Heyneke pushes Tigers to the max

Heyneke pushes Tigers to the max

5 Sep 2008

Tom Varndell says Heyneke Meyer pushed Leicester to the limit during a gruelling pre-season schedule.

Varndell, the Premierships leading try-scorer last season, believes the Tigers are fitter than ever and are raring to go ahead of Sunday’s opening clash against Gloucester.

“Heyneke has worked us hard. He has worked us until breaking point,” Varndell told the Leicester Mercury.

“He kept saying ‘I can’t break you boys’. But there were points where I felt close to breaking. However, I have enjoyed myself. It has been mentally tough, as well as physically demanding, but I have enjoyed every minute of it. It has been one of the hardest pre-seasons I have done, and we have had some hard fitness coaches in the past.”

“But everyone is still smiling and looking forward to hitting the ground running at Gloucester. Physically, I feel ready to take on the marathon that is the Premiership.

“We won’t lose games because we are not fit enough. That is not going to be an excuse. Everyone is fitter than they have ever been. The team is looking good.”

Meyer replaces Marcelo Loffreda who was sacked after just seven months in charge and has made an immediate impact in his short time in England. Varndell believes the club made the right decision appointing the South African.

“Heyneke is brilliant,” said Varndell. “He is a breath of fresh air and has a really positive attitude. He loves his rugby and it’s fantastic to have him around. He encourages all the players and the players want to play for him. There is a really good atmosphere.

“He is completely different to Marcelo. I’m not saying that Marcelo was bad, I didn’t have a problem with him, but Heyneke is fantastic to have around. The whole atmosphere of the club is very different and everyone is a lot more positive.”


213 Comments

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  • 51.Darquan: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:08 pm

    I see we are almost going to have as much cover of NH rugby as of Curry Cup. And that becuase HM is there and most want to keep up to date with how one of our best coaches is doing. Not that I mind. Just glad he to liefling with him so that Steyn can play as preferred starter :)

  • 52.Horing: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:08 pm

    #22 Sheriff: Thats the problem with SA – too much politics and we are willing to accept 2nd best in the name of “empowerment”. Our best people are not going to sit around and wait for a call from SA Rugby. Meyer is gone foreever, SA Rugby missed their chance. He’s future now lies in Europe where the entire setup is more professional. He is free to select whoever he wants without political interverence. He has a nice budget to purchase the world’s best players (guaranteed a few “non quota” SA players). He earns pounds. Why will he want to come back to this political circus?

    And as for Rassie, SA Rugby wont even consider him as a couch. Too white & afrikaans and probably has family that stayed in the University of Free State Reitz hostel. Rassie wil only take the Bok couching job when it is on his terms and that wount happen soon – not in Rassie’s lifetime. He will be the next South African to couch in Europe.

  • 53.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:09 pm

    IS Heyneke beter as Ludike??? :)

  • 54.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:09 pm

    #47 adj nm: Weird that the best forwards ussualy come from the inland unions while the best backs are from the coast.

  • 55.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:10 pm

    #47 adj nm:

    Where is Werner (Smiley) Tshwanepoel ® these days?

  • 56.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:12 pm

    #55 Sheriff: He is in Hollywood, apparently he is now Adam Sandler’s stunt double/drinking buddy.

  • 57.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:12 pm

    #49 Kerneels: Absolutely right – on a farm there somewhere – but that the whole debate on when do you claim someone – where he was born or where he made his rugby name.

    Honnibal was punted as the next springbok 10 when he was still at FS. Joel Stransky was the current bok 10. I think Honniball moved to the sharks in 95 and became springbok in 96. So I guess I cannot claim him for FS.

    Just like I’ll never claim Gaffie as a FS springbok – his a Griekwa Springbok.

    But its all up for debate?

  • 58.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:15 pm

    #57 adj nm: Nah, it is easy down here in Durbs – if the guy still speaks Afrikaans the Sharks can’t claim him! :lol:

  • 59.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:15 pm

    #55 Sheriff: Funny you mention it – I was at a wedding a few weeks ago and he led the ceremony. He can be a stand up comedian any day – brilliant and yet down to earth.

