Morne Steyn on shock Lions move: Jake didn’t want me at the Bulls

Earlier this month, the Lions quite surprisingly announced that former Springbok and two-time British and Irish Lions series winner Morne Steyn would be joining the team ahead of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup season.

Capped 68 times for Springboks and amassing over 700 test points, the flyhalf who recently announced his retirement at the Bulls, will assume the role as the Johannesburg team’s kicking consultant, working closely with the franchise’s ball strikers.

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Steyn has now revealed that he wanted to stay at Loftus Versfeld, but ultimately he suggested that Jake White didn’t want him involved with the senior team.

“I spoke to the Bulls and was supposed to start in August with the juniors, because the senior team do not want me as a kicking consultant or coach,” Steyn told the media. “And behind the scenes, I heard Jake didn’t want me there anymore. He had other plans.

“The Bulls haven’t had a kicking coach since [current France kicking coach] Vlok Cilliers left, so it is a new thing. Maybe in the next year or two, Jake will look at it, but at the moment I don’t think he wants a kicking consultant or coach there.

“[Bulls assistant coach] Chris Roussouw is at Loftus so he is doing a lot of the kicking game and is helping some of the guys.”

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Speaking on his appointment at the Lions, Steyn expressed his eagerness to join the franchise and to get going.

“I’m incredibly excited to get stuck in with the Emirates Lions. They are a team with exciting talent and astute professionalism both from a players and coaching perspective, with the potential of achieving great things in the future.”

“I’m particularly looking forward to working closely with the kickers in the squad, and my aim is to make a difference to the team’s kicking strategy. The Lions are extremely fortunate to have great ball strikers; guys like Jordan, Quan, and Sanele are all brilliant kickers, so I’m excited to work with them closely.”

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Morne Steyn will be working with the Bulls’ “cross-town” rivals

With the upcoming United Rugby Championship just under two months away, Lions boss Rudolf Straeuli says the franchise is delighted to have secured the services of the former Bok.

“There’s no doubt that Morne was one of the best kickers in world rugby and to have him share his knowledge and experience with our group is huge for us.

“Tactical and goal-kicking forms a major part of competitive rugby, especially in Europe where conditions are often testing and rely heavily on out-of-hand kicking. To have the caliber of Morne advise and guide our kickers will no doubt influence and enhance our game strategy,” concluded Straeuli.

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