Morne Steyn: Manie Libbok ‘can’ be an ‘80% kicker’ for the Springboks but he has ‘one’ problem
Springboks fly-half Manie Libbok with an insert of Morne Steyn.
Legendary Springboks fly-half Morne Steyn believes that Manie Libbok can overcome his goal-kicking woes and become a consistent kicker for South Africa.
Libbok’s inaccuracies off the tee came under the spotlight again during the Rugby Championship when he missed a clutch kick to secure a win over Argentina in the penultimate game of the tournament. His miss meant that Rassie Erasmus’ side succumbed to a 29-28 defeat and extended the competition for one more week.
The fly-half had come off the bench in the loss to Los Pumas but started the return fixture in Mbombela. However, scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse was entrusted with the place-kicking duties for the final game of the tournament.
The 27-year-old’s attacking brilliance and tactical nous is often heralded but his place-kicking has been his downfall and that has been true in the United Rugby Championship recently as well. Last season, he managed a 73% success rate off the tee but impressed with six try assists. In the Champions Cup, he kicked at 71% for the Stormers.
Steyn backs Manie Libbok to improve
While he has consistently kicked in the high 70% success rate for the Stormers, Steyn believes that he could crack the 80% mark if he is able to get his mindset right.
Steyn was renowned for his accuracy off the tee during his playing days, scoring 742 points for the Springboks in his 68 Test matches. The ex-Springbok – who is now a kicking consultant for the Lions – believes that the introduction of the shot-clock has contributed to Libbok’s inaccuracies.
“That step up to the Springboks definitely puts more pressure on you. I think Manie is a great player. His general play and attacking on the field is awesome,” Steyn told The Citizen.
“His kicking for the Stormers has been very good and consistent. But moving to the Springboks I am not sure if he is changing something. What I have noticed is that the shot clock might be putting him off.
“I think he maybe looks at the clock too much and worries about the time because he seems to be kicking with just three or four seconds left on the shot clock. So that might be one of his problems.”
While Steyn spent large chunks of his career at the Bulls, where he won multiple Super Rugby titles, he also played for French club Stade Francais where the shot-clock has featured for several years already.
Where Libbok is going wrong
A sharpshooter in his day, the former Bok thinks that Libbok’s issue are mostly around his mental approach to place-kicking and that small adjustments could make all the defence.
“He is a great player and a good kicker of the ball as well. There is no problem with his ability or anything. But maybe he gets in his head a bit,” Steyn continued.
“He can kick and can be an 80% kicker. He just needs to get out of his head and focus on the job at hand.”
Steyn earned his 66th Test cap for the Springboks in 2016 before a five-year hiatus where it looked as if his international career had come to an end. However, he was called into the squad ahead of the 2021 British and Irish Lions series with the Boks lacking depth in the position.
He famously slotted the match-winning kick to win the British and Irish Lions series for the Springboks in 2009 and replicated those efforts in 2021.
Springboks’ depth
He would play once more for South Africa before opting to hang up his boots. At the time, the Springboks had Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies as their fly-half options with Damian Willemse as another option. However, now Erasmus is more spoilt for choice which excites Steyn.
“When I finished playing it was only really Handre and maybe Elton. Then Manie came on the scene and struggled a bit and Handre was the only real option,” said Steyn.
“Now there are four or five guys who can fill in that position and play a great role for South Africa… It makes it exciting for Rassie as well, and keeps everyone on their toes. You can’t get comfortable and think you’re the (first choice) 10 or 12 or 13.”
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