Bulls miss Bok backs
3 Jul 2006
Outgoing Blue Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer admits it will take time for his new-look backline to gel.
Meyer has handed the Absa Currie Cup coaching reins over to his assistant Pote Human, but will still be involved in team selection and tactics.
He said one of the aspects he’d be looking at in his new role as director of rugby would be the improvement of backline play.
“I definitely think South African backline play can improve but I still believe our forwards are our strong point,” Meyer told Beeld rugby writer De Jongh Borchardt. “If I get the opportunity to do more research it will definitely be one of the aspects I will look at.”
The Bulls backs have struggled over the last two weeks, but Meyer says this is because of all the new combinations being tested.
“We are playing with a new pair of centres and the whole back triangle is new because Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane and Bryan Habana are out,” Meyer said.
“Then we also miss Wynand Olivier’s decision making [at centre], but I believe these things will improve with time and coaching. It is also important that Frikkie [Welsh] has to establish himself at inside centre.
“We are a long way from where we should be. The Cheetahs and the Sharks definitely have more momentum than we have because they have fewer players out.
“However, I enjoy being regarded as the dark horse. The pressure is on the other teams but we showed against the Lions that nobody should forget about the Bulls.”
The Bulls play Western Province at Loftus on Saturday.
25 Comments
3 Jul 2006, 07:23 am
Off the mark…with an easy single!
3 Jul 2006, 07:26 am
Mmm he should talk to a few guys on this blog…according to them the CC is all but won by the Bulls, just the handing over to still happen!
3 Jul 2006, 08:44 am
Haha Koos! Baie van die ouens dink so ja, maar dit is soos Heineken se, die Cheetahs en Sharks het die momentum en dit gaan eers in die final gebreek word.
3 Jul 2006, 09:52 am
Die beker kom huis toe manne.
3 Jul 2006, 09:53 am
Arme WP, na hulle nederlaag die naweek wag die Bulle en dan die Cheetahs…dinge gaan ook nie makliker vir hulle en die leeus word nie!
BB vs Sharks final
3 Jul 2006, 09:56 am
Bulls het die swakste span op papier maar die beste span op die veld. Hierdie is n jaar waar nuwe spelers groot name gaan word. Nou vra ek vir Jake is Solly beter as Tim!
3 Jul 2006, 10:01 am
Supa, I say Bulls, Cheetahs.
3 Jul 2006, 10:01 am
Jake se kop werk nie lekker nie. Hy se mense te vroeg sleg dan is hy te trots om die na die tyd te kies!
3 Jul 2006, 10:17 am
The Bulls may miss a bunch of Bok backs, but in the second half on Saturday they still made my Lions look ordinary. Granted most of the work was done up front (Pedrie and Dlulane were incredible) but they seem to have real depth in their backs. Delport is definitely going places. And I thought Morne Steyn hardly put a foot wrong.
3 Jul 2006, 10:18 am
I also think the Bulls will struggle this year.
This team has to gell and a new coach is always a disruption. PHuman has his work cut-out for him and it definitely helps him that that “senior players – boks” are not there, because people always resist change.
The Bulls must make a clean cut and give PHuman all the power – PHuman must have all the backing – even if they don’t win the CC – building needs to be continiously. (groot woord vir ‘n boertjie)
HMeyer must put all his time in the S14 and go that exstra mile to win it… he will have to change some of his methods, gameplans, and structures and although many people don’t rate him as a coach – i think he’s one of the best and as a person, motivator ect. he is up there with the best.
So lets wait and see – but it ain’t gonna be easy!!!!!! But then again what in live is easy?
En om alles korrek in Engels te stel in ook nie maklik nie – so moet my nie laat weet wat is die spelfoute nie asb.
3 Jul 2006, 10:33 am
Keo
How about some info regarding the boardroom-war that is going on behind the scenes at the Bulls.
According to Rapport, Heyneke gave them an ultimatum and actually handed them his letter of resignation, which forced an emergency board meeting at which they finally gave into his demands.
Apparantly Heyneke is asking for more power over coaching structures and player contracting, while the administrators are resisting him all the way.
According to Rapport, this is an election year, and administrators are electioneering rather than putting the good of the union first.
Get us some up to date info! This is serious stuff.
Just shows you the difference in character between Heyneke and Jake White.
For Heyneke, its all about taking the Bulls to the next level, and he needs more power and authority to do this. For White, however, its all about more money. Heyneke is tight lipped about the whole thing, keeping it low key and behind the scenes, while Jake shoots his mouth off a day before the Boks play a test against France, effectively holding a gun to Saru’s head. Integrity vs. greed.
From a Bulls perspective, we need to get the Bulls-fans to back Heyneke all the way in this endeavour.
3 Jul 2006, 11:00 am
Tacitus, The other thing about The Meyer is that he’ll admit to his shortcomings and look to improve.
