Rumours continue to circulate that PDV and Steyn have not totally patched up their differences and although he did get half a game against the Welsh in the one off test it is obvious that Steyn does not feature in PDV’s plans for the year.

It is true that the precociously talented Steyn might not be the ideal team man as there have been suggestions that he has an independent spirit which is possibly erroneously taken as aloofness. But so what? We are talking about what was one of the most talented backs South Africa has produced,  a World Cup winner who already has 36 caps to his name and has at least ten more years of top flight rugby left in him. Can the ‘boks really afford to discard him at this stage of his career? I think not.

Man for man Steyn is head and shoulders above Zane Kirchner or any other fullback in the country and offers so much more with his ability to kick massive distances. The memories might be short but many will not forget how Frans Steyn last year singlehandedly thumped over three penalties from his own half to help the Springboks beat the AB’s 32-29 and win the Tri-Nation.

It also cannot be argued that PDV is not selecting oversees based players as Butch James has been included in the squad and Jean de Villiers has started in the recent test matches. So why not find a place in a 28 man squad for Frans?

What compounds the problem that the only other fullback in the squad besides Kirchner is Gio Aplo who seems to find himself on the right wing at the moment and although he is courageous and a great counter attacker he simply is no replacement for the physically imposing Frans Steyn.

However it seems that PDV is happy to go with Aplon, Kirchner and Habana as his back three and it is a tried and test combinations that could work out well for the World Champs.

Though it does seem to be an extravagant decision to toss Frans Steyn on the heap when he still has so much to offer.