
JOHANNESBURG – World Cup winner Frans Steyn admits he was a bag of nerves before his return to the South Africa side in their 35-17 Rugby Championship victory over Australia on Saturday as he targets a late push for a place in the Springboks' World Cup squad.
Steyn lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in France 12 years ago, but has 56 caps in 13 years, often in and out of the side at the whim of coaches and sometimes himself. It was his first appearance since June 2017.
But his experience and versatility is attractive to current coach Rassie Erasmus, who selected Steyn last year, only for the Montpellier player to withdraw from the squad with injury.
"I was nervous," Steyn said after a 30-minute appearance off the bench at Ellis Park. "My wife was pacing up and down at the hotel before we left for the game. Watching her made me nervous.
"When we started to warm up at Ellis Park, I calmed down a little bit."