Morne Steyn caled up by Coetzee?

The following from News 24:-

“Experienced flyhalf Morne Steyn is set to join the Springbok squad as injury cover for Pat Lambie, a report indicates.

Springbok team management confirmed on Sunday that the Sharks pivot will rest the coming week and will be monitored by the medical team.

Team doctor Konrad von Hagen said even though Lambie’s x-rays showed no abnormality, he will however undergo further scans as a precaution.

Lambie was injured in a tackle that saw Irish flank CJ Stander being red-carded for dangerous play in the first half of the first Test at Newlands on Saturday.

The Springboks said a decision on a replacement for Lambie will be made in due course, but according to Afrikaans newspaper, Rapport, Steyn has already been informed that he must join up with the team.

The 31-year-old Steyn, who boasts 60 Test caps, currently plies his trade at French club Stade Francais.”

Morne Steyn was piss poor in his last starting test in Perth in 2014 and nothing better for his club Stade Francais this year.   Matter of fact he was mostly on the bench for Stade Francais in the past season in Top 14.    

His call-up will be a further nail in the coffin of the Springboks – matter of fact it will be scandalous and ruin the already under-performing backline further.   One has to accept that will be the case.  Why not call up the top class performer Goosen instead?   

What a pathetically conservative call.....poor Coetzee already panicking.

The obvious call was for the in form Goosen 

Funny Pakie that the same backs like de Allende and Willie were creating space and making an impact this time last year at the highest level.

Under Coetzee there is clearly no attempt to run angle s, different lines, decoy runners etc.......it looks like players just going through the motions passing the ball down the line and hoping for the best 

Flyhalf Morné Steyn looked sharper than most of his teammates at the Springboks’ training session on Monday afternoon. JON CARDINELLI reports from Johannesburg.

The first field session that follows a disappointing defeat can be a brutal affair. Indeed, who could forget the koppestamp session that was staged after the Boks’ 29-15 loss in Dublin in 2014.

On that occasion, the Boks put absolutely everything into the exercise. While it left a few of the players battered and bruised, it set the tone for the rest of the week. The following Saturday, the Boks made a physical statement against England at Twickenham, and won the match.

Allister Coetzee and indeed every Bok fan will be hoping for a similar backlash at Ellis Park this Saturday. The Boks lost 26-20 to Ireland at Newlands last Saturday. They were outplayed physically and tactically, and will have much to prove in the second Test.

However, they have not begun the week especially well. Those who were at the training session at St Stithians College on Monday afternoon will vouch for the fact that the Boks still seem be lacking the necessary grunt and guile.

Coetzee has made it clear that the quality of the ball-carrying needs to improve after a poor performance at the gainline at Newlands. On Monday, the Boks were put through a series of ball-carrying drills.

While there was more intent from the Boks, they weren’t under any defensive pressure. The young players recruited from the University of Johannesburg to hold tackle bags did their best. However, it would be a stretch to suggest they emulated the rabidity and timing of Ireland's defence.

Duane Vermeulen (knee) and Lood de Jager (calf) missed the session as they were recovering from minor injuries. Both are expected to train on Tuesday and be available for selection this weekend.

If Vermeulen and De Jager fail to pass fit, then Warren Whiteley will start at No 8 and Pieter-Steph du Toit at 5. Whiteley and Du Toit trained in these positions on Monday.

Handling was a problem for the Boks this past Saturday. It was also a problem at the training session on Monday.

The backs struggled to gel during the session. On several occasions, a pass found the turf instead of a supporting player. And on many occasions, the offending player cried out in frustration.

One player who seemed to be on form during the session was ‘new recruit' Morné Steyn. The flyhalf has been brought into the squad to provide cover for Elton Jantjies, and will be named in the match 23 on Thursday.

The 60-Test veteran, who currently plays his club rugby for Stade Français, had no trouble settling into the new structures. His cross-kicking was of a particularly high standard.

Coetzee has asked for a better tactical-kicking performance this Saturday. It bodes well that Steyn appears to be in good kicking form ahead of a crucial game against Ireland.

While Jantjies is set to start at Ellis Park, Steyn may be called upon to make a telling contribution later in the contest.

The following from News24:-     

“Experienced Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn has been called up as replacement for the injured Pat Lambie who suffered concussion against Ireland on Saturday at Newlands.

Lambie will take a mandatory break of one week following his injury in Cape Town and will therefore miss the second Test match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Lambie underwent precautionary scans on Sunday, which proved normal, and he was examined for a third time on Monday morning by Springbok team doctor, Dr Konrad von Hagen. The player has already returned to his home in Durban.

According to Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, Steyn, who has 60 Test caps to his name, was always in his plans as a flyhalf replacement option in the event of injury to one of the three flyhalves in the squad. Handré Pollard, another Bok regular at No 10, is also injured at the moment.

“I made it clear we would definitely consider Morne as a replacement option because of his vast experience, and I would therefore not hesitate to draft him into the match-day squad,” explained Coetzee.

“Garth April is still a talented young man and was selected to learn and to develop. It is his first year in Vodacom Super Rugby and his involvement with the squad will benefit him in the long run. Pat will return home for this week and we want to wish him well with his recovery.”

Prolific points’ scorer Steyn plays for French club Stade Francais, but as their season has already concluded, he is already back in South Africa. He is also the most experienced flyhalf in Bok history and has scored 694 Test points since making his debut for South Africa on 20 June 2009 against the British & Irish Lions in Durban, aged 24.

Meanwhile, the Coetzee confirmed the full squad will remain in camp for the entire week. Last week, the Springboks released four squad members to the SA ‘A’ team for their clash against the England Saxons in Bloemfontein.

Coetzee explains the decision: “All our players will stay with us for this week as SA ‘A’ coach Johan Ackermann has requested to give playing opportunities to more members of his squad. Our players will be on standby should they be needed on short notice.”

The Springboks will on Monday afternoon start their preparations for the second Test against Ireland with a field training session at St Stithians College in Sandton, followed by an autograph session with fans.”

Meyer made a complete hash of his selections by disregarding performance and based his selections purely on reputation,   Now Coetzee is following suit - one can indeed say idiots of the world unite in this case,  Morne Steyn has had a horrendous performing record since 2012.  He was once dropped from the Springbok team in 2012 and twice (the second time after he himself managed to lose a test all on his own)  because of terrible performance deficiencies.   Since joining Stade Francais he was mainly a bench player for the club – the past season he was a major reason why the team did so badly in Top 14.