/ 21 April 2010

Morne Steyn eyeing Super 14 record

Morne Steyn Eyeing Super 14 Record

Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn is still one score away from becoming South Africa’s all-time leading points’ scorer in Super Rugby.

Needing only three points from the match against the Reds last weekend to better former Lions flyhalf Andre Pretorius’ record of 645 points, Steyn added only a conversion to his total to equal Pretorius’s total.

The defending champions are in back at home this weekend after their four-week Australasian tour, and will host the Lions at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

Steyn, who was voted the 2009 Super 14 Player of the Year as well as the Players’ Player of the Year, is the leading points’ scorer in this season’s Super 14 with 151. He also ended last year’s competition as the highest points’ scorer with 191.

The Bulls flyhalf also holds numerous Super 14 records that include kicking four drop goals in one match against the Crusaders in 2009; and for the most drop goals in a season — 11 — in 2009.

Another flyhalf who will be aiming to continue his good form this season will be the Stormers’ Peter Grant. The Cape pivot has only missed two kicks at goal after taking over the kicking duties from Joe Pietersen, who is currently sidelined due to injury.

The Stormers are up against the Reds at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday for their last match of their Australasian tour, where they managed to secure away victories in New Zealand over the Chiefs (49-15) and the Blues (33-21).

The Cape side have lost their last three matches in Australia against the Western Force (15-16) in Perth earlier this season, and suffered defeats against the Waratahs (6-12) in Sydney and the Brumbies (10-17) in Canberra during 2009.

However, it’s been seven years since the Reds last defeated the Cape side (at Newlands in 2003). The Queenslanders last recorded a home win over the Stormers in Brisbane in 2002 (49-46).

The Sharks are also in action this weekend and will be aiming for maximum points when they face the Blues in Durban on Saturday.

The hosts are currently nine points behind the fourth-placed Reds, with matches against the Bulls, Cheetahs and Stormers still to come.

On Friday, the Cheetahs play the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium on Friday, aiming for their first ever Super 14 win in New Zealand. — Sapa