Veteran Steyn makes quiet return to Springbok squad
FRANS Steyn’s return to the Springbok squad has been sedate compared to his high-profile walkout from the team three years ago‚ which cost him financially and emotionally.
After nearly five years in the international wilderness‚ mostly self-imposed‚ Steyn joined the Springbok camp in Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday‚ ready to make up for lost time.
Centre Steyn‚ who has been at Montpellier club in France‚ is still one of the most lethal rugby players in the world, but the last of his 53 tests was played in September 2012 against the All Blacks.
Injuries and a hissy fit when he was with the Boks in June 2014 appeared to have ended his test career – until coach Allister Coetzee recalled the tortured genius last week.
Steyn’s petulant 2014 exit centred on a contractual dispute and the payment of his image rights to a third party.
His image rights were signed over when he joined Racing Metro in 2009 for a large lump sum payment. When he returned to play for the Sharks in 2012‚ and was awarded a Springbok contract‚ a portion of his salary was supposed to be paid directly to the holders of his image rights.
This apparently did not happen and was the cause of Steyn’s anger at the SA Rugby Union at the time of his walkout.
His Bok contract was eventually dissolved – and he has not featured since. It remains unclear if any lingering animosity remains between Steyn and Saru’s senior management‚ but bridges have been rebuilt, leading to his return.
He was part of a larger World Cup training group in 2015‚ but never made the final cut‚ having shaken the trust of then coach Heyneke Meyer with his tantrum in 2014.
“Coach Allister and I had a good chat. He said I could still make a contribution towards the Boks‚ while I told him I would do my best for the team when I join them‚” Steyn said.
“I am looking forward to getting to know the squad members a bit better in the next couple of days.”
Welcoming the star‚ Coetzee said he was looking forward to Steyn slotting into the squad.
“Frans comes with a wealth of experience – and I am delighted that he has joined us, as we continue with our preparations for the French series.
“With so many new faces in the Springbok squad’s backline, it really is a huge bonus to have a player of the calibre of Frans joining us‚” Coetzee said.
Steyn‚ 30‚ is the sole survivor of the victorious 2007 World Cup-winning squad‚ in which he played a huge part.