Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers has gone on the front foot to defend the average form of fly-half Morne Steyn.
De Villiers re-affirmed his faith in Steyn on the eve of the Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
Steyn, South Africa's Mr Reliable of the past three seasons, has battled with his consistency and confidence. His tactical-kicking game has always been a strength, but Steyn's radar-like boot has failed on several occasions for the Boks this year.
"He is a great player and he has the backing of the team and the coach," said De Villiers.
"The pressure never really drops from him. He takes it all in his stride and I think he is definitely in a good space."
De Villiers and Bryan Habana are the only survivors of the starting line-up that edged the All Blacks 30-28 at Carisbrook in 2008 to achieve their first Test win in Dunedin.
"It is a totally different game in a new stadium. We've got our own goals and we need to make our own memories now," said De Villiers.
"We believe we can be competitive and, if we can turn the negatives into positives, I think we can get a good result."
The All Blacks go into the match unbeaten after three rounds and on a 13-game winning streak.
South Africa are second on the Rugby Championship table but have only one win to their credit, and have drawn and lost their last two games.
De Villiers, 31, acknowledged he was feeling the pressure after a draw against Argentina followed by a loss to Australia in Perth last weekend.
"It's a great privilege to captain your country but it's not an easy job," said De Villiers.
"There will be tough times. We need to pull together and believe in the systems we have put in place. If we can put a good 80 minutes together, you never know."
Comments
Wallaroo says...
No surprises here because being supportive of one another is a must in every team. Just hope that for SA's sake there are discussions internally about bringing in more proactive and capable players to replace Steyn and Kirshner.
Posted 17:29 14th September 2012
JayStarr says...
@ Willem: I am completely with you. I want the All Blacks to expose all our weaknesses and take us apart this weekend, because if we keep playing and doing "OK" against weaker teams who are incapable of doing so, then we will carry on with this delusion and delay the day that the necessary changes are made... The All Blacks will do us a favour.
Posted 16:43 14th September 2012
JayStarr says...
@ melkdave: Let me tell you what is frustrating SA fans about Morné Steyn. It has very little to do with Steyn's form and how well he is playing in comparison to how well he played before. It almost entirely has to do with the fact that he is and always has been a pretty ("reliable") MEDIOCRE 10 - even at his best - and the fact that he is by now holding back THREE 10's who can kick just as well (or better) than him, but are FAR more talented. But they are not getting an opportunity (just think to yourself - when last another 10 got an opportunity for the Springboks?), because for some reason no coach has the balls to drop "mr. reliable" and give another 10 a chance - probably because it means they would then also have to change our game plan.
THAT is why we are frustrated - not at Steyn, but at the whole situation that he represents.
Posted 16:40 14th September 2012
JayStarr says...
I'm sorry to say, but if JdV backs the game plan and backs Morné Steyn, then it is time for JdV to go too.
Besides, him and Francois Steyn are too similar - with F Steyn being the more effective 12. I want to see a player like De Jongh, Paul Jordaan, Robert Ebersohn or even the young JP du Plessis next to F Steyn to take advantage of the gaps he creates.
But since JdV has fast become HM's puppet, I doubt whether the latter will sack him now.
However, if we want to become the best team in the world, then we need to do it without this outdated game plan, without Morné Steyn, without Zane Kirchner and without JdV as captain. Because the current best team in the world is playing TOTAL rugby, they have Aaron Cruden and Dan Carter at 10, they have Israel Dagg at 15 and they have a captain who leads from the front and makes a massive difference when he is on the field...
If we want to be the no.1 team in the world, then we need to better them. That means also playing TOTAL rugby, having Lambie and Goosen as our 10's, Aplon and Taute as our 15's and Schalk Burger as our captain.
Posted 16:16 14th September 2012
SACanuck says...
I have to admire how the team supports each other. Just wish they would support us fools who support then and pay them. Would we nice to be #1 in the world as opposed to being # 3 or 4
Posted 14:12 14th September 2012
Bones7 says...
Ah, typical captain's pre-match platitudes. De Villiers is either mad or completely mentally broken down if he believes that Steyn is the best man for the job, especially when his own poor form can be attributed to some extent to Steyn's woeful attacking distribution, although his missed tackles are his own fault.
Posted 11:10 14th September 2012
Willem says...
I am a South African but I hope this bok team get SMASHED this weekend! Maybe then they will wake up and smell the coffee. Steyn was never a great player. He was just a great goal kicker who has now lost his form and he DOES NOT derserve a place in the side. His general play and tactical kicking is only good when he plays a a dominant side like the boks side of 2009. Any good flyhalf can perform in a dominant side.
Meyer is doing Morne a big injustice by persisting with him. South African crowds have already started to BOO him in the last England test and it will just get worse for him. PLEASE DROP MORNE STEYN.
Posted 11:02 14th September 2012
melkdave says...
I dont think,the players or management understand what is frustrating SA supporters.Its not M,Styens form so much ,,thats their major worry,though his kicking from hand and tee isnt his best atm.Its that even on his best day his game is limited,he just doesnt or cant get the backline moving/flowing,and he stands to deep allowing defences to close down any backs move easily.Thats their gripe with M.Styen.This also means all the plays have to come from the forwards,and today most if not all forwards are big /strong ect,and the bokke cant bully/run over opposistion players anymore,which limitts the team as a whole.How the present gameplan is being implemented and exacuted is also a worry for SA supporters ,as they and most posters ,feel there are players better able to expand and exacute the gameplan .that arnt being used.No wonder SA fans are frustrated and angry atm.
Posted 10:52 14th September 2012