I wonder if we’re set for a Mexican standoff of sorts when it comes to Frans Steyn…
There are plenty of rumblings coming out of Durban at the moment, with the Springboks and Sharks (currently sharing the city) seeming to hold rather contrasting views as to whether or not the player is actually injured.
It’s no real secret that all is not completely hunky dory when it comes to Big Frans’s knees; one would imagine that nature didn’t design those fragile joints with Steyn’s particular use case in mind and there definitely seems to be a strong vibe of “playing through the pain” when it comes to him at the moment, particularly when one sees some of his post-goal-kick facial expressions.
Bok Coach Heyneke Meyer has kind of said – without actually saying it – that Steyn is a worry, leading some to conclude that today’s Bok medical report will advise rest for the player. Jake White and the Sharks, on the other hand, have said that all the players who returned from tour – Steyn included – were fit for selection when they stepped off the plane. If Steyn is now considered “broken” by the Boks, that’s going to put a lot of people into a rather awkward position because you get the feeling it’s going to require crutches and an actual cast to prevent White picking Steyn for Saturday’s must-win home derby against the Stormers.
It’s hard to really predict which way this one is going to go and I hope that for the sake of everyone involved (especially Frans himself) the Sharks and Springboks can negotiate some sort of sensible compromise.
We’ll know more later on, but for now, my advice (as usual) would be to treat everything you read on the subject with a liberal dose of salt. Excluding this piece, it goes without saying!
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Very worried for both the Sharks and the Boks, we really need this man.
At the end of they day its his own call, if he wants to play through it, and if he is performing, then let him be.
If the boke don’t want to use him then meh, their loss, and I don’t care.
Any news on Zeilinga? Frans can do with a rest.
@PTAShark (Comment 3) : I’m told Fred is very close to selection – but not sure if it’s this week.
Ok so his fit to play for the Sharks but injuried for the Bokke so will miss the June tests, giving him a month to recover before playing for the Sharks again. 😈
@robdylan (Comment 4) : should give Fred the extra time over June to be 100% ready!!!!!!!
I think all Sharks that are declared fit by the Sharks should play against the Netball players and thereafter all Bok Sharks develope some sort of ailment,sit out and rest,come back in top condition to win SR,who really gives a damn about Huge Mistake and this rubbish Bok nonsense,and why hold the camp now ? ,what rubbish
In all honesty im more interested in the Sharks then the Boks at the moment, we playing Wales and Scotland, im sure Jan Serfontein is more then capable or even Juan de Jongh
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Is Pat still coming along for a return after the International break?
@pierre_mackie (Comment 8) : Agreed, would hate to see Sharks players getting injured playing in useless international games and then be unable to play for the Sharks.
Ok manne, I hear that Sithole is also out…. this can’t be happening, someone please confirm 😐 . I don’t want to pull out my Depress-Whiskey on a Wednesday.
I feel the same way regarding sharks before boks, there is really nothing to gain out of this international tour, its not like it will affect our IRB standings or who we end up playing in the world cup, that’s dealt with already, meyer could use these fixtures to build depth ahead of the world cup, u already know what ur gonna get out of steyn, alberts, bissie, etc. He should give some of the youngsters a shot instead and leave the dependables to rest and get ready for the last few rounds of the play-offs, let him rather raid the stompies, shitters and lions who doesn’t have anything left to play for in the SR and the sharks and bulls players rest hell
Shark first Bok second
@Eli (Comment 11) : Hamstring strain for both Alberts and Sbura. Does not sound like anything serious.
@Eli (Comment 11) : out as in how? Unable to play or just out of the bok contention?
@gregkaos (Comment 14) : eish but will it mean they can’t play on saturday??!!
@Stiko85 (Comment 16) : Pretty sure they are fine to play saturday. Apparently minor strain that was treated at camp. Seems loads of players went to the bok camp but did not participate in the actual training due to various bumps and niggles.
Even Bismarck did not train at camp.
@gregkaos (Comment 17) : okay than that’s not so bad, ag man these guys really need the rest during these boks fixtures, they’ll be 100% when the international period is over, they’ve all worked really hard this season and the effects of it is beginning to show
@Stiko85 (Comment 12) : He will never do that because all he cares about is his win loss record.
