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Cape Town - Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White says Frans Steyn may not have received the respect he feels he deserved at the Springboks.
Steyn, 27, shocked the rugby fraternity on Tuesday when he pulled of out the Boks' Incoming Series matches this month.
It is believed that Steyn left after a dispute over money with the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
His dad, Piet Steyn, confirmed that a broken monetary promise from SARU was one of the reasons his son left the squad.
However, Steyn snr made it clear that money was not the only reason behind his son's decision to pull out. He said there were "other issues" that cannot be disclosed.
And White, Steyn's provincial coach at the Sharks, believes a lack of respect may have been a contributing factor.
"Maybe it's a case of Frans still being viewed as a 19-year-old and not the 27-year-old man he is. He has a child of his own," White told the Beeld website.
White feels Steyn is not in the right space mentally and therefore wants to take time to reconsider his international future.
White continued by saying that there was never a problem with Steyn at the Sharks where he was very comfortable.
White said he told Steyn to inform him if he wanted to rest, but that the player was happy to play in every game.
"I'm someone who knows how to get the best out of him," continued White, who was the Springbok coach when Steyn made his international debut as a 19-year in 2006.
Steyn will finish the Super Rugby season with the Sharks before heading to Japan. It remains unclear when he will again be available to represent the Springboks.
Steyn, 27, shocked the rugby fraternity on Tuesday when he pulled of out the Boks' Incoming Series matches this month.
It is believed that Steyn left after a dispute over money with the South African Rugby Union (SARU).
His dad, Piet Steyn, confirmed that a broken monetary promise from SARU was one of the reasons his son left the squad.
However, Steyn snr made it clear that money was not the only reason behind his son's decision to pull out. He said there were "other issues" that cannot be disclosed.
And White, Steyn's provincial coach at the Sharks, believes a lack of respect may have been a contributing factor.
"Maybe it's a case of Frans still being viewed as a 19-year-old and not the 27-year-old man he is. He has a child of his own," White told the Beeld website.
White feels Steyn is not in the right space mentally and therefore wants to take time to reconsider his international future.
White continued by saying that there was never a problem with Steyn at the Sharks where he was very comfortable.
White said he told Steyn to inform him if he wanted to rest, but that the player was happy to play in every game.
"I'm someone who knows how to get the best out of him," continued White, who was the Springbok coach when Steyn made his international debut as a 19-year in 2006.
Steyn will finish the Super Rugby season with the Sharks before heading to Japan. It remains unclear when he will again be available to represent the Springboks.
