Jarryd Hayne
Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Jarryd Hayne (38) poses with an Australian flag after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. Reuters/Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers are aiming for an unexpected 2-0 start in the 2015 NFL regular season when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday (early Monday morning in Australia). Jarryd Hayne, the Australian rugby star turned NFL player, promised to do better in his next catch off a punt after muffing his first-ever NFL touch in his debut.

The 49ers are coming off a one-sided 20-3 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in their opening game while the Steelers suffered a 28-21 beating at the hands of the defending Super Bowl champions New England Patriots in their own opener.

San Francisco led 7-0 at halftime and was never in real danger throughout the game. The 49ers were led by second-year running back Carlos Hyde, who had 168 rushing yards on 26 carries with two touchdowns. Hyde’s led all backs in total rushing yards for Week 1 of the season.

Hayne finished with 20 all-purpose yards, 13 rushing and 7 receiving and none from the single punt return attempt.

“If I’m put in that situation again, it’s something I’ve definitely learned from,” Hayne said via ESPN. “And if I can’t get a clean catch, then I won’t catch it.”

49ers special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey added in the article, “young players make mistakes” and described Hayne’s error as part of the “maturation process” in his growth as an NFL player.

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who had 165 passing yards on 17 of 26 passes and 41 yards on 7 carries versus Minnesota, will face a Steelers’ defence, which gave up 281 passing yards and 80 rushing yards to the Patriots.

Pittsburgh’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had 351 passing yards on 26 of 38 passes with a touchdown and an interception. Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams finished with 127 rushing yards on 21 carries while WR Antonio Brown had 133 receiving yards on nine catches.

Catch the San Francisco 49ers vs Pittsburgh Steelers live streaming via NFL Game Pass.

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