    His a successful businessman in JHB. Not sure what think his got a few restaurants.

  • 60.puff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:16 pm

    I tell you one thing, Coetzee is helluva more articulate then PDV. I’m not saying this makes a difference to the players, but it sure would help me if I was a player and I wanted to understand what my coach is saying.

  • 61.Shakes: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:17 pm

    #52 Horing:
    Let us not turn this into an ideological debate cos best for you will always equate to white.

  • 62.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:18 pm

    #52 Horing:

    Ag nee Horing nou praat jy mos sommer loutere k*k.

    Hou op so negatief wees.

    Verlede jaar was Stofile in die mix en het die lewe moeilik gemaak vir baie; en ou? Waar’s hy nou?

    Ruk jou reg.

  • 63.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:18 pm

    #50 Sheriff: fair point. I didn’t look at it that way.

    Debate is good – well then I apologize to Rassie if he ever reads this.

  • 64.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:19 pm

    #56 Kerneels:

    Very good observation Neelsie.

    Ek verander sommer my opinie van jou…

  • 65.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:20 pm

    #54 Kerneels: That is true.

  • 66.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:20 pm

    #49 Kerneels: Honiball is from Berville in

  • 67.Shakes: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:20 pm

    #60 puff:
    I am sure the players understand him cos he can speak afrikaans (his language after all). Not easy to clarify yourself having to do interviews in your 2nd language

  • 68.puff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:20 pm

    Don’t mess with Smiley and the Zohan!

  • 69.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:20 pm

    #59 adj nm:

    Interessant, met sy “bry” en alles.

    Ek is bly vir hom.

    Was hy en Rassie dan nie destyds gabbas nie?

  • 70.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:23 pm

    #69 Sheriff: Ja hy Rassie, MJ Smith, AJ Venter en Naka het altyd saam in bloem uitgegaan.

    Hulle wou nooit Jannie De Beer saam vat nie want hy het al die girls weg gejaag :-)

  • 71.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:23 pm

    #60 puff:

    He is so articulate but in the 4 years he could not get the Bok backline going.

    You have short memory.

    A relaxed PdV will put his point across quite nicely in Eng, but I know he has a strong pref for Afrikaans. (Musiek op die boereseuns se ore …)

  • 72.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:23 pm

    #66 Loosehead: Whoops lets try againg. Honball was from Bergville in KZN. The story gors that he was playing 3rd team koshuis league[for Huis Karee if my memory is correct] at Kovsies, the next week 1st team, the next week Shimla’s and then for the Vrystaat.

    If The lunatic fringe can claim Beast and Brian as transformation players then the Vrystaat can claim Honiball.

  • 73.Horing: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:25 pm

    #61 Shakes: Fact is SA has quotas. And teh fact is PdV got the job because of his colour, as admitted by Hoskins. What do you want to debate?

  • 74.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:25 pm

    #71 Sheriff: PdV just cannot finish a sentence without some saying or reference to the Bible or something.

    I’v got nothing against that – its just funny.

    Just imagine him being your history teacher or something.

  • 75.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:26 pm

    #70 adj nm:

    Baie snaaks, maar het Jannie dan nie toe vir hom ‘n Engelse aster gekry nie?

    Ou Jannie Drop Goal de Beer …

  • 76.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:26 pm

    #70 adj nm: Rassie used to sleep in the kitchen of the Digs that he lived in.

  • 77.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:27 pm

    #66 Loosehead: Thanks Loose – Bergville is in Natal isn’t it? Right on the border with the States.

  • 78.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:28 pm

    #72 Loosehead: Thanks loosehead – them we CLAIM him!

  • 79.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:29 pm

    #74 adj nm:

    Pressure mate pressure.

    When under immense pressure you draw from your deepest inner person. He comes across as a very religious person.

    Heyneke as well. You will remember the Bulls’ mantra (we know where our strength comes from)

    Look at it this way, at least he is not a satanist :lol:

  • 80.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:29 pm

    #77 Kerneels: Ja. He also helped his wife deliver their first child on the back seat of the car on their way to the hospital.

