Bulls to be bullied upfront?
26 Jan 2006
If the Bulls have a liability, it’s the depth of their forwards. Insanity, you scream? Not according to coach Heyneke Meyer.
Meyer told keo.co.za that he believes his back resources are now superior to those upfront, an incredible reversal after years of being a side synonomous with brutal forward play.
“Where we lack this this year, and people won’t believe me, is in the forwards,” Meyer admitted. “In the past a large portion of our pack has been selected for the Boks, and so we’ve had an entire second pack of similar quality who’ve had to do the job for us. If you look now, though, we’ve lost Kees Lensing, we’ve lost Danie Coetzee, we’ve lost Anton Leonard, we’ve lost Warren Brosnihan. If you add the injured Gurthro Steenkamp, Richard Bands and Victor [Matfield] to that, there’s a whole pack that is out.
“We do have brilliant depth in terms of our youngsters, but some of these guys haven’t played Currie Cup yet. Guys like Pierre Spies (retreaded as an eighthman) and Cliffie Milton will come through strongly but at the moment we are at a transition stage in the forwards. In contrast, we now have real quality in every position in our backs.”
Meyer believes that those expecting the Bulls to be automatic contenders for glory are slightly misguided, emphasising the toughness of the extended Super 14 and the high turnover in players his squad has absorbed.
“People don’t realise how tough this competition is. It is the toughest rugby competition in the world, and depth is vital. If you want to win the competition you have to have almost a full international side, like the Crusaders and Waratahs have. We’re not there yet, but if we keep our feet on the ground and take it game by game, hopefully we’ll have a good season.”
Critical to the Bulls’ hopes will be Derick Hougaard and Morne Steyn. Meyer confirmed to keo.co.za that both are guaranteed starting game time, and that he backs them both to dictate games even if the forward dominance is not as evident as in the previous few seasons.
“You are going to break youngsters if you play them week-in and week-out. we will play them in blocks, maybe for three or so consecutive games. You can’t rotate them every week because then it is very difficult for them to settle and build up any sort of momentum,” Meyer explained.
“Morne and Derick are both youngsters and I believe both will play for South Africa in the future. We are happy to have two great players here. Some people see that as a negative, but I think it is a fantastic positive. We are going to need different players for different conditions, especially at 10. They have very important roles this season.”
31 Comments
26 Jan 2006, 14:14 pm
Hehehe… workpress! No 8…
26 Jan 2006, 14:27 pm
Well, it will hopefully not surprise the Cheethas if the Bulls come out 10/2 and play a running game after 20/40/60 minutes. They sure have the personnel.
Watch that Spies Okie, HM will use him a lot to replace pakslae at 8.
26 Jan 2006, 14:29 pm
heyneke has one of the best heads in rugbyu in SA.
if there ever are two guys i will listen to its him and rassie – but rassie needs more experience imo but will become great i am sure.
the reason you bully boys are so successful is because you got one brilliant coach who does not let glory cloud his vision and he keeps his feet on the ground and his nose clean.
whenever he opens his mouth (if not fighting with Jake) he speaks sense – i hope the WP boys reads this and sees when a coach talks, he must talk sense – and if he can’t, he must shut up.
even better, do your talking on the field.
26 Jan 2006, 14:43 pm
Tis true PissAnt….in Heyneke I trust, do your talking on the field…..Let the games begin, can’t wait anymore!
26 Jan 2006, 14:46 pm
Why doesn’t Jake use Heynecke as his forwards coach (for the WC). Nick Mallett did and look at what he achieved.
I’m sorry but for me Gert Smal is not the real deal. Talks the talk but haven’t seen him walk the talk (at international level). Currently the forwards of England, France and New Zealand are better trained than ours (they get a greater bang for their buck from the forwards).
Also (and apologies for rambling) we are in real trouble nationally when it comes to the frontrow. We are deperate for some big, strong buggers who like to scrum and bully their opposite number.
26 Jan 2006, 14:47 pm
IMO Meyer is down-playing the Bulls obvious strength, i.e. their forwards, I mean come-on these okes have enough depth in any position and just look at the up and coming youngsters in the younger squads. The Bulls will continue to to what they do best, crash and bash upfront until they pulverise the opposition. Only thing is that the opponents might have their number now…
26 Jan 2006, 14:49 pm
Disagree with you Train, we have some of the best frontrow men in the world: Os, Guthro, CJ, etc etc. Agree with replacing the forwards coach though!
26 Jan 2006, 14:56 pm
Zero, setting myself up for a lot of abuse here but I think Os is past it – has been for sometime. He can be worl class for 40mins even sometimes 80 mins but he cannot do it week after week.
You also compare he against guys like Sheridan, who is a lock now playing as a frontrower. The guys is awesome and a matchwinner. We don’t have props who can win you games and you need them. Balie and (younger) Os had a lot to do with our success in 95. They dominated (not pulverised) Dowd and Brown, Dowd had to leave the field and Loe came on, gave away a penalty and the rest is history. Other guy I lked was Pagel – bit nasty but he had guts.
