Why Morné Steyn is one of the best Springbok rugby players
WATCH as Springbok legend Morné Steyn spoke to Jim Hamilton about the South African’s amazing rugby journey.
The Bulls flyhalf talked about his experiences of both the 2009 and 2021 Lions Series.
He also sheds light on his experiences in the United Rugby Championship, as well as other chats about schoolboy rugby in South Africa.
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Déjà vu
The Springbok is simply one of the best in the industry.
Steyn wrote his name in the history books when he kicked the penalty goal that clinched the Lions series for the Springboks in 2009.
Steyn replaced Ruan Pienaar and immediately slotted two conversions and two penalties – including one from 53 metres in the dying minutes of the game, which gave the Springboks an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series they won 2-1.
Twelve years later and at the age of 37, Steyn did again.
This time he replaced flyhalf Handre Pollard with 15 minutes remaining and slot over two penalties to give the Springboks a 19-16 win and a 2-1 series triumph.
“2009 was a whole different scenario for me,” Steyn said, adding: “It was my first year with the Springboks squad – I was more of a junior.
“I played my first Test against B&I Lions in Durban and then the one at Loftus Versfeld where I kicked the penalty.
“This year I came back at 37-years-old and all the youngsters looked up to me, so it was very different.
“But if you look at the game, everything happened almost the same. On both occasions, I came on in the last quarter, my first kick was a difficult one where [Springbok centre] Jacque Fourie scored that try in 2009. And this year my first kick was a difficult one out of the corner and then the winning kicks were both close to the poles and easy.
He added: “Eben Etzebeth [Springbok lock] and I were having breakfast prior to the final Test against Lions in Cape Town and he actually told me, imagine everything happened the same as in 2009.
“I simply can’t describe it, it’s just an amazing feeling,”
Steyn announced his retirement from Test rugby in October.
However, his playing days are still far from over, as his contract with the Bulls has been extended until June 2023.
