Paris has had its fair share of South African rugby exiles, plying their trade with capital and Top 14 rivals Stade Francais and Racing-Metro.
When Morne Steyn touched down in the French city of lights in the summer of 2013, he was heralded as Stade’s star recruit, having amassed 688 points in 59 Tests for the Springboks.
His metronomic kicking style and drop-goal capability were handed the perfect stage behind the oft-dominant Springboks and Bulls packs.
The 30-year-old holds the record for most consecutive kicks at goal in Test rugby, with a streak of 41 successful attempts in 2010, and is the South African record points scorer in Super Rugby with 1,467.
However, Steyn has not had it all his own way since his arrival in Paris, although he has an eye firmly fixed on making the cut for the Springboks squad for this year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Jules Plisson has been Stade’s favored playmaker, while Steyn also lost his Test spot, South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer preferring Handre Pollard or Pat Lambie to the former Bulls veteran.
“I don’t like sitting on the bench, but it also gives a little rest to my body,” Steyn told reporters.
“It’s good for me to rest and not play all the games, but it will also make me work harder and get back into the No. 10 jersey,” he said.
Steyn admitted that it has been a tough adaptation to rugby and language in France.
“It’s been difficult to adapt, the whole language thing, especially in our gameplan where the No. 10 is making most of the calls,” he said. “To get that confidence to speak on the field and be part of the leadership group is tough, but things are getting better.”
“We have French classes every day and it’s coming on slowly. C’est tres difficile,” Steyn said, admitting that he and Stade’s other South Africans stayed close to their compatriots at cross-city rivals Racing-Metro.
A spot in the Springboks squad for the World Cup remains a goal for Steyn.
“There’s still a long year to go, so we’ll talk to the coaches and they’ll let me know,” he said. “Hopefully I can be picked for the Four Nations before the World Cup and maybe prove my point there.”
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