26 Jan 2006, 14:57 pm
Train
As far as I am concerned you can Ramble as much as you like on Get rid of Gert Smal topic
26 Jan 2006, 15:00 pm
i still think the bulls pack lacks balance. their loosies are generally clones of each other. there is no link man for the backline to play off, and no real speedster to chase the ball. although I look forward to seeing what Dlulane can add.
otherwise they are pretty damn strong in all areas.
26 Jan 2006, 15:01 pm
Agree with you train, Os is past his selby date, so is Percy IMHO, and to a lesser extent Paulse!
Having said that… they still have alot to offer SA Rugby!
26 Jan 2006, 15:05 pm
Train
…if the majority of the Bok forwards are BULLS anyway – why not have them trained by HM….thats good idea !!! dont rate that Gert Smal…
26 Jan 2006, 15:18 pm
HM doesnt want to be an assistant to anyone at National Level. I’m sure he mentioned this last year or in 2004…
26 Jan 2006, 15:22 pm
Train
Agree with Os starting to get on, but the guy still has plenty to give to SA rugby, be it on or off the field. With regards to Sheridan, IMO, its just loads of good old fashioned Limey hype. Fair enough, he can bench press 215kg blah blah blah, I didn’t see him out-muscle Hayman, and I don’t see him out-scrumming CJ the big between CJ and a 215kg weight is that CJ’s 125kg push back!
Just have a look at the depth that the Cheetahs have in the frontrow, nah, the Boks are fine when it comes to tight five time…
26 Jan 2006, 15:23 pm
Oh and Andy likes to write and sing folk music too, doesn’t sound too scary now does it!
26 Jan 2006, 15:24 pm
all this – make Meyer bok forward coach is all very well, and I think most would agree in theory. except for the glaringly obvious obstacle.
Heyneke is not interested in the job. He made it quite clear when he applied for the job Jake eventually got. he wanted to be head coach, or he was not prepard to be involved. I guess having already been a bok assistant coach he does not see the point in going backwards. Unfortunately.
26 Jan 2006, 15:32 pm
Good point munkiboi
26 Jan 2006, 15:42 pm
Fair point about Heynecke not wanting to be an asistant – but I think Jake should then use him as a consultant. I just believe he has something to offer the national set-up and Jake shouldn’t be shy to ask and similarly Heynecke should co-operate. How they do it will be tricky though as too many cooks can spoil the broth….
Zero, I hope you are right about our forward depth because that is where the WC is going to be won or lost.
Last point, sometimes I think they should take Wannenburg and retread him as a prop – he has the potential to be awesome!
26 Jan 2006, 16:07 pm
Yes Heineke – as you rightly say the guys need to keep their feet on the ground – unlike the arrogance displayed in the CC final 2005.
Secondly – Morne and Hougaard both future Springboks?? I would bet against that, unless of course you become the next Springbok coach…
26 Jan 2006, 16:12 pm
two different opinions on forward coaching.
HM believes the pack hunts under the ‘blanket’ and JW’s thoery is hunting in 3, 4 and sixes.
HM belives all 8 plays to the ball, get forward carrying momentum and JW believes that as well to an extend where it will not be good for the defencive line.
26 Jan 2006, 16:56 pm
thanks green blood, never new that but I assume there will be times when you want to mix it up and have options
26 Jan 2006, 17:21 pm
Zero,
Old Sheridian had his arse handed to him the past weekends game.I agree it’s limey hype.
26 Jan 2006, 17:46 pm
good interview. happy to see that heyneke is prepared to talk to keo again.
i wonder what the ETA is on guthro, bands and big vic being ready to play?
keep it up heyneke. i’ve got a season ticlet and i want to use it for the play-offs!
26 Jan 2006, 18:56 pm
when I see the headline, I wonder: are you talking about home or away matches? because if its away matches then you’re just stating the obvious aren’t you?
26 Jan 2006, 19:02 pm
Go Bulls Go!!
27 Jan 2006, 03:53 am
Heineken Mayor brought his A team with his very best tight five to Carisbrook last year and they all came out on the painful end of a twenty-something to NIL snotting…
Anton Oliver’s pretty-average Highlanders pack absolutely smoked them.
27 Jan 2006, 08:58 am
Heyneke withdraw from the shortlist as SA Coach just after Maarkgraaff. They add new names to the list and Jake got the job. Why would he ever be an assistant to somebody who knows he got the job because of Meyer`s withdrawel. Mallett fired Jake to make place for Meyer- Jake applied for the Bulls job- Meyer`s got that as well. Do you understand White`s problem with Meyer???????
27 Jan 2006, 10:43 am
Tackler – although CD’s and MP3′s are all the rage – we’re all still stuck in the past with a stuck record like yourself hanging around.
Remember what I told you before now. You are meaningless. If everyone was a turncoat traitor like you, there’d be no one for you to wind up. Think about it for a second will ya. You have no pride.
27 Jan 2006, 11:07 am
As Oom Boy Louw famously said, munki, “Looks at the scoreboard!”
History is a pretty indelible business! And that humiliating twenty-pointer plus clobbering of the Bulls by the Highlanders also happens to be the most recent result!
You will just have to digest it, I guess. No point in trying to deny it.
27 Jan 2006, 11:21 am
meaningless.
27 Jan 2006, 15:02 pm
Tackler, the most recent result? The most recent result by the Bulls against an NZ team overseas is a win against the Hurricanes. Go check your facts dumbass.
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