Frans Steyn, the fourth loosie

Is there another 12 in the game that sends more fear into the opposition than Frans? Every game I watch I see defenders falling over themselves in groups to bring him down.  It happened with the Bulls from a lineout, he bunched up a group of defenders who panicked and completely ignored Lambie or Mvovo. The Hurricanes in their own 22 left Lambie unmarked to try and stop Frans as early as possible. It's like having another rampaging loose-forward on the park. His work on the ground is another boon. I can't help but feel that this raw power is essential to our World Cup aspirations. How often do you see anyone running over a couple of All Black forwards in succession as he did in Dunedin? I'm certain Serfontein and the impact site on his jersey would agree with me. Then there is that boot which brings so much balance at 12. Bismarck being handed the captaincy role may chip away at the need to start Jean, certainly between him and Strauss we have better leadership in my opinion - particularly Strauss, of the Juan Smith variety.

Sun Tzu

Witless Hog should learn something about rugby - raw power on its own is meaningless and normally counter-productive as it was in the Hurricanes game.   You never run straight at the opposition defender if you try and play constructively like Steyn always  does. you don't lose possession and give away penalties and above all - you do not refuse to pass balls to players outside of you.   Your flowery language usage is meaningless and without content if you look at what actually happens in games..

Compare Steyn with De Allende and you see a massive difference.   They played the same opponents in succeeding weeks.   De Allende had a top game and showed massive skills - Steyn buggered up badly and was counter-productive.  That is the difference between a thinking player and a robot.

Problem was that Steyn played the game as if there were no other backline players - so he was a dead loss to the team as a whole.  

 Sun Tzu

That is utter BS again.  Steyn had plenty opportunities to pass the ball to other players - at least 10 of the 11 cases where he was ball hogging.  He was a test center in 2012 and failed badly as well.   Did the same things he did against the Hurricanes and was equally unsuccessful.     

And you are talking BS about De Allende as well - he will always outplay Steyn because he is a thinking player - not a robot.    One of the best centers we have produced for years. 

Your heading is instructive though - but unfortunately  misleding.   We have Alberts masquerading as a loosie - he is a half-backed lock-prop.   So we have two loosies.   Add to that a third loosie in Steyn - a loosie aswuerafibf as a center.

That leaves us with a funny team comprising

 *   3 locks/props

 *   3 loosies

 *   1 center

Don't think that r eally can work - now do you?    

 Sun Tzu

After watching the gam a second time - I gave a detailed breakdown of what happened exactly every time Steyn touched the ball -  giving the exact time when every occurrence happened.   It was precise and made clear also the consequences. 

I am not going to do it again - you can recover the thread and have a look at it. 

I stick to facts - no fiction and skyscrapers - so no egg on my face.   Yjay isd reserved for the fiction writers and biased.

1. Bone jarring defence.
2. A solid offloading game.
3. Strong carries in the mold of Alberts, running over locks, props and loosies like they were Adi Jacobs. 
4. A booming boot.
5. A long, accurate pass off both hands.
6. Excellent decision making
7. Operates strongly on the ground as a fourth roving loosie.
8. His communication and leadership.
   
9. He is of a few players who has that elusive quality. Those intangibles that separate legends from mere mortals.
   

There is no question about it, Frans is the most complete 12 South Africa have ever produced bar none! Every brilliant coach and player acknowledges him. All Black legend Andrew Mehrtens had only the best of praise for him. To question Frans shows a complete lack of understanding for the position.

1. Bone jarring defence.
2. A solid offloading game.
3. Strong carries in the mold of Alberts, running over locks, props and loosies like they were Adi Jacobs. 
4. A booming boot.
5. A long, accurate pass off both hands.
6. Excellent decision making
7. Operates strongly on the ground as a fourth roving loosie.
8. His communication and leadership.
   
9. He is of a few players who has that elusive quality. Those intangibles that separate legends from mere mortals