There was much debate on this site as to the actual performance of Francois Steyn - and to a lesser extent the performance of Willem Alberts in the game between the Lions and the Sharks and I decided to do a more detailed analysis of the actual performances of the players mentioned by looking at the full game again.
00:28 Steyn kicked well and the ball went out on the Lions 22
01:48 Steyn passed to Jordaan - who beat a tackler and off-loaded the ball to Steyn. The latter passed the ball to Ndungane who in ca tching the ball could not avoid going over the touch line.
04:30 Steyn made a strong tackle on De Klerk -after De Klerk already disposed of the ball and he was lucky not to be penalized for the tackle being late.
05:32 Steyn missed tackle on Whiteley, who was tackled by the next defender.
06:25 Steyn involved with exchange of kicks with Boshoff. The latter gained substantial territory advantage for the Lions
07:40 Tackle made ny Alberts on Tecklenberg - who went forward in the tackle while Alberts clung onto his legs. Tecklenberg placed back the ball - but the Lions failed to protect the ball and Kankowski gathered it - passed it to Steyn - who pased to Mvovo. The latter made about 20 meters and kicked the ball over the head of Boshoff who failed in his attempted charge down. Jordaan fathered the ball and scored. Converted by Steyn - score 7/0
11:10 Alberts got the ball and attempted to carry ball - tackled and in resulting maul the Sharks was penalized in front of their own posts. Boshoff converted - score 7/3.
12:42 Steyn got possession of the ball - dash up straight at defenders - got tackled and spilled the ball. In follow-up play the Sharks lost about 50 meters in territory and a maul ensued on the Sharks 22 - the Sharks conceding a penalty - Boshoff converted. Score 7/6
17:12 Inaccurate pass to Jordaan - not catchable - turnover.
19:38 Steyn converted a long range penalty - score 10/6
23:26 Steyn converted a long range penalty - score 13/6
24:35 Steyn got ball 6 meters from tryline - hesitated and got caught in possession.
Sharks retained possession.
27:12 Alberts carried ball about 2 meters - got tackled and a maul ensued. Sharks penalized.
29:00 Steyn involved in a kicking duel with Boshoff. Last kick of Steyn went over the goal line and Boshoff touched down.
33:21 Steyn converted penalty - score 16/9
35:12 In kicking duel with Boshoff. Steyn ultimately carried the ball forward and was tackled - maul ensued and the Sharks penalized. Boshoff converted penalty - score 16/9
37:40 Lions lost line out on own throw - Reinach got the ball broke through between two players and Jantjies was easily fooled by him - he scored a try Steyn converted Score 23/6
40:10 Alberts messed up kick in by Lions and the succeeding line out resulted in a penalty for the Lions. Net territory loss 35 meters.
43:14 Steyn missed tackle
44:10 Alberts lost possession of the ball in attempted carry - resultant territory loss of circa 60 meters.
46:10 High tackle by Alberts on De Klerk - penalty caused serious loss of territory
47:00 Very good line kick by Steyn from own 22 - the ball going out on Lions 22
48:10 Alberts missed tackle, but Sharks got possession in maul
48:30 Steyn made a wild pass behind the back of the backline players - Mvovo ulitmately gained possession.
49:50 Kick was gathered by Jantjies - tried a chip kick over Coetzee, but the latter charged it down - gathered the ball and passed it to Ndungane - who scored. Steyn converted - score 30/9
52:50 Steyn missed tackle
55:25 De Klerk ran around Steyn as if he was not there.
59:54 Steyn made poor pass to Jordaan - the latter recovered the ball - bit the attack near the goal line stopped in its tracks.
62:21 Steyn got ball behind his own tryline and made a very poor relieving kick foing out on the 5 meter line. De Klerk ultimately scored try as a result. Boshoff converted - score 30/16
68:10 Van Rensburg scored try - Boshoff converted - score 30/23
73:20 Steyn made another inaccurate pass - possession lost
79:45 Coetzee scored - Steyn converted - score 37/23
Summary
Steyn
There can be no doubt that Steyn's goal kicking was tops - however there are serious question marks about other components of his game at 10 - which the Sharks would ignore at their peril.
Alberts
Alberts are too often involved in dubious plays that cost the Sharks territory and points. Carrying balls must entail an effective way of retaining possession - but there were to many instances where the Sharks were penalized in resulting mauls or in the mauls lost possession of the ball. Not really an acceptable performance by Alberts.
SUMMARY
THE ABOVE IS AN ACCURATE REFLECTION OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN THE FAME INSOFAR AS THE TWO PLAYERS MENTIONED ARE CONCERNED. ANYBODY IS FREE TO CHALLENGE SPECIFIC DESCRIPTIONS IF THEY CAN PROVE DIFFERENTLY
