Fullback Francois Steyn is set to join struggling South Africa on Sunday when they start preparing for two Tri-Nations home fixtures against Australia.
Steyn played for French club Racing Metro on Friday after recovering from a thigh injury and Springbok manager Andy Marinos said he would travel to Pretoria, where the August 28 first Test against the Wallabies will be staged.
South Africa conceded two tries in the final three minutes against New Zealand before a near-90,000 crowd at Soccer City in Soweto Saturday to lose 22-29 and remain bottom of the southern hemisphere championship table.
The reigning world champions need to beat Australia twice — the second clash is on September 4 in Bloemfontein — to dodge the wooden spoon one year after winning their third Tri-Nations title.
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So coming to my own conclusions here it seems SARU have been bullshitting us yet again.
So Steyn couldn’t come and play this week ‘coz he was injured and SARU HAD submitted the required paperwork in time?
Oh then he did play, so he wasn’t injured?
And then MIRACULOUSLY less than 5 hours after the Boks lose to NZ they announce that Steyn will be arriving today.
SARU you are LIARS!!!!!!!!!!!
You submitted the paperwork to late and had to wait for the 14 days since submission to pass for Steyn to be available.
rugby365.com can also reveal that Racing Metro, at the request of the player and the Bok management, have agreed to consider him only at fullback.
Interesting..
I agree with you KSA, SARU are bullshitters!
Why bother? Tri-Nations is done and dusted.
” Closing the gate after the horse bolted”
Oh well. Let’s see if Frans makes a difference to the team.
I will LMAO if he has two average tests!! 😈
I can see him trying to prove his worth too much by doing stupid little things..
We should have tried somebody new at fullback..
Like who Rich??
Lambie?? 😉 or Riaan Viljoen perhaps??
If we lose the next 2 games, It will be a major embarrasment 😳
@ Jarson
If we lose the next 2 games then Div should go imho! 👿
@wpw (Comment 7) :
I would go Viljoen.. or maybe even Jantjes.. Jaco Taute may even get a look in, based on his form this seaso so far.
This is stupid.
@Big Fish (Comment 11) :
What? Bringing Steyn back? Then I agree..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 12) :
Yes.
PDV is allowing too much flux into the team core and structure – when you add all the enforced injuries and other absences, its little wonder we radiate uncertainty.
I would give an ultimatum; pick a local player and stick with him. If Steyn wants in, then he must get a local contract. This exception is not fair to the bunch who gave up lucrative contracts to come back, and it involves too much aggravation.
Coaching fail.
@Big Fish (Comment 13) :
Do you really think he would come back, or should I rather ask if his agent would allow him to get a local contract..
Rich, that is a decision he must make. Just like a number of players had to do too. Remember Jerry Collins and Carl Hayman? 2 of the best in the world, but NZ said cheers when they went abroad. Not to mention Nick Evans and Luke McAllister.
We will learn to adjust. Maybe stick Morne Steyn there so he doesn’t need to kill each attack at flyhalf.
Frans is a phenomenon, but this wavering is bullshit. In any event, Aplon shocked me with a great performance: the weakest link is still Spies. They should be begging Alberts to replace him!
@Big Fish (Comment 15) :
Aplon did do well at the back.. he was solid on defence, and potent as always on attack..
Spies should be playing Currie Cup rugby.. he just isn’t the same old Spies that could break through 20 tackles. He is a marked man. Bring in Vermeulen or Alberts or Kankowski.. Any of these will improve the overall game.
Alberts for the Boks??
You must be delusional!! 🙄
@wpw (Comment 17) :
Who then?
@wpw i sent you a text dude
Ignore wpw: he is just stirring.
The least sensible call you suggest is that of Vermeulen. He made 1 good tackle all game. Alberts made loads of yardage and plenty of donkey work. The Boks need a player like him more than Kanko.
Kanko should be next in line and then Vermeulen!
Alberts had one good CC at the Lions and is injury prone.
Duane should be ahead of him based on consistency over a number of years.
The fact that he was outshone on ONE game yesterday means buggerall.
Claytie, I got ur sms u namedropper!! 😈
@Big Fish (Comment 20) :
I’ve always been a fan of Vermeulen, he started out at the Cheetahs and I’ve followed him. He really deserves a break, he has been in good form for a few seasons now.
Alberts is coming into his own, and I do kinda agree with both of you. It would be nice to ee him have a go at the Aussies, but he is injury prone and is yet to prove his worth at a level higher than CurrieCup. Lets see how he does at Super 15 level next season and re-assess the situation..
Vermeulen has always been an over-rated player. Neither a racehorse like Kanko, a powerhouse like Alberts, or a smart linker like Daniel.
Only WP fans and keo (same thing) would honestly believe he deserves a call-up. I’d rather see Potgieter or Louw there. We already have Spies as a showpony.
@Big Fish (Comment 23) :
You make a vald point BF.. He isn’t quite in the mould of anything.. almost like a jack of all trades yet the master of none..
I still like the player, and I still think he is a great addition to any team, be it WP, Stormer or the SA team..
I think he is a good player, might even be a decent international player, but not the star people make him out to be.
I think having Alberts at 8 for the Boks would give us what Daniesaurus could in 2007; a big ball-carrier of the back of the scrum, and a guaranteed advantage line crossing in the loose. With the new rules, having a guy who can constantly cross the gain line while close enough to his pack NOT to be turned over is a huge boon.
Yesterday you saw Bissie, Beast and Alberts do this all day, and that’s why we retained so much possession.
@Big Fish (Comment 26) :
Ball possession is key.. the biggest mistake by the Boks yesterday was to not tighten up the game with 10 minutes to go..
We need a ball carrier that is in form, not Spies. Lets see if PDV is going to make any changes.
I must say that Hougaard had a really good game at 9.. definitly deserved to be ahead of Ricky
Agree: we didn’t value the ball enough. A problem we have long had in SA.
Hougaard shut me up: I thought he needed more provincial game time before stepping up, but he was superb.
Aplon also answered my doubts. Both were great.
I think some returns from injury, and some rest, and we will bring the pain next year.
@Big Fish (Comment 28) :
It interests me that you thought Aplon and Hougaard were superb !
Hi HH,
Well done to your team! 😕
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 29) :
Hougaard was better than Ricky was..
Well done HH, congratulations on wining the Tri Nations. Your team certainly deserved it!!
Bad luck re: Dan Carter..
@HH
We aim to keep people interested and informed on SW: glad to see we are succeeding. 😆
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 29) :
care to elaborate on that comment?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) :
Yes please.. I cant figure out if it is sarcastic or not..
Aplon is a little YSTER!! Like a comment made “he only weighs 79 but has the heart of someone weighing 125kg’s!”
oH JA – AND Hougaardt was really really good! 😳
Hey Fish, I don’t think you made one comment that I did not agree with…
So everything Fish said for me!!!