  • 81.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:29 pm

    #62 Sheriff: IF I know Snor is a quota selection does that make me racist. I base my theory on the announcement by Hoskins on Snor’s Appointment. And If I think that all forms of social engineering is wrong does that make me racist?

  • 82.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:30 pm

    #72 Loosehead: Fair enough…

  • 83.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:30 pm

    #75 Sheriff: ek weet nie kan wees want daai pommies is so f$%*en lelik Jannie is above average looking daar.

    Hi ek is nou lelik

  • 84.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:31 pm

    #81 Airwell: There is a thread dealing with that stuff, about 2000 posts long. Please feel free to post there.

  • 85.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:31 pm

    #79 Sheriff: At least he is not a satanist unlike all the Ancestrol Worshipers in our country

  • 86.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:31 pm

    #79 Sheriff: LOL ja nee dan het hy seker slipnot verse aangehaal

  • 87.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:31 pm

    #52 Horing: Hoe kan jy nou so iets gaan staan en sê. Al stem ek 100% saam jou, gaan ek dit nie hardop sê nie..
    :) Ek wil nou nie vir kak soek nie. :(

  • 88.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:32 pm

    #83 adj nm: Hey moenie ‘n voud maak nie, Jannie se girl op daai tyd was v0kken mooi. Miskien was sy blind?

  • 89.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:33 pm

    #83 adj nm: Ja ou Jannie is nou nie sy ma se mooiste kind nie…who will win the ugly stick between Jannie and Neil Jenkins?

    AND WHAAL BAARTMAN TAKES IT BY A NOSE!

  • 90.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:33 pm

    #84 Loosehead: I dont want to really do that as this is a rugby blog but Sherrif brought it up first. My opinion is the HM should have been the bok coach and due to the racist policies followed in this country he is now coaching in the UK

  • 91.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:34 pm

    #88 Loosehead: Al die lelike mense se mos dit is binne in jou wat jou mooi maak.

    Ek is seker hy is ‘n nice ou.

  • 92.Sheriff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:35 pm

    #87 Ed_the_Lion:

    Ja man kry jou gat in rat …

  • 93.Kerneels: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:35 pm

    #91 adj nm: That is just something ugly people say :lol:

  • 94.puff: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:35 pm

    85

    What are you smoking? No. Don’t tell me. I don’t wanna know.

  • 95.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:35 pm

    #89 Kerneels: Sjoe, onthou jy Hendrik Truter..Goeie moer, maar hy was ook nie model kwaliteit nie.

  • 96.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:36 pm

    #90 Airwell: Ja boet, most of us feel exactly the same way. There has just been so much of that kak posted this week. Lets talk rugby. Did you know that #86 adj nm: has a tattoo of Ollie on his arse?

  • 97.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:36 pm

    #92 Sheriff: Ek speel net so bietjie rond. Dit is vrydag en almal moet so bietjie ontspan, en net politiek vergeet vir so ruk.

  • 98.adj nm: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:36 pm

    #89 Kerneels: I think Jannie and Jenkins was playing in the ugly tree at the same time. Together they slipped each of them it every single branch on their way down but then Jannie landed on Neil – hence Neil just being a tad bit more uglier.

  • 99.Loosehead: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:37 pm

    #95 Ed_the_Lion: Moenie eers van Stompie Fourie praat nie.

  • 100.Shakes: Reply to this comment
    5 Sep 2008, 15:37 pm

    #73 Horing:
    Horing I agree with your comment but want to add that PDVs credentials added to the fact that he is a PDI got him the nod. Too many of us think that HM had the automatic right to get the job. If the Sharks held on to win the 2007 final what would (realistically) HMs claim to fame have been. Apart from the overall result I am excited by the game the Boks are playing. HM and JW would never have been able to beat the convicts like we did last saturday. In fact I shudder to think how we would have operated with Liefling and Meisiekind in this ELV era.

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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