The Francois Steyn vs Jerome Porical kicking duel
Racing Metro snuck a 18-18 draw after the final whistle as Jonathan Wisniewski kicked a penalty to take them level with Perpignan in their French Top 14 game this passed weekend. There was another kicking duel that went on though, with two big strikers of the ball taking center stage.
It was a try-less game so the sides took the points on offer when they could, no matter how far or challenging the kicks might have been. Racing Metro have Francois Steyn, who has become known for his rocket launching boot. He slotted two fantastic kicks, one at a bit of an angle and another straight in line, but well inside his own half.
Take a look at the carry on the ball as it sails over easily. At that stage Steyn’s long range effort was to be the highlight of the night, until Perpignan fullback Jerome Porical showed that he wasn’t to be outdone as he kicked all the points for his side, including an incredible long range effort from well over 60m out. It was a kicking duel that added another dimension to an otherwise uneventful game played in strong winds.
Steyn, who would be an asset to most sides with that prodigious boot, won’t be turning out for South Africa against Ireland this weekend, despite being selected as part of the squad. Bizarrely, he doesn’t have a Springbok contract so his club refuse to release him as the Test match falls outside of the official international window.
Steyn has been selected to play at center against Agen, while a depleted South Africa play Ireland. France play Fiji on the 13th November, but the chances are Porical won’t feature as he seems to be a little too inconsistent at the highest level.
Earlier today you got to see an incredible display of forward dominance as Northampton Saints drove the Newcastle scrum downfield for 30m, so now sit back and enjoy this fantastic kicking display.
Time: 01:50
It was a try-less game so the sides took the points on offer when they could, no matter how far or challenging the kicks might have been. Racing Metro have Francois Steyn, who has become known for his rocket launching boot. He slotted two fantastic kicks, one at a bit of an angle and another straight in line, but well inside his own half.
Take a look at the carry on the ball as it sails over easily. At that stage Steyn’s long range effort was to be the highlight of the night, until Perpignan fullback Jerome Porical showed that he wasn’t to be outdone as he kicked all the points for his side, including an incredible long range effort from well over 60m out. It was a kicking duel that added another dimension to an otherwise uneventful game played in strong winds.
Steyn, who would be an asset to most sides with that prodigious boot, won’t be turning out for South Africa against Ireland this weekend, despite being selected as part of the squad. Bizarrely, he doesn’t have a Springbok contract so his club refuse to release him as the Test match falls outside of the official international window.
Steyn has been selected to play at center against Agen, while a depleted South Africa play Ireland. France play Fiji on the 13th November, but the chances are Porical won’t feature as he seems to be a little too inconsistent at the highest level.
Earlier today you got to see an incredible display of forward dominance as Northampton Saints drove the Newcastle scrum downfield for 30m, so now sit back and enjoy this fantastic kicking display.
Time: 01:50
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47 Comments:
FIRST!! hahaha
By HMK yadiy, at November 03, 2010 11:27 pm
jesus not even a run up from porical ridic
By Anonymous, at November 03, 2010 11:41 pm
I'm all for this sort of stuff aslong as it doesn't get too frequent.
Steyn is a monster with the boot. His consistancy is impressive. This sort of kicking display isn't rare for him, he regulary slots long distance with ease.
On an almost non-relevant note, I'm surprised we don't see more Polynesian players developing a kicking game, you'd think with the tree trunk legs and physique they could strike a ball pretty far
By Chris, at November 03, 2010 11:53 pm
holly bugger !!
god i'd like to have a kick like that !!!!
@chris, you're right polynesians are massive and could have massive kicking power, thing is it's not their culture at all, they just run from anywhere on the park, i could imagine they only let 10s kick when they reach U18 or U20...
By Luxi, at November 04, 2010 12:08 am
I've watched Frans Steyn practice. He sometimes takes the ball back to 70-75 meters and if he hits them right he will get them over. Can also do 65m drop goals with relative ease.
Yeah the Boks will be depleted. 13 missing players (most of them starting players) but whatever, good chance to blood new players.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 12:10 am
Not a great advert for rugby.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 12:35 am
Boring...
By Gman, at November 04, 2010 12:35 am
@Anon your having a laugh, show me where Steyn kicks a 70-75 meter set shot and ill eat my own shoe.
Biggest set shot iv ever seen was the penalty that RD put up of Luke McAlister kicking from like 65.
By Nicko, at November 04, 2010 1:29 am
@Nicko
You'll have to read what anon said again, carefully.
You'll get it with practice.
By mise, at November 04, 2010 1:57 am
Waste of space.. Rugby is about scoring tries. Penalty should be 2 points, field goal 1.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 2:34 am
opinions: will the weight of the ball be changed if this sort of kicking becomes the norm?
Sports often change equipment materials: for example, e.g. wood and bats/rackets. Tennis changed in the in early 1980s, (which transformed the game into an ugfest), baseball changed and changed back again when it realised its own folly (balls were being hit, literally, out of the park).
Also, as a sport rugby changes more often than many others (e.g. Soccer!) (it has changed score values) and of course the ball changes every now and then anyway.