They should rest steyn no matter what he says. Jake really needs to rest steyn and bissi
@Stiko85 (Comment 15) : unable to play… I know Meyer, he is a stubborn coach, and all the good coaches are like that so I don’t expect Sithole to wear no.13 anytime soon…
@Poisy (Comment 20) : true, Tim Swiel needs to soak up the pressure of starting now. Or else he will never be comfortable when the ish hits the fan and we need a “comeback”
@Eli (Comment 22) : jordan needs to take over the kicking role and swiel just focuses on the game.from what I remember jordan is a very good goal kicker
@Poisy (Comment 23) : Possible, but then we will have another situation of people shifting positions and a flyhalf that isn’t confident at goal(i.e. Elton at the stormers).. I personally love Jordaan at 12, I think there he is LETHAL… but I mean, I understand your point mate
@Eli (Comment 24) : no I ment jordan stays in his position but kicks for goal while tim plays flyhalf
@gregkaos (Comment 17) : that shouldn’t be a prob, Kyle Cooper usually ups his game in the local derbies. reminds me of Ndungane when he is up against his bulls brother. I hope Cooper gets a shot, the man is just too damn good lol!
@Eli (Comment 21) : HM (huge mistake),stubborn,good coach in one sentance,eish!
You guys are funny, and confusing. If Meyer pulls in a player that is not a Shark then we get upset because our guy is being overlooked but in the same breath we advocate a Sharks before Boks stance.
Thankfully these are rugby players, as opposed to those soccer gits, who strive to play for their country and see it as an honour – regardless of against who they are playing against.
Oh and I also want to see the best available side playing the Worl team at Newlands.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 28) : world xv games are a sinful waste to me. I cant see how the whole rugby world bitches and moans about player burnout and then they expect our elite players to take part in worthless exhibition games. But thats just me
@Poisy (Comment 23) : @Eli (Comment 24) : SP can kick.. We have to give Zeilinga sufficient time to recover and not rush him back. We need him in top shape for the play-offs.
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 29) : Fully agree, but if there is a game and you are going to watch the game then you want to see the best available.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 28) : ‘Best available team’ is subjective, personally I don’t rate half the old has been as any good, but they will still all be selected. This is why I have stopped caring about the boke, our goa should be to develop players for the world cup, not play old players just because the coach is to scared to ever lose a game.
@Seth101 (Comment 32) : I actually dont know what Im going on about, Im not the biggest Bok around in any case, most notably after one of our “thicker than pig dwang” macho forwards assault the oppostion with a haymaker from behind.
@JD (Comment 5) : I’m with JD on this one…
Now I don’t wish injury on any man…But I shall continue my rant against the man!!!
While we are thin on 10s he is a decent fill in, but I can’t wait for Steyn to be removed from the 10 channel!! I would play Swiel with Steyn on the bench. His decision making has been avg at best throughout his career and he very rarely dominates games tactically!!!
Rant over. And again good luck with the injury recovery!!!
@Seth101 (Comment 32) : AMEN!!
So many exciting youngsters in nearly all positions that need development at the top level…
Tightheads need development!!!
@pienaar111 (Comment 35) : do u think he is that bad or are the Sharks were they are because of him?just asking
@pienaar111 (Comment 35) : lol tim had chances to prove himself and if he was so impressive then there wouldn’t have been a need for sharks to play steyn to the ground, anyone who suggest that steyn isn’t one of (if not thee) biggest reason for our success thus far this season, has serious issues. This isn’t the same steyn from last year. He’s more focused and a true team player
@benji (Comment 37) : @Stiko85 (Comment 38) : 100% correct Steyn is a big part of this Sharks teams success. Yes FH is not his best possition but he’s been doing a good job so far. If Frans is unable to play this weekend he will be missed!!!!!
@benji (Comment 37) : my point is this. Although His goal kicking has improved for sure.
Would Steyn be anywhere near as valuable if he didn’t have the big boot??? He aids in the territorial battle because simply no one can match his distance!!!
But his tactical kicking is poor (hardly ever contestable), he consistently blasts his kickoffs directly into touch because he lacks the feel of the ball, he regularly uses the long skip pass which gives defences time to set themselves (draw and pass), you still worry for charge downs when he is clearing – ie decision making and composure!! And if I’m not mistaken has missed nearly 30 tackles as well for a guy who weighs 110kg that is not good enough (situational awareness right there)
Forgive me boys but he has never consistently displayed these traits!!
No way to prove this but if Steyn’s boot wasn’t that big everyone would become acutely aware of all his other shortcomings!!!
Do yourselves a favour and analyse the man objectively next time around…watch for his decision making and accuracy in tactical play
@pienaar111 (Comment 40) : wonderful, but do yourself a favor as well and actually appreciate the good he’s doing in the team, no way I’m going to spend hours looking for fault in one player, no thank u.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 28) :
Out of 41 comments, the only sensible one.
@pienaar111 (Comment 40) : I don’t like Frans at 10 – he is a much better 12. But he has been doing a very good holding job under very tough circumstances. The only other option would be Tim at 10, and although improving he still looks like a ball of nerves – would be a toughy for him to have started these crunch games.
Perhaps the knee injury explains his defensive issues at the moment. A couple years back Alberts also had a bad patch on defense – and it turned out he was playing for an extended period with a shoulder injury.
@Morné (Comment 42) : kwaaaa 🙂