Blending brains and brawn
12 May 2009
Heyneke Meyer believes a hybrid of tactical precision and mental strength will determine the victor when the Sharks meet the Bulls at King’s Park on Saturday.
Meyer coached the Bulls to the Super 14 championship in 2007 before narrowly missing selection for the Springboks coaching role in 2008. He then coached Premiership club Leicester Tigers before returning to South Africa to be with ailing family members. He is currently the CEO of Sports Max, a company that looks at the holistic development of elite athletes.
Meyer said he expected the game to be relatively conservative in nature and that it would be characterised by an emphasis on forward play and tactical kicking. He noted the Sharks’ prowess from broken field and stressed that the Bulls must starve their supply in this regard, or risk exposing themselves to dangerous counter-attacks.
‘I watched the Bulls play the Cheetahs [last Saturday] and knew that if they opened it up the Cheetahs would feed off their mistakes. That’s exactly what happened. They can’t afford to make the same errors against a very good side like the Sharks,’ Meyer told keo.co.za.
‘What they’ve done so far has made them successful. I’ve heard criticism of their percentage approach but they’re top of the log with a chance of hosting a semi-final. They must have been doing something right.
‘The Sharks are an accomplished unit who are very difficult to beat in Durban. In the 2007 final they pinned us in our half through the boots of Percy Montgomery, Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn. The Bulls can’t allow them to dictate the field position like that because once they get on a roll they’re very hard to stop.’
Meyer said the return from suspension of Rory Kockott would add a skilled tactical kicker to their arsenal and added that the Bulls’ capacity to match them in this facet of play would hinge heavily on the availability of Fourie du Preez. The incumbent Springbok No 9 injured his calf muscle a fortnight ago and is uncertain of being fit for the match.
‘Not taking anything away from Heini Adams and Francois Hougaard, who are good scrumhalves in their own right, it’ll be a massive boast if Fourie was available, especially considering the [tactical] pattern the game is likely to follow,’ Meyer said.
‘He is the best tactical kicking scrumhalf in world rugby, and if you review the Bulls’ season you’ll note that many of their tries have come from box kicks Fourie has put up. He can put the ball on a dime and weights it so perfectly that he gives his wingers enough time to contest the ball. This puts a massive amount of pressure on the opposition. He’ll be a key player if he is fit.’
Meyer did, however, explain that given how closely the teams are matched, technical and tactical superiority would not be the sole determinant of the winners. He said the ability to manage the pressure of the occasion and focus on the task at hand without being influenced by outside distractions – like qualification permutations – will be central to the success of either side.
In recent years the Bulls have often scrapped for a semi-final spot in the final stages of the tournament, the most notable of which came against the Reds in 2007, when they achieved the goal of having to beat the Queenslanders by a 72-point margin.
‘I won’t say it gives the Bulls an edge to have been in high pressure situations over the last couple of seasons, but they will know how to prepare and also have the benefit of knowing that they have beaten the Sharks at King’s Park in a high pressure match [the final in 2007],’ Meyer said.
‘But ultimately what happened before is fairly inconsequential. The Sharks will be determined to beat their great rivals irrespective of whether they are knocked out of the tournament by kick-off or not. You have to remember there is plenty of pride at stake, but more than that, the players will be wanting to make an impression on the Springbok selectors. That’s a huge motivating factor in itself.’
Meyer continued, saying it was imperative that the coaches of both sides have a clear idea of how they want to play and that they communicate that effectively to the players.
‘You have to control the controllables,’ he said. ‘Neither team can afford to wait until Saturday afternoon to decide how they should approach the match because of whatever scenarios the preceding games would have throw up.
‘They coaches should have a clear idea of how they want to play and that should have been drilled into the players from the Monday morning practice already. Players need clear messages so that they can prepare adequately. It’s crucial that both coaches detail exactly how they intend to play from the outset.
‘The Bulls must set themselves to win first and foremost, then focus on getting the bonus point,’ he added.
‘The Sharks will know what’s required by the time the match begins and they’ll probably need five points to book a place in the semis if other results go their way.
‘It’s set up to be one of the best South African derbies in years.’
By Ryan Vrede
791 Comments
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12 May 2009, 15:36 pm
#590 trupisero: Ja……ek sien so…probeer daai mail beantwoord maar dit bounce.
