Morne Steyn bosses kicking stats

Ex Supersport

Cape Town – If Super Rugby statistics are going to carry any weight in Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s deliberations over the flyhalf spot against England next month, then incumbent Morne Steyn is only entrenching his position.

The Bulls No 10 rules the roost in just about every boot-related category in the competition after Week 12.

According to latest figures in the Sydney Morning Herald, the 27-year-old heads up five departments.

For starters, his 12-point haul in the latest victory (27-24) over the Waratahs on tour last Friday boosted him to 161 overall points in 2012, nine clear of next-placed counterpart Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs (152).

These prolific scorers are due to lock horns very shortly: the Bulls, who first play the Highlanders this Saturday, meet the Chiefs in Hamilton on May 25 in a match which may go a long way to determining who tops the overall table at the end of ordinary season.

The men from Pretoria presently head the standings, one point ahead of the Waikato outfit.

Steyn also hogs top spot for most penalty goals (32), conversions (27) and dropped goals (2).

Just as significantly, the out-of-hand authority of his kicking is reflected in the fact that he sports the most kicking metres, according to the latest stats: an impressive 4,294m.

That places him fairly narrowly ahead of compatriot Joe Pietersen (3,914m), the diminutive Stormers fullback who gets surprisingly strong distance himself on touch-finders and in-field kicks – both players are a long way ahead of anyone else in Super Rugby in that regard.

And if anyone is tempted to suggest that the figures only confirm a “robotic” characteristic to Steyn, they should bear in mind that he is clearly not doing a shabby job in mixing up his game.

That is because the Bulls currently boast 36 tries – an average of just under four per game. It is a tally matched only by the Hurricanes.

The flyhalf is obviously regarded as a vital conduit in attacking play, so it suggests Steyn is back playing more adventurously out of the “pocket” he has often been accused of occupying a little too stubbornly in the past.

Adding further to the rosy picture surrounding his current form, he has the distinction of making his 100th Super Rugby appearance when the Bulls tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.

Another South African featuring especially prominently in the various Super Rugby stats right now is the Sharks’ dynamic No 7 Marcell Coetzee: he heads up the category for most tackles (168) – three more than Zimbabwean-born Force captain and fellow loose-forward David Pocock.IO (Waar is ou brussouw ek moet vra!)

Considering that he is also a confident runner with the ball tucked beneath an arm, Coetzee could just force himself into Bok contention at blindside flank, where the national side has a problem with several injured customers at present. (Sorr ywe need at least on epowehouse loosie s oit HAS TO BE ELSTADT - play Coetzzee at number 8 is Beeno' s advice)

Bulls wing Bjorn Basson has just slipped to second for most tries (7), behind Andre Taylor of the Hurricanes and the Chiefs’ amazing pick-and-go phenomenon near the tryline, shiny-domed loosehead Sona Taumalolo – they both boast eight.

Well maybe this will bring some comfort to the demented  Dave about Morne's Bok credentials. Ek is totally correct Morne will be the Flyhalf and of course Lambie will be 15.

We all know he can kick, sadly thats all he brings to the table

How about distribution Dave - surely his distribtion would have to be good for the bulle to have scored so many tries? Also decision making. Bulle top the log. How can one do that witha frot flyhalf who can only kick?

With Lambie at fullback I would rather have Morne at flyhalf than Grant or Jantjes.

Um do you think all the Bulls tries have come from structured backline play - take your time Beenkop.

Morne is a bog ordinary player who has no creativity or flair in his make-up, all he is good at is kicking. Igniting his outside backs is not a strength of his. Jantjies and Grant are better rugby players

 I'm still not convince that Morne is the best 10, he may be ahead in the stats for kicking, but I'm not sure his general play has been that good. You need to look at how those 36 tries has been scored to make a decision, Hougaard is featuring promenently and his snipes has led to a couple of tries, coupled to their forward dominance. For me the most all round tens in the comp is Goosen, Cruden and Lambie. Cruden is by far the best 10 at the moment.

Agreed king, these are the type of flyhalves we need in our Bok side if we are to move on from the ponderous stuff Morne dishes out.

Goosen is our best bet, as is Jantjies in the correct environment. These two are creative/flair players as is Lambie, but we need him at 15.

However in Goosens absence it might be worth starting Lambie at 10, play Taute at 15 and JP at 13

Yes  its Morne at 10 and lambie at 15 or Lambie at 10 and Taute possibly at 15. Is Taute's tactical kicking good enough to play 15 is my worry.

Well despite some bluster no one can explain how the bulle rank as a top attacking side with a pedestian flyhalf. Something ought to be ringing a few warning bells to these folk who are going out on a limb like this  and dismising Morne out of hand.

Lambie is overrated! I really just don't think he is that special. I'd say he is fourth in the pecking order behind Goosen, Steyn and Grant. A special player is someone like Hougard, that can create things out of nothing, and although Lambie may break the line here and there, he still lacks the X Factor. His accuracy with kicking is also nothing to write home about. As a fullback, different story, but as a flyhalf....he just isn't ALL THAT.

As for Steyn, behind a forward moving pack, he is as good as any 10 in the world, under pressure...well, he's just good.