Frans Steyn is 34. He looks 43. He’s a wine barrel with legs. A mule stuck in a wine barrel. If a wine barrel mule could kick a penalty in driving rain from 54 metres.
He was Man of the Match (or Player of the Game) against Wales, having replaced the youngest Springbok (eleven years his junior) early in the Test.
Frans pulled the world’s slowest kick dummy, and bludgeoned Wales’ old guy, Jon “Fox” Davies (33). A mule beats a fox in rugby.
Frans has actually won a lot. He’s finished on the winning side in 55 of his 72 Tests. That’s All Black territory.
When he was interviewed by the Welsh commentator, and asked if it special to finally win in Cardiff, Frans smiled like the overgrown Tom Hardy he is, and noted: “I’ve never lost here.”
The team with the best old guys usually wins. (The exception is, as usual, in rugby and social science, France).
Wales didn’t have their old man. He might have played his very last match for Wales. That’s the thing about age. It can catch you.
The gradual accumulation of wisdom is a gentle slope, interrupted by defeats, leading to an uncertain peak. That zenith is only known in retrospect.
The nadir is fast.
Suddenly Tom Brady will crumple in a 45-year old heap. Serena Williams will grunt, but her 42-year old body won’t shift.
The old triumvirate of Novak-Roger-Rafa will give way to young Greeks and Aussies.
It will seem like an instant, when Conor McGregor cannot take that next punch.
But just before, right before that, there was glory.
Johnny Sexton was clad in the magenta of a king in Dublin. And after scoring a try on his century, he was given a samurai sword by Lappies Labuschagne, the Japanese captain.
There are katanas still deadly made in the eighth century. Sexton will test himself and his sword against the Great Dane Coles (34) and his old, hairy mate Sam Whitelock, next. It won’t be Josh Lord who decides fate. The old lads will do it.
Australia does not have old Quade Cooper at their disposal. He plays like an aging leopard. Instead they are led by a chunky old bunny. James O’Connor was a step slow on Sunday. He’s brave, he’s happy, he’s thirtysomething and also he’s plodding.
He plays so deep it throws the entire young backline into chaos.
(Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Stu Hogg and Finn Russell would be around JOC’s age at the next World Cup. Is that smart?
Willie le Roux will fight Father Time against the Scots this week. If he and Elton Jantjies want to take Frans to a 77 percent Test win rate, they’ll need to win the battle of the aging playmakers at cold Murrayfield.
Cool Courtney Lawes was MOTM, moving his old legs all the bloody time, and his same-age brethren Ben Youngs and Jamie George looked sharp, too.
France just doesn’t follow the rules. Their star last week was 22. Named Melvyn.
But in general, to tip well, figure out who the oldest players are (James Slipper stand up) and if they will still do their job, and how well, and you’ll have a good lead on results.
My colleague Geoff Parkes reminds us not to fall prey to “recentism” when rating players. A corollary is to resist “new kid on the block-ism.”
The men in the autumn of their careers will win or lose the Autumn Nations series.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Sure thing Machooka, The quality of Rugby now coming out in the Top 14 is excellent.. Think it was Jannie Du Plessis who called it the toughest Rugby he ever played.. Thats got to forge players..France tends to fly under the radar when it ccomes to online rugby chats.. Probably the language barrier, limiting interaction with French fans, but I predict in a relatively short time they are going to be in most conversations…
Machooka
Roar Guru
Astute observation, Just :thumbup: Obviously with the next RWC being played at theirs you would expect some verve in their swerve... but the scary thing is it's been coming for some time. The depth of their youth is outstanding. And I'm also really looking forward to them hosting da Black this Autumn series... should be a cracker of a game.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Noice shout-out, Bertmon :thumbup:
Machooka
Roar Guru
... and for da Wallaby next week, eh? That's a week after we play England. Two weeks after we've played Scotland! :shocked: :laughing:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Biltong, I am of the opinion that the props are the most intelligent people on the field. (And that is not just a winger wanting to keep his lunch money). They also seem to be the least verbose, even in retirement, which is perhaps how many assume they lack mental capacity. “It is better to remain silent and to be suspected of stupidity, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt” They generally have high EQ, possibly due to the experience of accepting punishment in silence from a weedy fella with a whistle deciding, in utter ignorance, the merits of one’s last heavyweight neck wrestle with a fellow Neanderthal. (And I mean that respectfully, Mr Neanderthal, sir). Props are not dumb. I’ve known a few. Some of them return my calls.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Watch some of the stuff on YouTube. My mates and I are all big fans. When he died they found an article he had kept about Idiot Savants ( like Rain Man) - he had scribbled out the word idiot.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Actuslly there is a sinister warning in your article Harry regarding France.. They are dominating junior rep rugby and have been for a few years now.. Something is going on and it doesnt bode well for the French opponents going forward..
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hello Harry, good point to analyze and enjoy at the same time…! Personally, I think that the real difference between one team and another lies in the quality of decision-making of its most experienced men. And we get to that level through better gaming experiences. A prudent stage of capitalization of experiences is followed by another of return of experiences: to the game, to the team and also to the show. I was impressed by Steyn’s attitude at #WALvRSA, bringing quality reception and reaction to the kicking game. Wales tested Steyn at all times by air, but also suffered in attack as one of RSA’s most lethal ball carriers (4 defenders beaten) and a truly admirable range of kicks. While he acted with physical limitations, he did so without hesitation, with solid and stable decision making. He played armored in his experience: for that reason I always prefer him in my ideal XV.
Harry Jones
Expert
He’s really really smart. The next kiwi coach prodigy
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes. 55 from 72 (50-50 vs NZ) with many of those — MOTM or MOTM candidate … nuff said
Faith
Roar Rookie
Steyn is a strange one. Clearly, he was once a prodigy - even at a young age rarely had a bad game. And then like most players of genius he has adjusted as he's grown older. That win against the ABs was down to him. Then, he became a terror at centre in the mould of Mortlock, he could cut but also bulldoze. I feel because he was a Bok who found early success in his national team we, SH supporters, never got to recognise the major talent he was ... one of the greats.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
Or Neil McCarthy
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
The Nigel Green role?? :laughing:
biltong
Guest
Is that a bunny chowing on a carrot? :silly:
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, the old loosie who picks the shortest route to the best ruck to pick.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
AWJ belongs in Zulu. He's a good gentleman.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
But do they understand what bunny chow is! :laughing: :laughing:
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
You are right mate. But Parsons is actually Ok (imo) on Rugby Pass on Stan. He appears positive on most issues
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Good one Haribaldi, A salute to the veterans - Tom Brady, Kelly Slater, Fed-Dal-Djoker, Frans and Morne Steyn, Messi, Ronaldo etc. I love a good vet story. They're obviously not faster, stronger or more athletic, but may have more sport smarts, hand-eye coordination, a competetive will to win and the wisdom/experience that goes with age. (Although I am not very wise).
Harry Jones
Expert
It’d be interesting to replay that test with all the horses. Navidi, PSDT, Kolbe, Tipuric, AWJ, Malherbe, et al. Wales-Boks just seems to be an arm wrestle. Precious tries.