Morné Steyn back in Bok frame

REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White was full of praise for flyhalf Morné Steyn after the Bulls’ 20-16 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.

Steyn’s tactical game gave the Stormers plenty of problems on Saturday. The 36-year-old dominated the territorial battle and one of his pinpoint cross-kicks resulted in a try for wing Madosh Tambwe.

Over the last few months, Steyn has proven that he still has what it takes to contribute to the Springboks’ cause.

“Morné has been a stalwart of this team,” said White. “He is now in the alignment camps with the national set-up.

“He is obviously enjoying the fact that he is still being earmarked as a national player.

“Morné didn’t start last week [against the Lions], but it’s important for him to get some game time. Chris [Smith] has done relatively well, which I am really happy about. We are getting depth in different positions.

“I was glad for him [Steyn]. He is obviously very tactically astute about how we wanted to play this weekend.”

White added: “We played a bit differently to how we have been playing in the past, just because we felt there was one way which we could suffocate the Stormers attack.”

White said Steyn’s cross-kicks was all part of the plan to catch the Stormers off guard.

“It’s just all credit to the way we planned for this week. We played in a certain way and the Stormers defend in a certain way.

“They leave space on the outside and I think those balls Morné kicked were always pin-point.

“It wasn’t only that, it was the way he kept the Stormers staying in their half, which is also very important.

“Remember we got two relatively young and inexperienced scrumhalves in Embrose [Papier] who is still coming through and Zak [Burger] who is still 22 and to have Morne’s experience, seniority and his direction in the game was vital and he had a great game, and it is good for his confidence,” said White.