What the papers had to say on Sunday

A round-up of what some of South Africa’s leading Sunday papers are saying, including an update on Frans Steyn’s commitment to the Springboks.

The major rugby story in Rapport surrounds Frans Steyn and his situation with the Springboks. Steyn, one of several overseas-based players called up to the squad for the Rugby Championship, missed the last week of training.

According to the story written by Brenden Nel and Hendrik Cronje, the 33-year-old centre will be available for the Springboks for every Test this year and wants to be a part of the British & Irish Lions series in 2021.

Steyn last played for the Boks against France in 2017 and could be set to feature against either the Wallabies or All Blacks.

Staying with Rapport, the paper reckons twins Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez could leave the Sharks earlier than expected after Sale allegedly requested that the duo be released from their contracts next year.

According to writers Cronje and Owen Kock, the loose-forwards, who will join older brother Robert in Manchester for the 2019-20 Premiership season on short-term deals, will return to the Sharks for next year’s Vodacom Super Rugby season before going back to Sale on permanent two-year deals.

The story also links the Sharks with moves for Cheetahs duo Ox Nche and Henco Venter as well as Kings flank Andisa Ntsila and Lions loose forward James Venter.

The Sunday Times has weighed in on the Springboks options in midfield. In an article by Khanyiso Tshwaku, former Bok centre Gcobani Bobo says the Springboks’ inside centres are used as ball-carriers rather than communicators and playmakers.

‘Most of the time, our inside centres are used as gainline obsessed ball carriers,’ Bobo said. ‘The New Zealand and Australian inside centres are not only communicators, but they are a massive part in how the attack alignment happens in many aspects.’