A new Frans Steyn? Griquas measured but excited over gifted Zander du Plessis

He still needs to spend more hours in the gym to gain a bit more bulk, but in all the other dimensions, Zander du Plessis is becoming a dead ringer for Frans Steyn.

The 21-year-old rising Griquas star stands over 1.9m in his boots, sports a vintage young Steyn mop of hair, played fullback and flyhalf before settling in at inside centre and, most prominently, has a massive, deadly boot.

Du Plessis captured the imagination of a pretty low key Currie Cup campaign to date two weeks ago when he slotted a 63m penalty with the utmost ease as the Peacock Blues strode to a 41-20 victory over the Pumas in Kimberley.

It was a remarkable moment, highlighted by the former Grey College pupil insisting on taking the kick.

He wasn't going to miss, of that, he was 100% certain.

And he didn't.

"It was amazing, especially for us as a forward pack," said Niel Otto, Griquas' openside flanker and stand-in captain.

"To have a kicker like him just always kicking into the right areas of the field and slotting penalties from anywhere, even in his own half, gives us a lot of confidence as a pack. It's an immediate injection of energy. 

"We're always going forward with him on our outside. It's great."

When the men from the Northern Cape announced the recruit of Du Plessis, the overall sentiment was overwhelmingly positive - they had made a shrewd signing.

He had lit up last year's Varsity Cup, sensationally dictating matters as Tuks galloped to a fourth title and breaking the record for most points by a player in a season - 157.

"When I came to Griquas (in October 2021), I was really excited about Zander being there," said Pieter Bergh, Griquas' head coach.

"I obviously knew him from the Varsity Cup having coached against him with the CUT Ixias. We signed him