As he says, he wishes to “steek ‘n paar kerse op” with other coaches overseas and learn how to improve his coaching, this, I believe is what makes a good coach.
3 Jul 2006, 11:02 am
Die Rugridders gaan weer bloei Saterdag.
Gelukkig is hulle al redelik gewoond daaraan.
3 Jul 2006, 11:06 am
I’d like to hear the full story too Tacitus (#11), but you are a bit one sided in your summing up of Jake and Heyneke.
Jake also wants more power and authority to select players, to rest players, and to give opportunities with their province. Just like Heyneke.
Handing in a letter of resignation is a pretty big gun to the head as well.
3 Jul 2006, 11:06 am
oh rubbish tacitus, its exactly the same thing, meyer wants more control over his squad away from the meddling of external influences.
it just happens to have come a week after the white debacle, very funny.
3 Jul 2006, 11:19 am
Tacticus – if it was all about money for Jake he would have left long time ago. He can easily do better (financially) in the NH than he is doing at the moment.
3 Jul 2006, 11:20 am
The bulls have great backs, what they lack is good inside center. Friekkie is not an answear at this posision. I would like to see Potgeiter at 12, he looks strong, have played flyhalf so can pass and kick.
3 Jul 2006, 11:21 am
Bluecap – when Gert Small went to France to “steek ‘n paar kerse op” everybody north of the Juksei was all over him. Now that HM wants to do it, it is suddenly applauded
3 Jul 2006, 11:30 am
Stan,
Wp het glo goed gespeel teen die Haaie en ek dink hulle kom met geweld Loftus toe. Die Bulle kannie vir altyd die Wp wen nie en onthou die Bulle het ook nou ‘n nuwe afrigter – dit gaan taai wees.
Dit gaan die Bulle ‘n jaar of wat vat om weer bo uit te kom.
3 Jul 2006, 11:58 am
Nee wat, ons sal die WP wen. Wp het orraait gespeel maar in my opinie was dit die Haaie se swakste game van die jaar (sluit s14 in). Die Wp het hier en daar goeie spelers soos Aplon en Diack (agsteman) en Luke was goed. Maar as n span dink ek ons is net te sterk vir hulle. Ons kan net die game verloor, ek dink hulle kan hom wen nie. Hulle forwards gaan weer swaar kry en op die agtervoet beteken hulle agterlyn nie veel nie. Ons het hulle nommer en hulle verloor die game nog voor hulle loftus toe kom in hul kop! Hulle gaan positief speel en kompeterend wees totdat ons met 8+ voor is of twee dskielike driee druk,dan gaan hulle vou. Onthou s14. Hulle ding mee totdat ons vinnoig score dan dink hulle “o hel, hier kom weer n loesing†en dan begin hulle in n verdedigende mode oorgaan en dan is dit verby…
Miskien bewys hulle my verkeerd, maar ek sal verras wees. Die WP bring altyd die beste uit die Bulle. Bulle met 15+
3 Jul 2006, 12:06 pm
Tacitus
You really contradicting yourself. What Jake did and HM did was exactly the same. They both arguing that they want more control and if they don’t get it then they might as well leave. Jake requesting an extension and/or an interview with the Poms or HM threatening with resignation – whats the difference??
3 Jul 2006, 12:09 pm
watching the bulls vs Lions game was like watching paint dry… Most SA games are like that.
Suprisingly the WP vs Sharks game was quite entertaining.
3 Jul 2006, 12:27 pm
Cab and BMM
There is in fact a huge difference between Heyneke and Jake’s actions.
Heyneke is not blackmailing his employer with suggestions of a more lucrative offer elsewhere. Jake is.
Heyneke is not asking for better job security or an extension to his contract. Jake is.
Heyneke is requesting greater power over the coaching structures at the Bulls. Contrary to your statements, Jake is not requesting less political interference from parliament, because frankly, that subject is taboo.
Bottomline. Jake is negotiating a better deal for himself – a longer contract, removal of the performance clause, and a bigger salary (that’s what the whole “R 20 million England offer†hints were aimed at.)
Heyneke is not concerned about his own nest egg, but rather about the best way to achieve success at the Bulls.
And Heyneke definitely has not flown to job interviews anywhere else in the country – or in the world for that matter – ala Jake White.
Frankly, there is no comparison between the two situations whatsoever. And no comparison between the integrity of the two men either.
3 Jul 2006, 13:25 pm
Tacitus, i wouldn’t call it blackmail, but both are asking their repsective unions to cede certin things to them or else.
hard to see how you class white’s motives as more sinister than meyer, white might want a longer contract extension, but it could be argued at least he’s not asking for the political power that meyer is (which has a greater impact on everyone else).
4 Jul 2006, 05:15 am
They don’t even use their back line any way. He he he.
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