So lets look a bit at Morne's performance in tests:-
Under De Villiers
Morne had one brilliant test in 2009 against the AB's in which he scored all 31 Springbok test by scoring 1 try and being successful with 8 penalty and his own try conversion.
He developed a reputation as a goal kicking player - with very little else to offer.
Under Meyer
2012
Played in 7 tests - Wins 3
Draws 2
Losses 2
Was then dropped by Meyer because of sub-par performances
2013
Played in 12 tests - Wins 10
Losses 2
2014
Played in 3 tests - Wins 2
Losses 1
Was then dropped from the test squad and never again started under Meyer in any test
Summary of Games under Meyer
Wins - 15
Losses - 5
Draws - 2
Not an entirely convincing winning record by any account. In the period mentioned -
* Morne's defense record was good in 2012 and deteriorated badly in 2013 and 2014
* His goal kicking - normally his only real asset - in 2012 deserted him, that being the reason for his dropping by Meyer from the test squad;
* his kicking out of hand in 2012 was very, very poor
* the Springboks played Scotland, Italy and Samoa in the June series and won all three - how much does these three wins against minions counted in a broader context and advancing the winning record by dubious means;
* Morne regained his goal kicking form in 2013 - but there was nothing to write home about in the rest of his games - his out of hand kicking was still sub-satndard and his defense was poor, while his decision-making went for a loop
* in the second Welsh test in June 2014 - Morne - despite a narrow win - had a shockingly poor game and Meyer dropped him from the team in the next three tests;
* he was bought back in the away test against Australia and was so poor that he lost the test in Perth on his own through horrible defense - making 8 tackles missing 7 - and a disastrous penalty line kick that did not find touch and led top the counter-attack resulting in an Aussie try and loss of the test.
Mozart's comments
"What is this dream team that almost guaranteed the Boks a win.....why it's the obvious combination of HM as coach and Morne Steyn at flyhalf. The most winning line up of the new millenium thus far.
It's kind of obvious, HM without Morne won a lot less....and Morne was never as lethal playing in a different game pattern. But together, over 25 tests, they were massive."
So what was the real situation as to Morne's record under Meyer looking only at his starting tests. There never was a 20 wins out of 25 tests played record. The real figures are outlined above.
What Mozart failed to mention was that Morne was so disastrously poor in 2012 that a tearful Meyer dropped him from the playing squad for the rest of the RC series and the EOYT (5).
In 2013 - the June tests were against minnow teams and as a result the winning story was somewhat distorted.
In 2014 - Morne was shockingly poor in the second Wales test and disaster in the Perth test against Australia.
How the above can be regarded as a massive winning record by inflating the figures iro tests played under Meyer - which were actually 22 and by ignoring drawn games only Mozart can explain. In the end what he wrote is addition to his annual BS mountain.
