South Africa v Australia, Rugby Championship
Meyer reiterates faith in Steyn
ESPN Staff
September 25, 2012
South Africa's Morne Steyn attempts a shot a goal, New Zealand v South Africa, Rugby Championship, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand, September 15, 2012
Morne Steyn has laboured with the boot in recent times © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Johan Goosen | Heyneke Meyer | Morne Steyn
Tournaments/Tours: Rugby Championship
Teams: South Africa

South Africa boss Heyneke Meyer has reiterated his faith in under-fire fly-half Morne Steyn.

The Bulls half-back has come in for some flak during the recent Rugby Championship due to some inaccuracy from the boot which has sparked calls for young fly-half Johan Goosen to be given a chance in the fly-half berth. Goosen has only played 30 minutes for the Boks but has impressed in Super Rugby and the Currie Cup and following Steyn's showing against the All Blacks - where he missed 11 points - he is under pressure to improve his accuracy.

Goosen has a bruised heel and with inside centre Frans Steyn a doubt ahead of their match with the Wallabies on Saturday due to an ankle injury, Meyer is likely to keep his experienced fly-half in the side and delay blooding Goosen from the outset.

"You obviously want to give players a break when they are fatigued, but if I hadn't called Morne Steyn into the Test squad then he would play Currie Cup for the Bulls," Meyer said. "The pressure won't go away for him, the Bulls are also under pressure. It's best to keep him involved with us, he's taken a lot of criticism but you're still working with a human being and I can see that he is himself again back at home.

"I'm not just going to throw Morne away, he just kicked badly and Johan is not 100% and I've been bringing him through slowly. If I bowed to public pressure, then I would change the team every week. You can't just throw a whole bunch of 20-year-olds in against the Wallabies and All Blacks, they'll be slaughtered, and I won't push anyone unless they are 100% ready."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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