Springbok Morne Steyn is set to complete a unique record if the Vodacom Bulls are finally confirmed as the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked champions this weekend.
Steyn, who returned to South Africa last year to rejoin the Bulls after a prolonged spell in France, is set to become the first South African to win four 'Super Rugby' titles in his career.
While Super Rugby Unlocked is technically counted as a separate competition and caps aren’t added to the normal Super Rugby caps given in the competition, it will still be a unique achievement for a player who has given so much to South African rugby.
Steyn was on the bench for the Bulls when they shocked the Sharks in Durban through a Bryan Habana try with Derick Hougaard having the kicking duties as the Bulls took their first Super Rugby title under Heyneke Meyer in 2007.
In 2009 Steyn was in red hot form and cemented his place in the Springbok team for the British and Irish Lions test series with a super Super Rugby season.
And when the Bulls got to the final against the Chiefs in 2009, Steyn and his teammates were in scintillating form, winning 61-17 as Steyn kicked five conversions, two penalties and a drop goal in the win.
In 2010 it was the road to Soweto as the Bulls united a nation before the Fifa World Cup and downed the Crusaders in the semifinal before beating the Stormers in the final.
Again Steyn’s boot was red hot, with the flyhalf kicking six penalties and a conversion as the Bulls swept to the title.
In this season’s single round competition Steyn is set to end up as the leading points-scorer if the game against the Pumas takes place.
The flyhalf has scored 62 points this season, one less than Curwin Bosch with the Sharks not playing this weekend because of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Steyn also holds a number of records both for the Springboks and in Super Rugby, namely:
• World record for most points scored by a player who has scored all their team's points (31).
• Most points scored against New Zealand (31) in a single test
• South African record for penalties in a test (8)
- All of the above records achieved with his 31 points scored in the Tri Nations 2009 match against the All Blacks in Durban on 1 Aug 09
• South African record for most points in a test against Australia.
• Fastest 100 points by a Springbok (8 test matches, 3 as replacement)[7]
• Fastest 200 points by a Springbok (16 test matches)
• Fastest 300 points by a Springbok (24 test matches)
• Fastest 400 points by a Springbok (33 test matches)
• Fastest 500 points by a Springbok (43 test matches)
• Fastest 600 points by a Springbok (50 test matches)
• Fastest 700 points by a Springbok (62 test matches)
• Most drop-goals in a Super Rugby season (11).
• Most points scored against the All Blacks for a Springbok (31).
• Most points in a Tri Nations match (31).
• Most drop goals in a Super Rugby game (4) (in the 2009 Super 14 semifinal against the Crusaders)
• Most drop goals in Super Rugby (25)
• Most drop goals in a Super Rugby season (11 in 2009)
• Most penalties in a Super Rugby season (51 in 2010)
• Most points in a Super Rugby season (263) – Beating Dan Carter's record of 221 set in 2006.
• Most points by a Bulls player in Super Rugby history (1 467)
• Most points by a South African and first South African to reach 1 000 points in Super Rugby (1 467)
• Steyn also holds the record for most consecutive successful kicks at goal in test play since statistics for that category were first kept in the late 1980s.
He had a streak of 41 successful attempts that ended on 6 November 2010 against Ireland. The previous record was 36, held by Chris Paterson of Scotland.
And while purists will argue that this is a different competition, Steyn’s achievements are nothing short of remarkable and should be celebrated.
And a fourth Super Rugby title, in whatever form it is, will suit him just fine.