Veteran fly half Morne Steyn has been called up as cover for the South African squad ahead of the next two tests against Ireland after injury to first-choice Pat Lambie, the South Africa Rugby Union said yesterday.
The 31-year-old was recalled from holidays after having already completed his season in France with Stade Francais in an unexpected revival of his international career. Steyn was presumed to have played his last match for the Springboks after a making a solitary appearance at last year’s World Cup in England.
But a long-term injury to Handre Pollard and Lambie being ruled out of the second test in Johannesburg on Saturday, means a route back for Steyn, who has scored 694 points in his 60 test appearances.
Lambie suffered concussion after being pole-axed by a late tackle in Saturday’s 26-20 defeat in the first test at Newlands.
Steyn steps in as cover for Elton Jantjies, who will be the Boks’ pivot at Ellis Park. The third test between South Africa and Ireland will be played in Port Elizabeth on June 25.

All Black Donnelly and Scot Beattie join Bayonne
New Zealand international lock Tom Donnelly will join Bayonne from Montpellier for next season, the Basques said yesterday. Bayonne will also sign Scottish flanker Johnnie Beattie from Castres. Donnelly, who has signed a one-year contract, had spent the last two years with Montpellier but was not part of the matchday 23 for Sunday’s Top 14 play-off victory over Castres.
Likewise, Beattie, who spent two years with Montpellier before the last two with Castres, was not involved. He has signed a three-year deal. Donnelly, 34, was capped 15 times by the All Blacks and played for Highlanders, Crusaders and Blues in Super Rugby.
Beattie, 30, has played 38 times for Scotland and began his career with Glasgow. Bayonne, who secured promotion back up to the Top 14 this season at the first time of asking, have already signed a raft of players for next season in a bid to strengthen their squad in a bid to maintain their top flight status.

Sharks win 10 straight to join Storm at top of NRL
The Cronulla Sharks won their tenth straight National Rugby League game with a 13-10 victory over champions North Queensland in Sydney yesterday. The Sharks raised hopes of a long-awaited premiership title after grand final near-misses in 1973 and 1978.
They are second in the competition standings on points differential behind Melbourne Storm. Second-rower Wade Graham played his way into the New South Wales team for next week’s second State of Origin game against Queensland with a strong performance for the Sharks.
Graham was instrumental in harassing the Cowboys Test playmaker Johnathan Thurston and also came up with a try-saving tackle on Queensland Origin prop Matt Scott. The Storm had hammered Sydney Roosters 46-0 on Saturday to move to the top of the standings.
Test scrum-half Cooper Cronk scored two second-half tries after Melbourne led 18-0 at halftime. Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu scored a hat-trick of tries. It was the Roosters’ biggest loss at home and Melbourne’s biggest win over the Tricolours, who now need to win at least nine of their last 11 games to make the end-of-season playoffs.
Queensland fullback Darius Boyd claimed a hat-trick of tries as the Brisbane Broncos downed the Canberra Raiders 26-18 at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday. Canterbury Bulldogs defeated St George Illawarra 34-16 in the other game.