Francois Steyn Heading back to SA

[TRF_stormer2010]

Why do people rate Hougaard so highly?

du Preez was the best scrum half in the world between 2007 and 2010

how can people say Hougaard is better than du Preez for a long time when Hougaard has spent much of his time on the wing

and Pienaar awful for the Boks? a bit harsh considering he had to have 10 minute bench appearances for most of them coming on for the latter stages of Ricky "Fatty" Januarie's career

True, FdP in top form wins you games almost single-handedly but after his injuries he just hasn't been able to reach the top (2007-2009) again. He seems to have developed a habit of taking a moment before letting the ball go while his service is still accurate just not as crisp. When he did snipe around the scrum, take on the blindside or have a quick tap and go at the tryline you used to just know that it was the right option as it just worked. Maybe its just a timing thing or confidence (backing himself without hesitation) but it has to be said that he has been slightly off his best and tends to rely on the box kick overly much and doesn't do it as accurately or at the right times as he used to or maybe the opposition just smartened up or probably a bit of both.

Hougaard on the other hand is probably behind Du Preez in reading the game but his play is snappier and he gets the ball out quicker and is better with ball in hand when he takes on the line himself (which Du Preez does less and less). His kicking game has developed as well though he'll probably never be FdP in that department or the reading of the game. But that is where we have to get a 10 who can dictate play come in and why I'd pick either Goosen or Lambie ahead of Steyn at 10.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

du Preez missed the entire international season back in 2010 due to surgery right after the Super14 final (which the Bulls won against the Stormers). From that moment, Hougaard was de scrum-half for the Bulls and the Boks. He has quicker ball recycling, his distribution is very good and he has the quality to break through the defensive lines when the opportunity presents itself. Pienaar and du Preez are more box-kicking (no pun intended) scrum-halves.

 

[admartian]

It is a big deal, since they don't have to negotiate with a European team to be able to call up Steyn

Oh, didn't know that/

THought it was a straight up thing.

True, FdP in top form wins you games almost single-handedly but after his injuries he just hasn't been able to reach the top (2007-2009) again. He seems to have developed a habit of taking a moment before letting the ball go while his service is still accurate just not as crisp. When he did snipe around the scrum, take on the blindside or have a quick tap and go at the tryline you used to just know that it was the right option as it just worked. Maybe its just a timing thing or confidence (backing himself without hesitation) but it has to be said that he has been slightly off his best and tends to rely on the box kick overly much and doesn't do it as accurately or at the right times as he used to or maybe the opposition just smartened up or probably a bit of both.

Which is most of our Halfbacks! lol

 

[sonnench]

Hope he does come back, even as a Sharks fan I would like to see him in a Cheetahs jumper as he is from there and can add a lot of quality to them.

 

[Draggs]

Hope he does come back, even as a Sharks fan I would like to see him in a Cheetahs jumper as he is from there and can add a lot of quality to them.

Sharks academy boy and all that.
After putting up with bad Bosman, Terblanche, Swanepoel, Strauss, and Jacobs for a few seasons, we are due some luck!

 

[sonnench]

Sharks academy boy and all that.
After putting up with bad Bosman, Terblanche, Swanepoel, Strauss, and Jacobs for a few seasons, we are due some luck!

Yeah, but he went to Grey. Don't get me wrong, would LOVE him back at the Sharks, we need a quality centre. Honestly could be the difference and turn us into proper ***le contenders. Really wish Barrit had stuck around, we just have not had any good centres for a while now.

 

[bushytop]

Big fan of Franc... think the boks look a much better team when he plays at 12 in particular (& that'll be a lot more often if he does move back).

Would probably be one of the 3 best 12s in world rugby imo (Nonu & Roberts being the others).