World respect
October 14th 2009 10:37
They called us world cup champions… those bladdy kiwis and even the Aussies couldn’t even acknowledge our standing as team supreme, numero uno and all the accolades that come with winning a world championship no matter what the sporting code.
That was a year ago, that attitude was bordering on bullying and stank of sour grapes on any level…
Now they know about the power of the bok, an emphatic tri nations showing that followed a somewhat fortuitous Lions tour that could have ended on a different note had it been for the bounce of the ball and one Morne Steyn. But that is what great teams do, they pluck victories out of the air no matter what it takes.
This team is not getting any younger, solid platforms need to be laid and this foundation needs to be built upon. Questions will need to be answered as to who the influential players will be post Jean de Villiers and John Smit…
From where I stand there are 3 players that to South African Rugby and the direction it needs to take.
Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn. All of a sudden the boks have play makers and game breakers in pivotal positions. The boks will always be blessed up front… it is in the backs where younger players need to have the desire to emulate the silky skills of Pienaar and the prodigious game breaking ability of the Steyn boys.
This is where a generation of backline play will once again be revived in RSA. These are the guys that the next Bok team must be built around.
My opinon… select Pienaar at 10 and stick with him. Convince the Sharks to do the same (Surely they have RSA rugby interests at heart) and the player will stop feeling uneasy about his position and everybody will witness a legend in the making.
Play F. Steyn on the wing or at Full back and get his mind out of playing at 10 because as much as the attributes are all there, he does not yet have the temperament. Let him run and let him have those brain explosions away from the action and let him mature for 2 or 3 seasons just like a Stirling Mortlock or a Tana Umaga did. Then when the time is right, send him closer to the action and wait and see… RWC 2012… Pienaar 10, Steyn 12!!!
M Steyn is the challenger to Pienaar, any player to be great needs that one. Sounds unfair I know but that is the nature of the beast that is sport!
That was a year ago, that attitude was bordering on bullying and stank of sour grapes on any level…
Now they know about the power of the bok, an emphatic tri nations showing that followed a somewhat fortuitous Lions tour that could have ended on a different note had it been for the bounce of the ball and one Morne Steyn. But that is what great teams do, they pluck victories out of the air no matter what it takes.
This team is not getting any younger, solid platforms need to be laid and this foundation needs to be built upon. Questions will need to be answered as to who the influential players will be post Jean de Villiers and John Smit…
From where I stand there are 3 players that to South African Rugby and the direction it needs to take.
Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Morne Steyn. All of a sudden the boks have play makers and game breakers in pivotal positions. The boks will always be blessed up front… it is in the backs where younger players need to have the desire to emulate the silky skills of Pienaar and the prodigious game breaking ability of the Steyn boys.
This is where a generation of backline play will once again be revived in RSA. These are the guys that the next Bok team must be built around.
My opinon… select Pienaar at 10 and stick with him. Convince the Sharks to do the same (Surely they have RSA rugby interests at heart) and the player will stop feeling uneasy about his position and everybody will witness a legend in the making.
Play F. Steyn on the wing or at Full back and get his mind out of playing at 10 because as much as the attributes are all there, he does not yet have the temperament. Let him run and let him have those brain explosions away from the action and let him mature for 2 or 3 seasons just like a Stirling Mortlock or a Tana Umaga did. Then when the time is right, send him closer to the action and wait and see… RWC 2012… Pienaar 10, Steyn 12!!!
M Steyn is the challenger to Pienaar, any player to be great needs that one. Sounds unfair I know but that is the nature of the beast that is sport!
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