Frans Steyn is working hard to get back on the field for the Cheetahs and once again prove his worth for the Springboks as a potential fourth World Cup appearance is on the horizon.
An injury-hit 2022 saw Steyn play just four Test matches, one of those as the starting flyhalf in the final Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Durban.
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A knee injury prevented the veteran back from travelling with the Springboks on their November tour to Europe and saw him miss the Cheetahs’ latter fixtures in the European Challenge Cup, where the Bloemfontein side secure their place in the last 16.
Steyn, who played in the 2007, 2011 and 2019 World Cups, could make his fourth appearance in the major tournament if he is selected in the final squad that travels to France this year.
However, in an interview with BokSquad, the 72-cap player said that he is just looking to get back into shape to give himself the best chance of getting back into the national squad.
“[The World Cup] a long way away, and I’m fully focused on the Cheetahs. I want to try and get into the team to play Toulon [in the European Challenge Cup playoffs] and then have a good Currie Cup,” Steyn told BokSquad.
“I can’t say I’m going to the World Cup and this is what I’m going to do there, it doesn’t work like that. To be selected for the Springbok squad, you need to be on form, so I must play well for the Cheetahs.
“There are a lot of young guys who are playing well at the moment, and if they are better than me, I’m happy for them to go represent us at the World Cup and make us proud. But I’m going to give it my best shot.”
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Steyn’s contract with the Cheetahs finishes at the end of 2023, but he hasn’t decided whether he will bring the curtain down on his glittering career yet.
“I think if this is a good year, then it might be my last,” he said.
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