet he steadfastly insists that he only wants to play in that position.
In short, Frans Steyn in 2009 is going to be a nightmare, as he needs to essentially go back to square one to rebuild what looked like a very promising career a year ago. He has risen too far, too fast and faces a painful fall back to earth, which will come next season, mark my words. I have a fair amount of faith in John Plumtree’s ability to rebuild Steyn and turn him into something useful, but without the player’s buy-in, it will all come to naught. Problem is Steyn has an absolutely unshakable confidence in his own abilities and it’s doubtful that he himself believes that he needs any help or guidance whatsoever. If this is indeed the case, then not a bloody thing that Plumtree, Chris Boyd, Rudi Straueli or anybody else says is going to make a bugger of difference to him in the near term because he simply won’t listen to it.
So my advice to the Sharks would be to flog him as soon as possible, while his market value still reflects his 2007 exploits. Make a quick profit and use it to develop other options, because if he keeps going the way he is, Frans Steyn ain’t going to worth a hell of a lot to anyone by the time 2010 rolls around.
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Nice work Robo,agree with u.
Well said Rob. I totally agree. I remember reading an article in sa rugby where one of his previous coaches (age group level) told of a young Frans who in the last few minutes of a school game decided to rather take a quick tap and go for the win instead of taking the 3 points on offer which would have drawn the game. Needless to say most of the parents of his teammates at grey were fuming!
Oops, forgot to mention they lost the game. 🙄
@wpw (Comment 2) : I gather he’s always been a bit of an acquired taste
leaves a bit of a hole in the squad if he does go, though. Suddenly we’re down to Adrian Jacobs as our only really good twelve
U guys can always sign wynand frm the Bulls. I reckon he will fit in quite well with all the other metrosexuals in ur squad. Lol
@wpw (Comment 6) : pot calling the kettle black
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Swanepoel? Waylon perhaps to come back to 13?
A lot of other Sharks supporters shares ur views Rob, but shyte, I think that he stil has a lot to offer if his head can be turned. What I’ve heard, is that he is quite the rebel in the Sharks outfit. Partying a lot and smokes like a chimney. I’m probably just hoping for the impossible to happen (that he becomes humble and a team player). Eish!
I agree with the principle of the article but that is where it stops I’m afraid.
Steyn has been stuffed around almost the entire 2007 S14 season by playing everywhere except where he was part of the RWC winning side at 12. All that to make space for Brad Barritt who then turned around and said “Thank you very much but I prefer playing in the mud”
Steyn will be (F&&K I HOPE SO) the 1st choice 12 at the Sharks this season and will then silence a lot of his critics with his play.
I say “with his play”, because I am a critic of his behaviour and think that he will only behave like an adult when he is quite a few years older.
@Baldrick (Comment 8) :
Nooooooooooooooooooooooo 🙂
Adi Jacobs played at 13 in EVERY test he started this year, and there were a lot of them, please don’t suggest that he move to 12.
Please let’s play the guys where they play for the Boks. (If they are the first choice Bok in that position)
Ruan at 10
John at 3
Adi at 13
Bismarck at 2
Steyn is going to be one of the best inside centres in the Super 14.
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 12) : Not if he’s smoking and drinking!
sharks backline
stefan
odwa
adi
steyn
jpp
ruan
cockott
reserves
murray
swanepoel
nel
mcleod
my only concern is if there is injuries what backup do we have??
i believe we are very thin in the backline
uhm rob you were the same fella that said ruan should go
??? me thinks you will be eating ur words again 😆 or is it typo’s?? 😆
I am not sure why i missed it earlier or if it has been said anywhere else even, but I have just seen Plumtree’s comments from the Sharks breakfast at the ICC on Ruan and Steyn. 👿
Essentially he will rotate Ruan and Kockott at 9 and frans Steyn has many attributes that Plumtree wants in a 10. blah blah blah blah boiling down to Frans will probably be our #10 for the S14. 👿 👿
There goes any chance we had of winning the S14. 👿 👿
Steyn has been stuffed around after RWC 2007 as KSA said. And with so many other players having a ‘down’/bad/quiet season/s somewhere in their careers, it would also be harsh to judge Steyn on just the 2008 season. By the way, when is Barritt going to feature in Saracens’ starting 22? Hav’nt seen him yet.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 17) : you ain’t been watching, in that case
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 17) :
Good question that. When Farrell was the starting 12 i thought Barritt would be the back up, but now Farrell is on the bench and Barritt is not in the 22 at all.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 17) :
Of the 5 matches for which he has been available to Saracens since departing SA, today was the 1st time he has not made the match 22.
I thought he was the 2nd in line to Farrell but now that Farrell is on the bench Barrit has moved off the bench. ❓ ❓
@sharks_lover (Comment 14) : which Nel is that?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : maybe injured?