All of that said, I do admire these kicks. Incredible feats really.
But if a pen well inside your own half results in 3 frekin points against you more often than not, that's a significant change in the way punishments and rewards operate in the game.
By mise, at November 04, 2010 2:46 am
Wow, lacking ambition.
By Bill, at November 04, 2010 3:50 am
@Mise "He sometimes takes the ball back to 70-75 meters and if he hits them right he will get them over"
Once again (just for you), the day I see Steyn kick a set shot from 70-75 meters is the day I will eat my shoe.
Did I miss something? Ohh yea, your an ignorant know-it-all who's probably never played a game of code in his life.
By Nicko, at November 04, 2010 4:12 am
It looks like they filled the ball with helium!
There is a video on youtube of Al-Masri (Aussie rugby league player) kicking balls filled with helium and them travelling over 100 metres, its good fun to watch.
I imagine these kicks were pretty heavily wind assisted, based on them all being from the same direction.
Penalties are a part of rugby. They help to ensure a flowing game by acting as a deterient to constant cheating. Teams are already willing to concede a penalty if it stops the other team's attack or momentum, if a penalty was only worth 2, this would happen far more regularly.
By Wolfman21, at November 04, 2010 4:29 am
Once again (just for you), the day I see Steyn kick a set shot from 70-75 meters is the day I will eat my shoe.
Did I miss something? Ohh yea, your an ignorant know-it-all who's probably never played a game of code in his life.
------------------
Mate, do you have water on the brain? You were asked to re-read what was said, try it again. Does the OP have to write it out in coloured crayons before you comprehend what was said?
What Anon said is that he's seen Steyn PRACTICE kicks from 70-75 meters(not that rare for kickers in practice), and he can hit them the distance.. on occasion will even get lucky and actually slot them.
A penalty from 65 metres isn't the longest kick ever. Steyn has a bigger boot than Luke. Steyn has kicked Penalties from further out than 65 metres.
Stop being a confrontational prick and learn to read. Your man-crush on McAlister is interfering with commonsense.
By Chris, at November 04, 2010 4:36 am
There is a video on youtube of Al-Masri (Aussie rugby league player) kicking balls filled with helium and them travelling over 100 metres, its good fun to watch.
--------
I almost mentioned and posted a link to that earlier. But I heard alot of comments from people saying it was CGI(even though it didn't appear it). Supposedly a helium ball travels no further than a standard ball
By Chris, at November 04, 2010 4:37 am
Some people probably forget the old rules. Why do you believe it's called Rugby Football ?
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 5:38 am
Chris, no doubt it was CGI, mythbusters (the show on discovery) tested that one out with american footballs and I think the helium balls actually traveled less.
Steyn, in the highveldt could easily kick 80m, 75m dropgoals ;)
Check some of his big kicks on youtube, the 60-65m drop goals go another 10-15m over the posts.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 6:20 am
@ Chris please stop being a whining bitch and produce some proof if your going to make comments.
When you can show me proof of Steyn kicking a set shot from 70-75 meters (practice or in a game) I will admit I'm wrong.
But as you CANT, pipe down and stop with the Steyn rant.
Just another south african idiot??
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 6:37 am
80m set shot kick??? hahahahah
Sounds like another un-supported rugby player fact.
Just like Habana running 10 seconds for 100m.
Steyn has played many games on the high-velt and never achieved this!
By Noms, at November 04, 2010 6:45 am
youtube.com/watch?v=muI0ULBSWmw
Will this do, Anonymous?
Not 70m, but 66 on the angle in Ireland. If you're still not impressed...then who really gives a shit?
As for Chris' initial comment, I don't think leg size really matters as much as it would seem. O'Gara looks to have legs like pixie sticks but still has a boot. Most good kickers don't have huge legs...they just have the ability to kick the ball exactly as it needs to be kicked.
By fry, at November 04, 2010 6:57 am
Paul Thorburn
By MCB, at November 04, 2010 7:08 am
Kicking is all about timing, body positioning, and body movement. A very technical part of the game - alot like a golf swing.
There is a youngster in South Africa at the moment, Johan Goosen - 18 year old just out of school - who hit a 67 metre penalty recently and could probably have gone back another couple of metres. It wasn't wind assisted either. That is impressive stuff.
/watch?v=6wLtxNe0nD0
By Wolfman21, at November 04, 2010 7:26 am
I lie, it was wind assisted! Still a great kick though.
By Wolfman21, at November 04, 2010 7:29 am
The issue is, Frans Steyn is from South Africa, so you're always going to get people who will try and deny him his talent. People tried to say Habana didn't deserve to be player of the year in 07, remember.
Frans Steyn, the youngest player to ever win a world cup. He could kick 80m easily in the highveldt.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 9:37 am
I saw Steyn get one over from 110m once with a strong wind behind him, a lobsided field stadium, and a rope attached to the ball.
But seriously, I have no doubt that he could get them over from 70m, as the guy said earlier.. what he also said was in PRACTICE, IF HE HITS THEM RIGHT, and SOMETIMES. I really don't see what makes that so hard to believe. Look at his recent history of kicking. They fly over even when from miles out.
