Steyn to train with Boks from the weekend

Springbok utility back Frans Steyn will only join the team for training as of this weekend as he needs to sort out several “logistical issues” with “family and his club” before he starts training.

Steyn was included in the 39-man squad currently training in Pretoria but, while he has made an appearance at the camp to sort out logistical issues, he will only be training alongside his teammates from this weekend.

Coach Rassie Erasmus admitted that there were a few things holding him back at the moment, but was happy with the fact that he wanted to go to the World Cup and arrived after missing out on being called up for the England series last year because he would have arrived too late for the camp.

“He’s already joined us. Because he has not been in our squad before, he has some admin issues like visas and family things, and with his club. It is a matter of sorting out a few logistics and from Saturday he will be with us fulltime. He is just sorting a few things out,” Erasmus said.

“He is definitely not as fit as our fittest guy and as for our unfittest guy, he is definitely fitter than him. So the overseas guys - not all 10 of them will make the World Cup squad. We are just trying all 10 in case we get an injury. It is a challenge for those guys to try and make the squad.”

Erasmus said while Steyn had a history with the team, a lot of it was out of his control.

“There are a lot of things where sometimes with overseas-based players things are out of their control. That is why from 2020 onwards, we sent the regulation 9 letter to all the clubs warning them we will call up the guys. That is why I flew over last year to all the clubs and told the owners that for World Cup we are going to call the guys up.

“Prior to that we didn’t tell them that and they signed contracts and there were promises made to them by certain agents and in some cases the players were caught up in the middle because agents made promises. I had the opportunity to go around to all the clubs and talk to the club owners. So yes, I am comfortable with all the players that are here. I know where I stand with them, where their hearts lie, and what their ambitions are.”

Erasmus was impressed by the foreign legion who were “fresh” and keen to get back into international rugby.

“The nice thing is that they are fresh, and you can take it step by step with them. Not one of them has a niggle. If I say a niggle, we’ve just come off a Super Rugby season and we gave the Bulls and Sharks a week off. We still have a few niggles. The Lions and Stormers have a week off and are into it. There are a few niggles.

“The overseas guys had four weeks off and are refreshed. But you have almost a month to get them right with all the gym and aerobic exercises. That is the nice thing about it. They are really sharp and fit, but the game time side is going to be the challenge.

“I’m happy with the fitness level and most of them with the exception of Cobus (Reinach), Marcell (Coetzee), Frans (Steyn) and Rynhardt (Elstadt) have not been involved in our set-up. Rynhardt I’ve coached a lot so he knows most of our systems. Frans I’ve worked with a lot. Cobus I don’t know really as well as Marcell, who is a really sharp guy who slots in well.

“We’re doing a lot of work with those guys one on one so that they get up to speed, so very happy with the way they slot in. You can see guys like that, the moment I contacted them they are on the plane.”

The Boks will have another week of training in Pretoria before beginning their preparation for the first Castle Lager Rugby Championship test of the year against Australia in Johannesburg on 20 July.