@robdylan (Comment 22) : I also wonder if Farrell is maybe nursing an injury, coz Powell who has been at 13 quite a bit, played at 12 today.
Strange, but whatever it is it gave Eddy Jones another win and robbed me of an SB point. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 21) : 😐
nel is the falcons flyhalf that moved to the sharks
unless i have the name wrong??
len olivier?? lol guess i got the names mixed
sorry
sorry I know this is off topic..but did anyone watch the cricket..what an incredible day it has been for SA, Duimny and Steyn..well worth staying up for..gonna be shattered today.
Have to say a year ago I would not be caught dead watching test cricket..the performance by SA over the season have swung me into it and now I can’t get enough of test cricket.
Well Done biff and the boys!
Its always good to stick it to the aussies.
as sad as it is, i agree. Steyn needs to get back to earth. He has moments of brilliance but he screws up more often than not. If he goes ill miss him in black n white, but time heals lol
@sharks_lover (Comment 15) : If Rob did indeed ask for Ruan to go, he’s clearly delusional!
@jarsonx (Comment 27) : What do you mean, he scored 76 against OZ?????
@Baldrick (Comment 29) :
You beat to that comment. 😆
see i think of things differently
to me when you have stars like ruan and steyn , do go through hell to keep them
its the job of the coaches not to stuff them around and mould them into the team
steyn under a good coach against the sharks would be the worst thing possible
the problem is our coaches tend to go brain dead when they get real talent
steyn was hailed by all and then again stuffed around and shifted to 10 in the barbarian game where 99 % had bad games to be honest
when steyn played 12 he was brilliant , theres 2 problems here
1 our coaches need to learn that players need positional cosistancy to maintian form
2 how short the memory span of some supporters are 😉
fact is leave steyn alone , play him 12 and stop this madness of messing this kid around
even a bulls supporter like naas , is maitaining that a place for steyn must be found
and yet we want him to go ????????????????????????????
i pray plumtree willo leave him at 12 now and let him settle
@sharks_lover (Comment 31) : Steyn played at 10 for the Sharks and was no great shakes at the end of the CC, which means we had a half decent coach, but in contrast what you say about a bad player = bad coach.
I believe Steyn is too individualistic, and the Sharks was all about the team, and hence the success.
@Baldrick (Comment 33) : Sory, Steyn was at 12.
OK, my take on this. There are varied opinions by the fans on Frans’ talents. I believe, like most people (and the coaches) that he is an immense talent.
However, having tasted such massive success at such a young age has added further to the feeling of invincibility he probably had when he won matches single-handedly at school level when he was bigger, faster, stronger and had the biggest boot around.
Some think him individualistic and I don’t think he does it to make himself look good, but because it is the way he has always played, and succeeded at junior level.
SA rugby (and mostly by extension Bulls rugby) was built on the premise of a good big un will always beat a good small un. All you did was pick the biggest kid and he ran roughshod over the opposition.
Hence the inability of many players to sidestep or beat the man by going around him.
The modern era (read 2005 onwards) has seen players all increasing in size (I believe the centres at the 2007 RWC were something like 7-10kgs heavier on ave than in 2003!) so that the big un isn’t up aginst little ones, and suddenly size does not necessarily win in open play.
I believe that Steyn should take a sabbatical and learn to play as a team, France would be a good place (for Frans).
There is no doubt he has the talent and temperament, but he also needs to learn the team culture.
@sharks_lover (Comment 31) : Steyn under a good coach – For the Baa Baas he had Jake and Eddie, not bad.
2. You’re saying he was kak at 10 but he’s brilliant at 12.
Fact is, he wants to play at 10.
Vs Aus. Steyn kicks off and immediately kicks it out on the full.
25th minute, tries a drop from his onw half. Fails.
32 minutes, another drop attempt, another failure.
63rd minute, fails to convert a try.
72 minutes, penalty to touch, Steyn fails to find touch.
73rd minute, fails to convert a penalty
76 minutes, another drop attempt, another failure.
Remember too that he missed a potentially match-losing penalty in the Currie Cup (similar to the one in the 2007 S14), both of which were not his to kick (Butch in 2007, Kockott in 2008).
I still rate him as a world class player, but right now he is off form and if he is trying to get out of his contract and is looking to earn the big bucks overseas, which is not a bad thing at his age, then I agree with Rob, go. He’s wating his talent right now.
Anyway, if he’s not happy here, rather let him loose.
I have added a new years resolution to my list.
I will not get involved in discussing Steyn this season, OTHER than bleating like a stuffed pig when Plumtree chooses him at 10 as he has said he is going to do.
I have already published multiple retractions about the Ruan Pienaar article. Jeez, don’t you guys every forgive anything?
I’ll stick to my guns when it comes to Steyn, though. He’s overrated and his “me first” attitude doesn’t fit into the Sharks ethos. Agree with Oubaas that we’ll suffer this Super 14 if he’s played at flyhalf.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 37) : what are your other resolutions?
My resolution is to never stir on this site again…
@wpw (Comment 40) :now THAT I’d like to see 🙂 I guess it won’t apply to Voldy, right?
I will do my best robbie. On a more pleasant note, how much longer before ‘Biscuit’ makes an appearance?
@wpw (Comment 42) : 22 days now, Wes. Mindae!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 19) : he had food poisoning
@robdylan (Comment 39) :
I think we should change things this year a bit. 😉 Each poster get’s to suggest a resolution or two he would like other posters to make. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 45) : How about not starting stupid rumours, like Brad Barritt was off to play for WP or that players don’t like the coach (this before they go on to win the CC and all praise the coach’s role!!!).
@Baldrick (Comment 46) :
Those would be good, now you just need to tell us whose resolution that should be. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : I’ll leave that to the miscreant rumour-mongers to own up!
@Baldrick (Comment 46) : yeah – tell us!
I’d like KSA Shark to end his bias towards anyone with the surname Watson. I know, i know, its ridiculous. Its like asking Piet Pienaar to stop beating his wife after a Bulls loss… 😀
That should be ‘hatred’ towards the Watsons
http://sport.iafrica.com/columns/dan_world/1410420.htm
Dan Nicholl’s Top 10 Moments of 2008- Sports
Just sent him an email asking him why he didn’t find space for the Sharks winning the Currie Cup… 😛
Need someone to approve my new avatar… 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 49) : Don’t want to face a lawsuit 🙂
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 52) : Let us know if he reports on it. It has to be newsworthy!!!
@wpw (Comment 50) :
Done.
I think Andre Watson is a great guy and one of the best referees ever.
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 53) :
Done
@KSA Shark © (Comment 56) : 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 57) : Fanks!
Hi Everyone…sorry I disappeared from the previous thread without wishing you all the best for the festive season….. NO! the cookies were not burning….I had to do a last minute delivery!
Regarding Frans….he is NOT a flyhalf and I wish they would just tell him so!!!
@Me2 (Comment 59) :
It’s not just him that needs to be told, Plumtree needs to be told as well.
I was SUPER P’d when I saw his interview on Sharkbite from the Sharks breakfast where he said he would be playing Steyn at 10. 👿
@KSA Shark © (Comment 60) : That is JUST PLAIN CRAZY 😡 Suddenly I feel a little disillusioned with Mr. Plumtree…..do you think he had his drink spiked 😆
@Me2 (Comment 61) : He could, of course be trying to bluff the guys from “Down Under”
@Me2 (Comment 62) :
I can only hope that is the case.
And add to his comments that Ruan will be rotated with Kockott at #9. 😡
@KSA Shark © (Comment 63) : proof of pudding is in eating… I predict Rory 9, Ruan 10 for all the important games
@robdylan (Comment 64) :
So that is all 15 games then. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) : well, yes 🙂
Except against the Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs 🙂
ah shew, it has taken me a week to be able to log in again! I thought I had been banned 🙁 1st of all compliments of the season to all Sharks supporters, and then to the other non discerning members of Sharksworld!
KSA I also shuddered reading Plum’s interview, but I take Plum as a very astute coach and I seriously do not think that he will play Steyn at 10 except maybe against the Golden Lions 😉 or during practise games in Dubai, and he has said he is against rotation so I think its just him keeping his cards close to his chest! Also in a previous interview he had said that he was going to accomodate PDV’s request and play Ruan at 10 at the Sharks.
@robdylan (Comment 66) :
😆
Cheers all….out of here…chat again tomorrow!!
While I have been one of his loudest and vociferous admirers this tenacious, pugnacious, mercurial and irrepressible talent has possibly become his own worst enemy. He is a rare talent that is undisputable. However he is barely out of his teens and as most parents that have children of young Fran’s age will agree that they often do not fully understand or comprehend what is good for them, and what is in their best interests.
He is endowed with more raw talent and skill that most international players of the modern game could dream of, but whether he possesses the mental competence and reasoning is debatable.
I am inclined to concur with you Rob, and although his absence will be felt in the Shark Camp, his presence ( if under duress) will perhaps be more disruptive.
Young Steyn must learn the adage that no player is greater than the game itself and remember that there is no “I” in team!
Tot Siens Frans, if you want to go then I personally say” Humba Kahle”
@Ragged (Comment 70) : Young Steyn must learn the adage that no player is greater than the game itself and remember that there is no “I” in team!.
Or as the Sharks said, “It’s the WE, not the ME”
Hi everybody!
Lets not forget that Frans is just 21 – anybody remember how annoying Christiano Ronaldo was until 2 seasons ago?
He will mature into a great player, but he needs good coaching to really achieve his potential.
That said, I believe that Unions should never hold on to unwilling players – if he really wants to go, sell him to the highest bidder – the Sharks collective fortunes are more important.
I personally think Frans has plenty of talent but his rapid rise/success has screwed with his head quite a bit.
That being said while I’d hate to see him leave the Sharks, at some point down the road it might be for the best lest his issues bring the Sharks down.
@Milissa (Expecting!! New Sharks Supporter due Aug ‘09) (Comment 73) :
Milissa (Expecting!! New Sharks Supporter due Aug ’09) 😯
Congratulations. May HE be a future Shark. 😉
@Milissa (Expecting!! New Sharks Supporter due Aug ‘09) (Comment 73) :
Congratulations to you & hubby…surely an addition to the Sharks family! 🙂
No rugby news – let’s see…what can we do???
I know! Let’s attack Frans Steyn…the 21year old guy who has hardly played in one position for the whole season.
Give the guy a break already! 😡
Well done Milissa. You’re going to have to make your pilgrimage to the Sharks early this year!!!
@Baldrick (Comment 77) : 30 MAY 2009 …to be precise 😉
@Milissa (Expecting!! New Sharks Supporter due Aug ‘09) (Comment 73) : congrats!
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 76) : just reacting to the rumours, dude
@robdylan (Comment 80) :
Agree – although I think you are a bit harsh…soften it up a little!! 😉
@jarsonx (Comment 27) :
He was the ICC test player of the year for the 2007/2008 season taking 86 wickets at a 19 average…
He has taken by far the most wickets this year than any bowler in the 2008 calendar year (76 which is the 9th best of all time in the world in spite of him being ill and missing 3 test matches) and been between 1 and 2 in the world practically all season…and won 3 consecutive man of the series awards last season…
@jarsonx (Comment 27) :
You not completely making sense…
He was the ICC test player of the year for the 2007/2008 season taking 86 wickets at a 19 average…
He has taken by far the most wickets this year than any bowler in the 2008 calendar year (76 which is the 9th best of all time in the world in spite of him being ill and missing 3 test matches) and been between 1 and 2 in the world practically all season…and won 3 consecutive man of the series awards last season…
He has the second best strike rate of all times…
The fastest to a 100 wickets of any South African bowler ever…tied 1st to 150 of SA bowlers (with Tayfield) and tied 4th (with Bothamand Tayfield) to 150 of all bowlers of all time…only fast bowlers better than him was Barnes of Eng in the early 1900’s and Younis…and if he takes his next 50 wickets at the same rate he took his last two…he will be the fastest to 200 wickets of ALL time…
He has 11 5/inn and 3 10/match in only 29 matches…for example Donald 20 and 3 in 72 matches and Ntini 16 and 4 after 95 matches…
He already has 150 wickets (6th best of all time for a South African) and he is only 25…and if he plays to the age Donald/Pollock/Nitini are playing to and only takes 66% of the wickets he is taking from here on out he will get very close to 500 wickets…and that is being conservative…
He contributed with 10 wickets and 76 runs to a test win in Aus that also won him the man of the match award…
All this seems pretty consistent to me…what more do you want from the guy…he is doing better more consistently at a younger age than almost all of the greats have ever done…
I left out a bunch as the comment was getting too long…
@PJLD (Comment 1) :
Please tell me that is not a man on the right side of your pic….
@Hmmm (Comment 83) :
Either there is nobody aroung or no one else thought that would be as cute as I did…LoL
Well I agree with the article.
But read up to KSA’s comment where he mentions John should play at 3…
John is the best hooker in the world, not to mention his worth as a captain.
In fact, when Rapport rates a player you know you should go the other way, and thankfully Rapport rated Bismarck as their player of the year…
@Hmmm (Comment 84) : It are
@Hmmm (Comment 83) : You do realise they’re talking about Frans and not Dale right? 🙄
@klempie (Comment 88) : don’t take anything for granted with Hmmm 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 89) : Rob. I blame you for our current misfortunes in the cricket. You said you were going to support them from now and…well LOOK!
@klempie (Comment 90) : he he 🙂
See? I told you
@robdylan (Comment 91) : 👿
@klempie (Comment 92) : btw, as of today, this has become a RUGBY site again 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 93) : Ngempela? ( Let’s test your Zulu vocab ) 😈
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 94) : Ngempela, umngane! Manje 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 95) : Well done boss…
@robdylan (Comment 93) : We’ll see about that.
@blckshrk – PROTEAS (Comment 96) : I have an ear for languages 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 95) :
i laf it when you talk forrin… 😉
@Ice (Bébé de Glace) (Comment 99) : uh oh! 🙂