That said, impressive stuff from Porical. Had no idea he has such a big boot.
By Flinto, at November 04, 2010 9:58 am
this is great for rugby! think about it, if every team had such a kicker there would be far less penalty offences
By minstrel boy, at November 04, 2010 10:02 am
I bet all the people posting comments like 'boring' etc would love to have a kicker like this on their team, and would cheer them on exhuberantly every time he put points on the board.
Anyway, is every single try scored exciting? I wouldn't say so. But as with all sport, a balance of flair and the ability to actually win games is what matters.
By Phil, at November 04, 2010 1:42 pm
@Anon, "jesus not even a run up from porical"
Yeah, like Socrates taking PKs at FIFA '86
By cheyanqui, at November 04, 2010 2:38 pm
I'm in Malta and Francois Steyn practices by kicking to me. I swear! You will have to believe me.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 2:48 pm
This video baffles me.
Technically 2 players with great capabilities, able to get points/win for their teams but is this the rugby that we want to see?
I would like to compare this video to the Saints/Falcons one! Which of the two represent the rugby we liked? A long distance penalty shootout or a good scrummage (ok 30 meter is quite insane)? Clearly the second one for me.
Kicking is part of the game, no need to change that, but due to progress in the abilities (constitution/training skills/materials) of some players, I am wondering whether this might affect negatively the overall play on the long term?
The idea to reduce penalty from 3 to 2 points might be a good option. While still consistently yellow carding continuous offenders might avoid the feeling to minimise the role and impact of penalty.
Just trying to give food to thought...
By Flipje, at November 04, 2010 2:55 pm
for thought.
By Flipje, at November 04, 2010 2:58 pm
Hi Flipje - I think you do have a point here.
Although kicking is highly skillful I am also a bigger fan of running rugby or well executed set-pieces like the scrum and powerful maul....
Perhaps teams would be encouraged to muscle up to excel in at least one area of the game that brings trys if you lowered points value attached to the kick. Afterall what is more exciting:
1) A team gaining 70 metres down the pitch to score a well earned try.........OR
2) The talented Francois Steyn booting the ball for 70 metres while everyone else looks on....
By NiWiTa, at November 04, 2010 3:09 pm
^^^ Maybe a mixture of the above options, with the emphasis on the running rugby makes the most well-rounded game?
By Phil, at November 04, 2010 4:41 pm
Tries should be worth 6 and penalties should be worth 2. Or I'd be happy with tries at 5 pts still but put penalties down to 2 pts. Verry very boring rugby, not worthy of a top spot on RD imo. There is far too much better rugby to talk about than a kicking duel up north, zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
By Canada, at November 04, 2010 5:26 pm
Hello RD. Can you post the toulouse/toulon game of last saturday please ? Tries were great to see.
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 6:25 pm
I have to say...if this becomes a regular ocurrence, I think IRB will need to step in...conceding points from in the opposition half is ridiculous. either that or make penalties one point or something...this would further discourage running rugby!!!
By Unknown, at November 04, 2010 6:36 pm
What is wrong with you people? Who on earth said anything about this being any more of a "regular" occurrence than it has been for years.
Every weekend games are decided by kicks...this was just an example of one where it was decided by enormous kicks. What's so wrong with that?
The top international points-scorer is Jonny Wilkinson and he's only scored a handful of tries.
Here's a thought: maybe being able to punish teams who infringe from over 60m out might see a reduction in penalties and that will see the game become more free-flowing. That argument holds as much water as one saying this will get rid of "running rugby".
By fry, at November 04, 2010 6:51 pm
I've seen this game. I love the comments! I signal that there was wind. Otherwise "Popo" distinctly less than potency than "Frans". (sorry for my english)
By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 7:33 pm
@ Fry, thanks for posting that i had never seen that kick before, what a monster!
Don't be so precious though, i never said I wasn't impressed. I just didn't think he could honestly kick that far.
By Noms, at November 04, 2010 10:56 pm
This is not good rugby. A boring kicking duel. yawn.
By Tommy, at November 04, 2010 11:28 pm
Sorry for the confusion, Noms. That wasn't really directed at you. It was directed at the Anonymous above you and (presumably the same person?), Nicko.
By fry, at November 04, 2010 11:44 pm
Want to watch running rugby? Go watch 7s. I bet most of the people who are posting that rubbish are Australians. Short attention spans.
By Anonymous, at November 05, 2010 1:27 am
Yeah either sevens, or the S14 or the tri nations, you know, the comps where all the best players play.
By Tommy, at November 05, 2010 2:13 am
Tommy, if that was a shot at the anon above (me) then that is failure. I am from NZ.
By Anonymous, at November 05, 2010 2:46 am
And you don't think they played running rugby in the 3-nations this year? You idiot.
By Tommy, at November 05, 2010 6:19 am
I love to watch rugby for the man on man contact. Im gay.
By Tommy, at November 05, 2010 6:50 am
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