12 May 2009, 15:37 pm
#592 rangerman: I am sorry but I do not understand what you typed.
dj spin-a-da-cd’s? <<< what is this meant to be?
12 May 2009, 15:37 pm
#588 RugbyRulz: cuzzy is an old blogger here rulz and he is being enthusiastically greeted after nearly a years abscence in some african jungle where he was doing research on his closest ancesto…….uh, he was working
i think the afrikaans is here to stay for a while.
12 May 2009, 15:38 pm
#594 grootblousmile: Die ding is, as hy vir die leeus speel gaan die tjarks of rassie hom koop. hehehe.
#595 trupisero: Ek kom nou hierdie storie agter. Ek dink ook nie dit was ‘n trok in Brakenjanpan nie. Ek dink dit was Bonzai wat GBS getref het.
12 May 2009, 15:38 pm
#597 RugbyRulz: the greek dj
12 May 2009, 15:38 pm
#591 Ed_the_Lion: Thanks tjom. Goed het al flippen afgryslik duur geword hier.
12 May 2009, 15:39 pm
#589 Ed_the_Lion: Nee hy sal nie vertel nie. Wou jou nog sê hier maar kon nie ‘n woord inkry nie. Die volgende leeus is ‘n moet vir die bok 22 tal:
Ludik, Rose, Vermaak, Mossie, Weppener, Alberts, Lorrie. Beluit nog oor Jannus.
12 May 2009, 15:39 pm
#588 RugbyRulz:
yip i realise you are an aussie thru and thru, but you saying you are perfectly content with either england or new zealand winning? what about the underdog, what about the coach, what about the Bok?
You seem a big union fan, small sport in oz?
Have two good friends in sydney, which is more union, but rugby league still the big one, not so?
Would’ve liked to have seen ET play union at centre.
12 May 2009, 15:40 pm
#596 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Jy moet nie die MAIL bounce nie…. jy moet die Send & Receive button click….
Seker maar omdat jy seels probeer opplak !
12 May 2009, 15:41 pm
#601 trupisero: Reg so. Ek kry ‘n pakkie reg vir GBS. Sal so een of twee O3′s “nie splinter nuut nie” daar ingooi.
#602 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Ek stem oor meeste van hulle. Jammer Heinke is beseer.
12 May 2009, 15:41 pm
#599 Ed_the_Lion: Nee, die dag as hy my rol, skop ek hom innie ghoenne…. net dat hy weet hy’s noggie baas nie.
12 May 2009, 15:42 pm
#550 Severus101:lol
#546 rangerman: lmbao!!!
12 May 2009, 15:43 pm
#606 grootblousmile: Daai wat hulle sê “geen man kan sonner sy ghoenne baklei nie” is baie waar.
12 May 2009, 15:44 pm
#608 Ed_the_Lion: Etzakkerly !
12 May 2009, 15:44 pm
#595 trupisero: ja Afvrika is reg!!!
12 May 2009, 15:45 pm
#609 grootblousmile: Laat my dink aan my jong dae, as my voete van die fiets se trappe afgegly het. Aaawwww.
12 May 2009, 15:46 pm
#583 CUZZY is BAAACK:
Joeeooooo Cuzzy, lanklaas gesien!
Hoesit?
#595 trupisero:
Wat is die, n guest appearance?
Julle rykgatte meng mos nie meer met die werkersklas hier op keo nie, hehehehehe!
12 May 2009, 15:46 pm
#611 Ed_the_Lion: Baie gebeur? hehe
12 May 2009, 15:46 pm
#611 Ed_the_Lion: Of die ketting breek as jy daai “backpedal” brieke die nodigste het !
12 May 2009, 15:47 pm
#612 Pietman: Jinne kyk wies hier!!!! Waar was jy al die tyd????
12 May 2009, 15:47 pm
#610 CUZZY is BAAACK:
Is dit darem ok daar, veilig en so?
12 May 2009, 15:47 pm
#613 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Mens noem dit ‘n teesak. Een hang aan die een kant en die ander een aan die ander kant. Maar ja, baie. Ek het meer langs die fiets gesit as op die fiets.
