In all the euphoria/despondency of the All Black-Springbok Test in Durban, a probable world record has been overlooked – and that’s not the All Blacks equalling the most consecutive wins.
Morne Steyn kicked all of South Africa’s points against the Wallabies and the All Blacks, and I challenge anybody to prove that a Test player before him has contributed 32 points or more as the sole contributor for their team across two consecutive Tests.
Okey Geffin gave it a shake in 1949 when he scored all 15 points in the first Test against the All Blacks, then got all nine in the third; and Don Clarke kicked 18 against the 1959 Lions in the First Test and got five in the Second, but his effort was spoiled by Caulton also scoring two tries.
In 1985 Hugo Porta scored all 21 points in the second Test against the All Blacks and had preceded this in the first with 12, but his effort was marred by two Argentinean try scorers.
In some ways Steyn’s recall reminds me of Winston Churchill’s rise to the Prime Ministership in 1940. Britain had a dark air of despondency hanging over it in 1940, when its position seemed almost as hopeless as South African rugby now.
Then they turned to a man who had been tried before (remember Gallipoli) to save them – and he did.
Churchill even had links to South Africa, being captured during the Anglo/Boer War. And at the time of this war Orange Free State’s President was Martinus Steyn! Spooky.
If Steyn had only kicked 15 more penalties or drop goals he could have led his country to a glorious victory over the dark forces, and his feat would have been hailed as Churchillian around the world. But at least he achieved a world record – I think.
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