Lions star smashes Englishman’s record then challenges Frans Steyn
England’s long range kicker Elliot Daly has had his record for rugby’s longest kick well and truly smashed by Lions fly-half Tiaan Swanepoel.
The Saracens and British & Irish Lions star held the World Rugby challenge record of the longest kick, at 65.5 metres, ahead of the All Blacks’ Jordie Barrett’s 65 metres, Georgia’s Gela Aprasidze’s 64 metres and Australia’s Reece Hodge’s 60 metres, but the 26-year-old Swanepoel turned up for the challenge on a mission.
Straight away he said: “All of you have been asking for Francois Steyn in the comments, but today I’m going to prove that I’ve got the biggest boot,” and he comfortably proved it, nailing a 70 metre kick to take the record. He then went on to challenge Steyn to beat his record.
As impressive as the kick was, it was probably taken at altitude, which certainly helps. Daly has apparently already called World Rugby to ask if he can retake his kick at altitude as well.
Take a look at the kick:
It may be a while before Steyn takes Swanepoel up on his challenge, as the Springboks veteran is currently in Australia preparing for rounds three and four of the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies.
Springbok touring squad:
Props
Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers)
Vincent Koch (Wasps)
Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers)
Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers
Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Locks
Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks)
Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)
Loose forwards
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks)
Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Duane Vermeulen (Ulster)
Utility forwards
Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves
Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles)
Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)
Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier)
Flyhalves
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)
Midfielders
Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins)
Outside backs
Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls)
Warrick Gelant (Racing 92)
Utility Backs
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)
Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs)
