Healthy fly-half dilemma for Boks coach Meyer
At the start of the year Morne Steyn seemingly had a firm grip on the South Africa fly-half jersey, but 10 months out from the World Cup coach Heyneke Meyer has a conundrum over the crucial number 10 position.
At the start of the year Morne Steyn seemingly had a firm grip on the South Africa fly-half jersey, but 10 months out from the World Cup coach Heyneke Meyer has a conundrum over the crucial number 10 position.
The emergence of junior world player of the year Handre Pollard, a return to fitness for the mercurial Johan Goosen and the fine form of current jersey-holder Pat Lambie leaves Meyer with a difficult selection problem.
Steyn has not played since his missed penalty kick for touch against Australia in Perth during the Rugby Championship in September which allowed the Wallabies to score a last-minute try and win the game.
It’s a healthy competition. It’s great to have Handre, Morne and Johan all in the same squad. We’re friends off the field and get along very well, so on the field we push each other and well work together
Usually reliable with the boot and the best goal-kicker of the four, Steyn has remained part of the squad but does not have the line-breaking ability of the others as Meyer seeks a more ball-in-hand approach.
Pollard is full of promise but lacks experience and had a poor game in the Boks’ 29-15 loss to Ireland in the opening match of their northern hemisphere tour, allowing Lambie to start in the wins over England and Italy.
“It’s a healthy competition. It’s great to have Handre, Morne and Johan all in the same squad. We’re friends off the field and get along very well, so on the field we push each other and well work together,” Lambie said.
“It’s great to have those players around to learn from and to grow with.”