It is difficult to describe Morne as a flyhalf - but the ultimate question remains what he can deliver or where he fails as a fluyhalf. That there is a problem is evidenced by the fact that Stade Francais does not regard im as a frontline flyhalf and in most amtcghes uses him as a bench player. That brings me to the question of what Morne actually produces as a flyhalf:-
Positive
Looking at his career as a Springbok player Morne has - bar in 2012 when it went to pieces - was always a kicker at goal with an 80% success rate. That remains his main asset and the reason why many wants him in the team.
Negatives
Reading of the game
There are serious problems in his reading of the game - with a consequential string of decisionmaking errors. He passes the ball when he should kick and vice versa. There are many of those errors which can be quoted as examples.
The problem is Morne plays according to pre-match instructions and does not realize when to alter those based on the actual circumstances in the game - he is the ultimnmate robotic player.
Kicking out of hand
There are a number of iissues here - there are extremely poor kicks, then there are aimless and inaccurate kciks and thirdaly there is a tendency on his part to miss penalty line kicks.
Poor Kicks
There are amny examples of those - and I wills tick to tqwo cases. have a look at the Brumbie-Bulls play-off game game in S uper 25 in 2012 - when Morne kicked a wicked kick eding up in th e winning tryfor t he Brumbies. Also have a look at the kick he kicked at minute 14 on Saurday.
Aimless and Inaccurate Kicks
After years as a flyhalf Morne's kicking game is basically inaacurate and aimless. It is impossble to follow up kicks he launched effectively - Some kicks has been mentioned by commentators as BS. In the end Morne tends to kick balls in scuch way that it merely hand over possession to opposing teams.
He has a tendency tpo kick balls directly out oof touch - basically because his kicking game is so inaccurate. However, this could mean a crucial handover of possession like happened in the Salta game and had all the potential to cause a loss for the Springboks.
Penalty Line kicks
Much has been wrotten about the missed lpenalty line kick on Sautrday that cost us a win against the Aussies - but what is forgotten is that this is a porlem with Morne and not a singular occurence. In the Eden Park last year and in subsequent tests it has happened 7 times that eh missed penalty line kicks.
Defense
Morne's defense has always been a bit of a lottery tickes and is deteriorating rapidly. In the Elli Park test last year his tckling was poor and it cost the Boks dearly. In the whole of the RC his missed tackle ratio was nearly 20% - in the EOYT last year his missed tackle ratio was 25%. In all tests this year it was 32,14% - with Saturday alone accounting for a missed tackle ratio of over 46%.
There is no way that with that kind of tackle stats he can be regarded as a reasonable defender - he is rather an iffy defender at best.
SUMMARY
Looking at the above - it is not surp[rising he is not regarded by Stade Francais as their frontline flyhalf. Matter of fact - if he was playing in New Zealand - he would not make any of the NZ Super 15 franchise teams as a flyhalf.
In essence the question remains - is he an adequate flyhalf for the Springboks? In my opinion he is anything but adequate and is a major reason for malfunctioning of the team. The sooner he is out od contention for aselection - the better it would be for the Springboks.
