What Is Going Wrong With South African Goal-kicking?

Comment by Ashfak Mohamed

One of the finest goal-kicks that Ive seen live at a rugby field was a stunning effort by Morn Steyn who else in a 2009 Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands.

It was a thunderous affair between Western Province and the Blue Bulls, and after Gio Aplons try and a Joe Pietersen penalty saw the home side lead 19-18, it looked like it was going to be a grand party on the streets of Cape Town that Saturday night.

But with less than four minutes to go, WPs much maligned Fijian wing stuck out on arm to make a high tackle on Bulls centre Jaco Pretorius just short of the 10m line and five metres in from touch and it was time for Steyn to step up and win it for his team.

No problem for the ice-cool Springbok flyhalf as he slotted the kick without any fuss, with the ball sailing over the colour the middle, painted part of the crossbar to clinch a 21-19 Bulls win.