12 May 2009, 15:47 pm
#608 Ed_the_Lion: GBS s’n is al uitgehaal — verduidelik seker…hehehe
#602 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Weet darem nie van Lorrie nie. Jannus behoort kans te kry — Ricky raak al so dik hy lyk soos Richard Bands en Kokkerot se kop raas te veel.
12 May 2009, 15:48 pm
#614 grootblousmile: ja hell. lift jou tjommie op die handles, dan klap daai ketting ‘n breek. sjoe, die goeie ou dae.
#612 Pietman: Hello weer Pietman.
12 May 2009, 15:48 pm
#615 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts:
Was maar net hier rond, hoekom?
Vandag darem begin reen, so ek hoef nie meer water te lei nie.
Lees maar wat die mense hier op keo gesels…
12 May 2009, 15:49 pm
#618 trupisero: bwahahaaha
12 May 2009, 15:49 pm
#616 Pietman: Ja-nee dis ok daar Pietman. So 800km noor-oos van waar ekke gewerk het het die kuk gespat. Groot oorlog daar jong!
12 May 2009, 15:50 pm
#612 Ed_the_Lion: hello ed, how are you groot leeu?
12 May 2009, 15:50 pm
#613 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Has your Lions have a full and fit team for the Tahs game? Really hope they can beat the Tahs, especially after that Sheehan got off from that dirty shoulder into Barritts face on Saturday.
12 May 2009, 15:50 pm
#619 Ed_the_Lion:
Goeiendag klein maanhaar, hehehehe!
O, jy oorleef darem, sien ek.
Hoessit daai kant, ‘in the land of the free’?
12 May 2009, 15:51 pm
#612 Pietman: Wat maak die afgetredes hier? Gatvol vir bier en koffie op die stoep? Nie veel lus vir werk nie — moet my goed regkry vir trippie Zambia toe.
#614 grootblousmile: eish – my paar keer oorgekom dan moes ek maar `n gras patch soek en spring.
12 May 2009, 15:51 pm
#622 CUZZY is BAAACK:
Watter een is jy, daar is mos twee Kongos?
12 May 2009, 15:52 pm
#619 Ed_the_Lion: Ons het destyds sulke “dik-lip” fietse gehad (ons noum dit maar ‘n diklip hier), sonder ratte met net ‘n backpedal briek…..
Eishhhhhh, as daai kittang breek op ‘n afdaend het jy moeilikheid…..
12 May 2009, 15:52 pm
#625 Pietman: Lekker Pietman. Oorleef gemaklik aan hierdie kant. Maak nou so bietjie geskenke bymekaar. Wil vir K9 iets mooi groots koop omdat hy so goeie span ondersteun.
12 May 2009, 15:53 pm
#628 grootblousmile:
Ek onthou daai!
BSA en Hercules en Raleigh fietse.
12 May 2009, 15:53 pm
#628 grootblousmile: Mens sien nie meer kinders fiets ry nie. Dit is mos nou net playstation en computer games.
12 May 2009, 15:55 pm
#629 Ed_the_Lion:
Nee, maar dis mooi man.
Man moet rustigheid ook he….hier by raak dit nou te rustig, ek het dinge te goed beplan, nou wil niks verkeerd loop nie, moerse vervelig, hehehehehe!
12 May 2009, 15:55 pm
#627 Pietman: Die een is DRC en die ander een is net Congo. Ek was by die DRC gewees.
12 May 2009, 15:55 pm
#624 Puma: Dont worry…we’ll beat the Tahs this weekend. And I think ur team r going to beat the bulls.
Ok…Im out of here…..must fetch my car
Tot later.
12 May 2009, 15:56 pm
#632 Pietman: Hoe gaan dinge verder aan daardie kant? Miskien moet ons ‘n lekker pub hier oopmaak en elke aand ‘n students night hê.
12 May 2009, 15:56 pm
#603 cab: If NZ is playing England I watch the game but have no leaning to cheer on either team. I just watch the game for what it is… hopefully not a flogging of the Roses.
As far as the underdog goes., like to see them do well and if good enough they get the rewards.
Union is in my families blood. Father, brother and husband all played union and league. This was common practice years ago and hope shall return. My husband coached juniors up to and including colts for many years. My sons are union as well, through and through, though watch league games here and there.
ET Andrew Ettinghausen ( