Morné Steyn’s match-winning and series-clinching performance for South Africa in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions is haunting the All Blacks ahead of their crucial Tri-Nations Test against the Springboks in Durban on Saturday.
Rugby365 reports that Steyn was named at flyhalf in place of the injured Ruan Pienaar in the only change to the Bok starting XV that beat the Kiwis 28-19 in Bloemfontein last week.
All Black coach Graham Henry was only stating the obvious when he told a media gathering in Durban on Tuesday that Steyn is “a very good kicker of the ball”.
The Kiwi coach felt South Africa have shown their hand and they plan to “kick the leather off the ball: in Durban on Saturday.
“He [Steyn] is one of the best in the world, if not the best [kickers] in the world right now,” Henry said.
“I think he might kick the ball a bit more [than Pienaar], he will play in the pocket a bit more so he has got the opportunity to kick it – a bit more time.”
Bok coach Peter de Villiers said Pienaar was being “managed” after spraining his ankle early in last Saturday’s win.
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Only Bulls supporters would agree with Henry’s statement!! 😈
he is blowing so much smoke up our arses, I am coughing in Abu Dhabi.
Best Captain ,best kicker, very settled side, blah,blah blah!!
@Whindy (Comment 2) :
Spot on bru!! We better not fall for this!!
@Whindy (Comment 2) :
Windy – I SO agree… 😀
he obviously do not have a degree in psycology..you see right through him.. 😈
OF COURSE
Sorry – pc gremlins working overtime… 😳
Of Course they would prefer Morne to Ruan – They want to score more trys of Mornes bad defense….
@Whindy (Comment 2) : Not forgetting the best 13 in the world.
Some interesting stadia choices for the 2015 world cup.
TWICKENHAM (London)
The home of English rugby hosted the 1991 World Cup final.
Capacity: 82,000
Matches: Final; both semi-finals; one quarter-final; pool games
WEMBLEY (London)
England’s biggest stadium, and home to the England football team, which is to host two Saracens matches this season.
Capacity: 90,000
Matches: One quarter-final; pool games
EMIRATES STADIUM (London)
Arsenal football club’s new stadium has never staged a rugby match before.
Capacity: 60,432
Matches: Bronze medal match; pool games
MILLENNIUM STADIUM (Cardiff)
The only stadium being used outside England, the Millennium Stadium hosted the 1999 final and has hosted more Heineken Cup finals than any other ground.
Capacity: 73,350
Matches: Two quarter-finals; pool games
OLD TRAFFORD (Manchester)
Manchester United’s ground staged Argentina v England this summer.
Capacity: 76,100
Matches: Pool games
ST JAMES’ PARK (Newcastle)
Newcastle United’s stadium takes the tournament to the north-east.
Capacity: 52,387
Matches: Pool games
ANFIELD (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s ground staged warm-up games before the 1999 World Cup.
Capacity: 45,000
Matches: Pool games
ELLAND ROAD (Leeds)
Leeds United’s ground is more used to staging Test rugby league, with the Leeds Rhinos a fixture in the city.
Capacity: 40,204
Matches: Pool games
ST MARY’S STADIUM (Southampton)
Southampton’s ground has staged international football before and will represent the south coast.
Capacity: 32,689
Matches: Pool games
RICOH ARENA (Coventry)
Has hosted the EDF Energy Cup semi-final and Heineken Cup fixtures, including Munster’s win over Saracens in 2008.
Capacity: 32,500
Matches: Pool games
WELFORD ROAD (Leicester)
The home of Leicester Tigers is currently being developed into England’s biggest club rugby ground.
Capacity: 30,000 (projected)
Matches: Pool games
KINGSHOLM (Gloucester)
One of the most atmospheric grounds in England, Gloucester’s home could be expanded by 2015.
Capacity: 18,000 (projected)
Matches: Pool games
So far the use of the Millenium Stadium is yet to be approved by the IRB.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 4) : even though – you would be surprised how many people would get caught by it.
it seems such an obvious lie – must be a truth
I am more worried about this test.
And Hello 😛
@Just a Fan (Comment 6) : As I said – I am more worried…
@rekinek (Comment 10) :
Hello Rekki!
@Prof. Ice (Thunder Horse) (Comment 12) : And what’s up with “Thunder Horse” No 10 ? is intellectualism out of fashion 😆
@rekinek (Comment 13) :
It’s my Native American Indian name…it means I am Wild and a free and i chase after what I want with great passion.. (I am still Prof. though)
Morné Steyn’s match-winning and series-clinching
performancekick for South AfricaI have nothing against Morne – and he deserves his place in the Boks…but come on…
Bokke!
@blackshark (Comment 15) : + 5000
Henry is such a cad, Morne Steyn isn’t bad but best in the world? Please. He can kick, but aside from that he is useful nothing more.
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 17) :
What’s a cad?? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 18) :
Design programme… 🙄
My architect friend throws that name around a lot… 🙂
@blackshark (Comment 19) : Close but thats the post 1900 name
@wpw (Comment 18) : A sneaky bastard who fronts up while lying through his teeth
@Worcestershire Sauce (Comment 20) :
Aha, So Voldy is also a ‘cad’ 😉
@wpw (Comment 21) : I could think of worse descriptions, but for the sake of this discussion yes 😆
Henry sounds like a bit dim in his interviews. The British (read English) press would have a field day with him when they are losing
“He [Steyn] is one of the best in the world, if not the best [kickers] in the world right now,” Henry said.
Nothing wrong with that statement.
Henry’s simply saying Steyn is one of the best kickers, which he surely is.
@McLovin (Comment 25) :
At this stage of his career – I’d say even that statement is a bit flattering… but I’ll accept…
@blackshark (Comment 26) : I guess Henry didn’t see him at King’s Park in last year’s Currie Cup, then. Lost that game on his own.
@robdylan (Comment 27) : I hope we don’t see a repeat performance on Saturday.
@blackshark (Comment 26) : Acceptance is the first step…… 😆
Henry is obviously praying that Ruan can’t play for a while.
Steyn is only the best because Henry is kak bang of Ruan returning.
If the All Blacks dn’t give away umpteen penalties, we will lose this match.