As he sits out the COVID-19 lockdown with his family, Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Morné Steyn has been working through his list of his top sports highlights to watch during this time. And not surprisingly, two of his top three include the Vodacom Bulls’ greatest triumphs.
“The 2009 and 2010 Vodacom Super Rugby Finals. The 2010 Vodacom Super Rugby Final in Orlando in Soweto was one of my favourites,” Steyn said in an exclusive interview with Vodacom.
In that final they beat the Stormers 25-17 at Orlando Stadium to see the Vodacom Bulls win their second consecutive Vodacom Super Rugby title and their third in four years. Steyn was sublime, kicking six out of seven penalties and also slotting a conversion as he contributed 20 of his team’s total points.
“And then Tiger Woods winning the 2019 Masters. In fact, all the highlights of what he’s achieved throughout his career are pretty great to watch,” he says of his third sporting highlight.
Steyn is a passionate golfer, and has set up a small driving range with a hitting net in their back yard in Bloemfontein. “It’s just so we can hit some golf balls now and then,” he says. “Cycling is another favourite of mine and I used to ride a lot with my dad and father-in-law. But now we can all at least hit some golf balls.”
Like all South Africans, Steyn and his family are trying to make the best of the lockdown and see the positives.
“It’s a great time to play board games together and eat together and have real conversations. In our busy lives as rugby players you don’t get that quality time with your wife and kids.”
As much as he’s had ups and downs in his rugby career and periods of uncertainty about his future, Steyn says nothing can really prepare you for what the country is currently going through.
“This is very different to any low during my career. It’s a difficult time for a lot of people out there. But I suppose what carried me through my tough times in my rugby career is just to keep focused on what life is really about. Now, with something like this, we really see what life is about. It’s not about rugby and fame and money and so on. Something like this brings you back to earth and shows you how important family and friends are.”
And it echoes the message he’d like to ingrain in his two young boys, Jovan and Christean.
“Life is so short, and it can change in a second. I want them to remember to just take it day-by-day and try and enjoy every moment.”
Main Photo: Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images
