Springbok starlet Francois Steyn is determined to put in the work to make him the best rugby player in the world.

The young utility back showed glimpses of the genius he is capable of in the Springboks' 26-0 win over Italy at Newlands on Saturday.

However, Steyn's performance was also littered with mistakes, although the wet weather definitely contributed to that.

The driving Cape rain made handling and kicking very difficult for both teams, and set the tone for Italy's damage limitation approach.

Steyn made a rare start in the Bok number 10 jersey in the absence of Butch James, who was rested. The 21-year-old started the match in spectacular fashion with an exceptional solo effort for the Springboks' first try.

Riding his luck

Steyn received quick ball, and chipped through the flat Italian line. He raced past the defensive line, and produced a stunning one-handed pick-up in the slippery conditions to crash over for the try.

"I think there was a little luck involved," a modest Steyn told us afterwards.

"I'm just glad it's over. It was a strange game, especially with the rain and all.

"The first half was okay, it didn't rain all that much. In the second half when we came out, it was raining hard. But being a Springbok means that one can't use the conditions as an excuse.

"But a win is a win, and we're thankful for that. Now we're looking forward to the Tri-Nations."

Plenty to work on

Steyn admitted to making some mistakes in the match, but stated that he was more than prepared to work on his form. He also reminded his critics of a need for more game time, stating that he had not played much competitive rugby since the Super 14.

"I struggled a bit in the second half, but it was the first time in a long while that I've played at flyhalf," said the gifted playmaker. "It was good, but there's still plenty for me to work on.

"I think I lost a little bit of concentration. I haven't played 80 minutes in a long time. Maybe I was tired or whatever, but I can work on that and make it better."

The youngster also spoke about the freedom that coach De Villiers gives to his game-breakers.

"There is a gameplan to follow, but you can still do your own thing within the gameplan," he explained.

"Peter (de Villiers) gives us the opportunity to do our own thing.

"You have to give players like Jean (de Villiers) and Bryan (Habana) some freedom on the field. But it is also a team game, and it's important to do what's right for the team."

As a player, Steyn ticks just about all the boxes needed for an explosive back.

Vision, pace, power and the ability to kick a rugby ball unbelievable distances are all huge weapons in his rugby arsenal.

Aiming to be the best

But being a world-class flyhalf also requires unbroken concentration and the ability to make the correct snap decisions. Steyn knows that there is room for improvement in those departments.

"I wasn't happy with all the decisions that I made (Saturday)," he admitted.

"I made some mistakes, but I'm only 21 so there's still a lot of time for me to learn."

The Sharks back then revealed that he has the ambition to reach the very top echelon in his profession.

"If you want to be the best, you have to do everything 100 percent correct," he said.

"I'm going to be hard on myself, and just work harder."

The World Cup winner has played in every position in the Springbok backline save for scrumhalf since his international debut in 2006.

Steyn's raw talent and versatility has now created a problem for the Springbok selectors — they can't seem to find a suitable position for him.

It is commonly believed that it was Steyn's request to play flyhalf for the Springboks, but the player himself has dispelled this theory.

"There's somewhat of a misunderstanding about that. I had a talk with the coach, and we decided that it will be better for me in the long run to play flyhalf.

"That was the decision that we made, and we'll see how it goes from here," said Steyn, before rightly adding that his abilities in that position should only be assessed after he has had some time to settle into the position.

"I'm happy with that decision, but we'll see as time goes. You can't (judge) now, there's still a lot of hard work to be done to get me back on form, and where I want to be."

The jury might still be out on whether Steyn's game is suited to flyhalf, yet it would seem an awful waste if his sublime talent was not properly developed and implemented in the Springbok team in the years to come.

365