Vodacom Super 14
Record not on Steyn's mind
2010-03-11 20:53
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Morne Steyn (Gallo Images)
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Pretoria - Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn may be riding the crest of an unbelievable wave of form in the Vodacom Super 14 at the moment, but ask him about it and he has just one answer: Its time to work harder.
Steyn has scored 77 points in this year’s competition in just three games and on Saturday could well equal the tournament record for the fastest century in the competition – set in 1997 by Gavin Lawless for the Sharks – when his Vodacom Bulls side face the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld.
But for the flyhalf who arrived at Loftus Versfeld several years ago from Bloemfontein without a recognised kicking game, he has catapulted himself to the number one spot in the world in terms of flyhalves, with his form even eclipsing All Black pivot Daniel Carter at the moment.
Steyn had a magnificent season last year, kicking the winning penalty on his home ground to win the Lions series and was a key part of the side that won the Tri Nations shortly afterwards.
Now with the Bulls as defending champions, he has started off in sublime form, but wants to know nothing of possible records this weekend.
“I really don’t think I want to put something like that in my head before a game, but if it goes well, then it will hopefully go well. I just want to help the team build an innings and get the victory,” Steyn told Supersport.com
In fact, all he is concentrating on at the moment is to work to stay at the same level. Now that things are going well, as Steyn believes, it is time to ensure the hard work continues. For a player who has had to work to get to the top, that work doesn’t automatically stop now that he is riding the crest of the wave.
“This year’s form - It is basically all the hard work that I’ve been putting in with my kicking coach Vlok Cilliers. A lot of players, when they get to international level tend to take it a bit easier and to relax. To me that is when you need to work a lot harder to stay there, because there is always someone waiting to take your place in the team.
“To me I’ve got to work a lot harder to stay there and that is why I’ve been putting the hard work in with Vlok. It’s important to put in a lot to stay at this level of play.”
Against the Highlanders on Saturday the Bulls will again start as favourites, especially as they are the only unbeaten side left in the competition and the Highlanders lost their captain Jimmy Cowan to injury as well as suspended two players for team disciplinary matters this week.
But Steyn is a cautious fellow, and warns against expecting a similar scoreline to the 33-0 that the Stormers put over the Highlanders last week.
“The public saw the Stormers beat them with 30 points, and they expect us to win now with 50 points, but it certainly won’t be that easy for us this weekend they are a good team. They will definitely come out harder against us and look to get their campaign back on track,” Steyn adds.
“They are a physical team and they have some deadly backs, so we will need to be at our best.”