Will we see Frans Steyn in a Springbok jersey again?
FRANS STEYN’S brief flirtation with the Springboks in June looks to be something of the past.
The experienced back, who plies his trade with Montpellier in France, was recalled to the Bok squad in June as backup flyhalf to Elton Jantjies, who was the only recognised No 10 in the group that did duty against France in the three-Test series.
Steyn did little more than warm the bench. In the three Tests in Pretoria, Durban and Joburg, the 30-year-old played a total of 47 minutes, all as a substitute.
But now with Handre Pollard probably over all the knee and ankle injuries that have prevented him from running out for the Boks since the 2015 World Cup, and national coach Allister Coetzee seemingly convinced that Lionel Cronje is worth considering to play Test rugby, Steyn’s Bok career may well be over.
Both Pollard and Cronje, who has enjoyed a wonderful season with the Southern Kings, have been invited to a national assessment camp in Stellenbosch next week to show they are fit and ready to play Test rugby if called upon to do so in the Rugby Championship starting next month.
They are two of 14 players who’ll be subjected to medical and conditioning assessments at the camp.
Thirteen of the players are from the three franchises not involved in the Super Rugby playoffs, while the Stormers’ Steven Kitshoff, who is not eligible for the Super Rugby playoffs as he’s only recently returned to the Cape following his stint in France, is player number 14. No overseas-based players have been invited to be assessed.
The full Bok squad for the Rugby Championship will gather in Port Elizabeth from August 8 to prepare for the competition. Their first match, in Port Elizabeth, against Argentina is on August 19.
Regarding the likelihood of Pollard and Cronje being involved for the Boks against Argentina, Australia and New Zealand, Bok coach Allister Coetzee said: “Our depth will be tested in certain positions, one of which is flyhalf. With Pat Lambie out for at least the next three months, we have to ascertain what the progress is with Handre’s injury and what form he is in, while Lionel has grabbed his opportunities.”
The camp will run from Monday to Thursday.