The beat just goes on for South African Springbok and Blue Bull fly half Morné Steyn. This past weekend he took part in his fourth major win of the 2009 season, a veritable rugby grand slam: Super 14 title, a series victory against the touring British Lions, a Springbok victory in the Tri-Nations, and this past weekend in Pretoria, a Currie Cup (The South African National Championship) victory in a thrilling  36-24 win against the Free State Cheetahs.

The blue-clad crowd at Loftus Versfeld had hardly settled into their seats when the Blue Bulls took advantage of some individual brilliance to take a quick  14-0 lead. At one point, they led this match 24-0, but the gritty team from Bloemfontain fought back and more than made a game of this match.

Steyn showed great leadership and poise, along with his tactical acumen. He scored a key drop goal and also hit a monster 50+ meter penalty to keep the Cheetahs at bay. It cannot be underestimated just how much it has to mess with the pysche of an opponenent, when you know that any little penalty like holding onto the ball, going off your feet or from the sides in a ruck from anywhere on your side of the pitch can get punished by giving up three points. Playing in great conditions at altitude only added to the likely conversion of penalties by the Blue Bulls number 10.

Steyn’s great year also mirrored those of teamates Fourie Du Preez, Bryan Habana (in his last game in a Blue Bulls Jersey), Pierre Spies, Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, who all got to sample this special vintage of a year with a rare grand slam of international club and national team victories.

The scary thing for Blue Bulls and Springbok opponents is that he will only get better, and by the 2011 World Cup, should be at the height of his game.(Barring injuries, of course)