Battle for the No 10 jersey
I T’S BEEN the subject of hot debate in recent weeks … who should be playing flyhalf for the Springboks?
Four of South Africa’s best flyhalves offer their views on what they think has gone wrong with Morne Steyn, and who they feel should wear the No 10 jersey. of pressure off past few years.
It looks as if Steyn is playing according to a structure that doesn’t suit him… and it’s not working. It’s time for a change.
With so much space and time now for the No 10 we need someone in the position who can create play… not someone whose first option is to kick the ball. There is no creativity in the most crucial decision-making position.
Steyn in the
There’s no doubt he’s very talented, but I don’t think we’ve seen enough of him to be singing his praises. Look, he’s a great strike runner and he kicks the ball [for] miles, but is he a general, a team controller? I don’t know yet.
I think he’s shown enough… he’s got everything and he’s got a natural decisionmaking ability. He can look up, sum up the situation and make the call, and it’s generally the right decision. He’s spontaneous in his decision-making.
I’ve been impressed with his natural instinct for the game, the way he reads situations. But it’s a completely different scenario when you start a match and don’t come off the bench. There’s a different pressure THE former Sharks and Western Province No 10 slotted THAT drop-goal during the 1995 world cup, earning 22 Bok caps between 1993 and 1996. Not only a great goal and tactical kicker, he was also a player who summed up situations quickly on the field. well in the structure the Lions have created for him – it suits him very well. He’s been coached to move the ball at specific times and kick at other times; it’s very organised rugby and I’m not so sure whether he’s actually a good decision-maker. His decisionmaking seems manufactured.
There is no doubt Heyneke Meyer must now look at the future of the Springbok No 10 position, and Elton is part of that future. He should have been given a chance already at Test level, and should get a look-in now.
PICTURES: GALLO IMAGES A man who did battle with Botha for the No 10 jersey, he played in six Tests for the Springboks. Was at his prime in the early ‘ 80s, winning caps between 1981 and 1984. A real student of the game and a player who loved to run the ball.
Goosen Goosen or Jantjies Not one of those interviewed brought up the name of Pat Lambie as a flyhalf option. All seem to view him more as a fullback than a flyhalf, with Stransky saying he would certainly offer more to the team than Zane Kirchner.
“He kicks as well as Kirchner, but offers more in attack. I’m not sure whether he’s got the pace to play fullback, but he offers a lot. With what’s on offer at 10, Lambie’s international future looks to be at fullback,” Stransky said.
Tsimba added that he’d like to see Lambie given a decent run at fullback. “He’s a good kicker and a decent counter-attacker, but he needs an extended run in the position.”