The importance of double World Cup-winning utility back Frans Steyn to the Toyota Cheetahs was underlined when the team gave him extra time to meet their self-imposed deadline ahead of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked clash against the DHL Stormers on Saturday.
Steyn injured his groin and was forced to withdraw shortly before the Cheetahs' game against the Cell C Sharks, and coach Hawies Fourie said he would have until the team announcement to prove his fitness.
But when the team announcement came, Steyn was given extra time to prove himself fit, and will be replaced by Chris Smit if he fails to do so.
Fourie underlined the importance of Steyn to the Cheetahs.
“Frans makes a big difference with his leadership and his decision-making on the field. He plays a big role and he helps (captain) Junior Pokomela with decision-making and what we want to do. Chris Smit played well last week and we have full confidence in him if Frans is not ready. But we are hopeful that he will be able to play.”
Fourie said it was difficult to say if things would have gone better if Steyn had played against the Sharks, but the team needed to make a huge step-up from that performance anyway.
“It is difficult to measure those things. We made many errors last week and conceded many penalties. I know that would have been different if Frans was on the field. Saying that we need to make a huge step up from last week. We emphasised our discipline on the playing field the whole week and our execution and we are confident if we rectify those two areas we will play a lot better.”
Former Griquas and Bulls lock Ian Groenewald will make his debut for the team after joining them 12 days ago from Kimberley, replacing JP du Preez and giving the side a lot more bulk. Jeandre Rudolph, who was on the bench against the Sharks, has been brought into the team because of his form in the competition thus far.
“Ian gives us a bit more bulk. I felt we needed a few more ball carriers in our team, and Ian is a very good ball carrier. He is also good at stopping mauls and pulls his weight in the scrum. It was more about his all-round performance that we included him.”
The Cheetahs will make a decision on Steyn on Friday morning.
Toyota Cheetahs:Clayton Blommetjies, Malcolm Jaer, William Small-Smith, Frans Steyn/Chris Smit, Rosko Specman; Tian Schoeman, Tian Meyer; Jeandre Rudolph, Junior Pokomela (captain), Andisa Ntsila, Carl Wegner, Ian Groenewald, Luan de Bruin, Reinach Venter, Charles Marais.
Reserves: Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, Khutha Mchunu, JP du Preez, Aidon Davis, Ruben de Haas, Reinhardt Fortuin, Chris Smit.