It’s official – Morne Steyn joins the Bok squad

It was easy enough to call up Morne Steyn to the Springbok squad for the second Test against Ireland at Ellis Park – he was already in the country. A veteran of 60 Test matches, Steyn has just finished his second season with Stade Francaise, who failed to reach the playoffs of the European Rugby Championshp and finished third from bottom on the Top 14 league. It’s clear that coach Allister Coetzee regards Garth April as being too green to draft into the match-day 23 just yet, which is why Steyn comes in to understudy Elton Jantjies who becomes the first choice flyhalf. – David O’Sullivan

From Sport24

Cape Town – Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has called Morne Steyn into the national team as cover for an injured Pat Lambie, his agent has confirmed.

Steyn, 31, currently plying his trade at Top 14 side Stade Francais, was, according to the BusinessDay website, notified of his recall while he was in the country on holiday.

Morne_Steyn
Picture: Twitter

Steyn’s French side failed to qualify for next weekend’s semi-finals after a horror season in which they finished 12th (out of the 14 teams), one spot above the relegation zone.

Lambie will sit out Saturday’s second Test against Ireland at Ellis Park after suffering a concussion against the visiting Irish in the Boks’ embarrassing – and historic – first-ever home defeat.

The Boks went down 26-20 at Newlands, their first loss in South Africa in eight matches dating back to 1961.

Steyn has amassed 694 points in his 60 Tests to date in the Green and Gold. His last Test for South Africa was against the USA at last year’s Rugby World Cup when he came on as a substitute in his only appearance in the tournament.

Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who played some 57 minutes after coming on for Lambie at Newlands, is expected to start in Saturday’s clash with Steyn once again playing off the bench.

Steyn has leap-frogged both Garth April and Francois Brummer who represented the SA ‘A’ side in their 32-24 loss to the England Saxons in Bloemfontein last Friday.

SA ‘A’ and the England Saxons will play their second and final match this Friday in George.

Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/steyn-called-into-springbok-squad-20160613

SA Rugby confirm Steyn to join boks

Cape Town – 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. – Sport24

Source: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/sa-rugby-confirm-steyn-to-join-boks-20160613

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