Frans Steyn's sobering message for Springboks fans

Frans Steyn has a sobering message for Springbok fans hoping he can deliver another of his famous long range match winning kicks when the World Cup holders take on Australia in the Rugby Championship in Adelaide insisting the ravages of time mean that his “knees are sore”.

The 35-year-old, who has not played since he sustained a hamstring injury in the Cheetahs’ Currie Cup campaign, has been South Africa’s “go to” man when they have needed a miracle kick and he starts on the replacements bench in Australia. He has a special place in the hearts of Springbok fans having kicked a conversion for a 30-28 win over the All Blacks in Dunedin in 2008 and banged over three penalties in his own half that helped clinch the 2009 Tri-Nations title in Hamilton against the same opposition.

However 13 years later, Father Time is restricting Steyn’s kicking ability as he told the media in Australia: “I really don’t practice my kicks during the week any more. In my younger days, to be honest, I also didn’t do that, but I did train a bit more overall. Now, the knees are sore.

“When I was younger I played mainly wing and fullback and had the opportunity to have a go sometimes with a long-range drop goal or penalty attempt, but now that I’m in the centres there aren’t many chances for that. I’m now closer to the breakdowns and tackles. So we’ll have to wait and see.

“I don’t know when I last played. It was the same last year, and then I got a chance against New Zealand.I’ve always been a player that doesn’t look too deeply into this sort of stuff (a lack of playing time). I just want to perform when I get on the field, that’s all that matters and hopefully I’ll get an opportunity to do that on Saturday.”