VIDEO: Nienaber happy to risk 'undercooked match-winner' Down Under
His advanced years and a lack of game time are not an issue for Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
It is the proven match-winning ability of 74-times capped Frans Steyn that won him the vote of Nienaber to sit on the South African bench for the crunch Rugby Championship encounter with Australia in Adelaide on Saturday.
Steyn, 35, injured his hamstring while playing for the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup against Griquas on May 28.
He has not had any game time since, but Nienaber believes he is ready for a crucial Test match Down Under.
“When he got injured against Griquas in the Currie Cup, we said he has to get through his rehabilitation,” Nienaber said, when asked about Steyn’s selection in the team that was named on Monday.
“We said we would bring him in as soon as he is done with his rehab and is back to full fitness.”
Steyn was busy with pre-season training at the Cheetahs when the call came from Nienaber.
“We are happy with where he is at,” the Bok coach said.
Nienaber said the lack of game time for certain players is an unfortunate consequence of South Africa’s move from Super Rugby in the Southern Hemisphere to the United Rugby Championship in the Northern Hemisphere.
“We compete internationally in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said of the Rugby Championship, adding: “However, at franchise level, we are aligned with the Northern Hemisphere.
“Our [international and domestic] seasons are a bit misaligned.
“There is, unfortunately, no club rugby currently, to let our players play and see where they are at.”
Nienaber said training is the only place where they can assess players.
“That is why we push our intensity at training as close to Test match intensity as we can – to assess the players.
“We wouldn’t have selected Frans if we didn’t think he was up to standard.
“It’s a nice opportunity to see what Frans can bring [to the game].”
He explained that they have not discarded fellow veteran Willie le Roux, who fulfilled the utility back role off the bench in the earlier internationals.
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“We know what we have in Willie,” said Nienaber.
“If we are behind – like we were [in the first Test] against Wales, when we were 18 points down – he can come on and change the game for us.
“We know he can also close the game out for us, if he has to.
“It will be a nice opportunity for us to see what Frans can bring to the party.
“We know last year, when we played New Zealand, Frans came on when we won [the game for us] on the Gold Coast.
“He had an unbelievable game.
“We know what he can bring and he is experienced.
“We are just looking forward to getting Frans back in the mix and onto the park.”
Another player who lacks game time and plays off the bench in Adelaide is flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
The 32-year-old had a game to forget when he started in the first Test against Wales.
He was replaced at half-time and has not had any game time since.
“In terms of Elton’s form, as I said with Frans, the only place where we can see them is in training,” Nienaber said.
“He has been performing well in training, so I expect him to be much sharper.”
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