Morné Steyn to haunt B&I Lions again?
SPOTLIGHT: British and Irish Lions kicking coach Neil Jenkins knows all too well how influential Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn can be for his team.
Steyn wrote his name in the history books when he kicked the penalty goal that clinched the series for the Boks in 2009.
Twelve years later and at the age of 37, Steyn will get another crack against the B&I Lions after he was given the No.10 jersey in the South Africa ‘A’ team for Wednesday’s meeting in Cape Town.
Jenkins was part of the B&I Lions’ coaching team back in 2009 and he has warned his players about Steyn’s knack of winning tight games.
“He is a fantastic player. I have been on the wrong end a few times against Morné with his accuracy and his incredible kicking,” Jenkins told reporters during an online media conference on Tuesday.
“I don’t think there are many players that would have played against the Lions twice in that 12-year period and Morné will be one of the rare ones.
“I am sure he is looking forward to tomorrow and we are looking forward to playing against him.
“He has played at the highest level for a long time and obviously he is still going.
“It [playing against the B&I Lions again] is a great achievement for him.”
The ‘fourth Test’
Wednesday’s match will take on a new meaning after Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named 18 Rugby World Cup winners in the South Africa ‘A’ team.
The match has been billed as a ‘fourth Test’ and both teams will want to lay down a marker ahead of the official Test series.
“They got a very good side out tomorrow. The game will probably be very tight and you could argue it could go either way,” Jenkins added.
“We are going to do our utmost to win and perform to the level that we need to perform at and give ourselves a good understanding of where we are at.
“It is not the be-all and end-all tomorrow, but of course we would love to win, and we would love to perform well.
“It is all about the Test series a week from Saturday and being ready for that.
“That is what you generally get remembered for on Lions tours.”
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