Legendary Springbok Morne Steyn has opened up about his illustrious rugby journey which culminated in him slotting the series-winning penalty against the 2021 British & Irish Lions.

In August, Steyn slotted the ultimate penalty to clinch a Lions series victory for the Springboks for the second time in his career.

Just as he had done in 2009 when the Lions previously toured South Africa, Steyn proved to be the match-winner as he converted a 78th-minute penalty to help the Springboks claim a 2-1 series win in the third Test against the tourists.

After his latest heroics, Steyn travelled with the Springboks to Australasia for the away leg of the Rugby Championship, but announced his retirement from Test rugby following the conclusion of the tour.

Speaking exclusively to former Scotland international Jim Hamilton, Steyn revealed how differently he experienced his two heroic acts against the Lions 12 years apart.

“2009 was a whole different scenario for me,” Steyn said. “It was my first year with the Springboks squad – I was more of a junior. I played my first Test against the Lions in Durban and then the one at Loftus Versfeld where I kicked the penalty.

“This year I came back at 37 and all the youngsters looked up to me, so it was very different.

“But if you look at the game, everything happened almost the same. On both occasions, I came on in the last quarter, my first kick was a difficult one where Jacque Fourie scored that try in 2009. And this year my first kick was a difficult one out of the corner and then the winning kicks were both close to the poles and easy.

He added: “Eben Etzebeth and I were having breakfast prior to the final Test against the Lions in Cape Town and he actually told me, imagine everything happened the same as in 2009.

“I simply can’t describe it, it’s just an amazing feeling.”

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