Lions flyhalf Chris Smith has emerged as their on-field general this season, driving them toi the URC play-offs for the first time.
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Morné Steyn believes Chris Smith is currently the best fly-half in South African rugby, and cannot understand why the Lions playmaker was entirely overlooked for the latest Springbok alignment camp.
Speaking from the Lions’ training base in Dublin ahead of next weekend’s United Rugby Championship quarter-final against Leinster, the former Springbok No. 10 delivered a glowing assessment of the 30-year-old — who has emerged as one of the definitive figures behind the franchise’s resurgence this season.
“It’s sad for me that he’s not in the alignment camp,” Steyn said on Friday. “For me, he’s probably the best fly-half in the country at the moment, and probably one of the top in the URC as well.”
It is a significant endorsement from one of South Africa’s most accomplished and decorated fly-halves, particularly given Steyn’s long-standing relationship with Smith dating back to their time together at the Bulls. It is also a bold statement considering the scintillating form of Stormers and Springbok star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Smith has been central to the Lions finally breaking into the URC play-offs under head coach Ivan van Rooyen, providing the tactical control and macro game management the franchise has often lacked in previous campaigns. The numbers thoroughly underline his influence.
Heading into the knockout stages, Smith sits second on the URC points-scoring chart with 154 points this season — just four points behind Feinberg-Mngomezulu — combining highly reliable goal-kicking with the sharp tactical direction that has helped transform the Lions from unpredictable entertainers into genuine silverware contenders.
Since arriving at Ellis Park, Smith has gradually become one of the premier senior voices within an otherwise youthful backline, a responsibility Steyn believes he has embraced fully.
“He made a big difference in our team,” Steyn said. “It’s great working with him. I played alongside him before at the Bulls, so I know exactly what he can do and the immense ability he possesses. He’s one of the senior guys now and he’s taking complete control. He’s in charge.”
Van Rooyen echoed those sentiments, crediting Smith’s trademark calmness and on-field leadership as crucial factors in the Lions taking a significant step forward in the URC this season.
“As Morné said, someone like Chris made a massive difference there for us in steering the team, bringing just calmness, clear direction, and clinical execution of what we want to achieve,” Van Rooyen said.
The veteran pivot will again have a major role to play against the heavyweight contenders next weekend in Dublin, where points-scoring opportunities are likely to be incredibly scarce and Smith’s accurate boot and tactical kicking game could prove entirely decisive.
The Lions secured major, statement victories over the Sharks, Bulls, and Stormers during the grueling league phase, and they pushed both Leinster and Munster exceptionally hard away from home over the past fortnight despite ultimately falling just short. Van Rooyen admitted the squad left the recent Munster defeat deeply frustrated after feeling they had let a massive opportunity slip through their fingers.
“We had genuine opportunities right up to the final two minutes,” the coach noted. “The group felt the exact same way, which shows just how much they care, and also how much they truly believe that we can beat elite teams like that away from home.”
That deep-seated belief will face its biggest examination yet next weekend against a world-class Leinster side packed with seasoned internationals, who are widely expected to field a near full-strength lineup in Dublin. If the Lions are to produce one of the greatest URC play-off upsets in modern history, Smith’s composure and tactical control are likely to sit at the absolute heart of it once again.