He scored a try on debut in a losing cause against Ireland in 2006 but it wasn’t until the following year that two drop goals against Australia at Newlands landed Frans Steyn high in Bok fans’ estimation.
The Springboks toiled harder than usual against Australia on home soil in that game but up stepped Steyn to save the day. The Boks were 19-10 behind by the 43rd minute before Percy Montgomery reduced the gap with two penalties. Still the hosts were staring down the barrel before Steyn, who had entered the fray in the 60th minute, landed a drop goal in the 74th and then the 77th to snatch a dramatic victory for the Boks.
Steyn of course would drop in and out of the Bok team over the course of the next 12 years.
His 78 Tests spanned the longest Springbok career measured in the earth’s rotation around the sun, but now, it would appear, time’s up for Steyn.
There had been the hope that the former prodigy would return to fitness from a knee injury to be considered for a fourth Rugby World Cup. In 2007, aged 20, he became the youngest player to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy, but the verve and vitality with which he went about his business then have all but dissipated over the last few months.
“It will be difficult, and I can’t see it happening, but miracles do happen,” said Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie this week when asked about Steyn’s fitness.
“He, himself, isn’t confident that he’ll be able to play very soon again. He’s still in the rehabilitation process, so he’s going to be out for another few months. He can’t even jog at the moment,” revealed Fourie.
Steyn’s absence cuts the Springboks options in more ways than one. His versatility has made him a near indispensable player for the demands of the RWC’s seven-week format.
Bok fans will lament Steyn’s absence. Those who attach value to omens won’t just miss his forceful contributions, but his charm. Across the three RWC’s in which he participated Steyn was on the winning side in all 17 matches he played.
He is the only unbeaten player at the RWC that has played that many matches. Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Whitelock have played in more matches at the global spectacle but they all have a stain on their record.
Steyn’s absence cuts the Springboks options in more ways than one. His versatility has made him a near indispensable player for the demands of the RWC’s seven-week format.
At the last RWC his ability to cover several positions enabled the Springbok brains trust to deploy their much vaunted Bomb Squad. The ability to play flyhalf, inside centre and if so required outside centre and fullback made Steyn a compelling choice.
He did not disappoint.
Not that he was the only player with the skill and nous to do that but his experience and unflappable temperament earned him the nod.
In many ways Damian Willemse was groomed to perform a similar job at the last RWC and though his talents have more recently been channelled to first receiver, it does not mean the utility back cannot be considered for a wider role.
In fact, if the Boks were to consider a six/two split on their bench Willemse would be the designated non-scrumhalf backline option. Willie le Roux also has the range to fulfil that role, as does Cheslin Kolbe, though both are established starters.
When exactly Steyn will return to the field is difficult to predict. He slipped his considerable frame into a navy blue suit to perform the job of pitch side analyst for SuperSport in last weekend’s Currie Cup semifinal.
Clearly his versatility extends beyond the touchline, but Bok fans would much rather have Steyn the gamebreaker, than the man with a mic breaking the game down.
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