South African coach Peter de Villiers was stating the obvious when he described Morne Steyn as a match winner, following his series-clinching penalty kick against the British and Irish Lions.

However, it is not just his educated boot, but indeed his all-round ability that has the All Blacks sweating ahead of their Tri-Nations encounter with the Springboks in Durban on Saturday.

Steyn, starting in place of the injured Ruan Pienaar, only his second Test start, has often been branded a one-dimensional player - a misguided stereotyping by critics, according to All Blacks backline coach Wayne Smith.

Smith certainly does not agree with those who feel that Steyn's biggest asset is his ability to dictate with the boot and that backline play is stifled with him in the No.10 shirt.

The Steyn critics will point to the gifted Pienaar's creative skills as the reason why he is the country's premier pivot.

But Smith believes Steyn is not as limited as some might believe.

"There's been a lot of comment on the differences between the players, but you don't score 61 points in a Super 14 Final without a flyhalf who can get his backline away," Smith told a media gathering in Durban on Wednesday.

He was making reference to the Bulls' 61-17 win over the Chiefs in the Super 14 Final - a game in which the Bulls scored eight tries, while Steyn contributed 19 points, including a drop-goal.

The Kiwi coach said that the Bulls pivot has "lots of ability", even though he is a very different player to Pienaar.

"Pienaar plays a lot flatter to the line and runs more, but Steyn is still an attacking threat with ball in hand. We'll be affording him the respect he deserves."

The Bok coach also has no doubt that Steyn's selection does not weaken the Bok backline, as some would believe.

"Morne is a very good player, he is a match-winner and he has shown that with his franchise, the Bulls," Bok coach Peter de Villiers said.

And John Smit, who becomes the most capped player in the world to captain his country on Saturday, also feels that Steyn will be up to the task.

"He's had a fairytale year," Smit said of Steyn.

"He's stepped up in a number of pressure situations and the composure he's shown at those times has been outstanding," he said of his match-winning performances in both the Super 14 and against the B&I Lions.

Even though there are those who regard Steyn as a defensive liability, the Kiwis don't see it that way.

"He's not weak defensively," the Kiwis' backline coach, Smith, said.

"He's an international player and when you pull on a jersey at this level you are able to make your tackles."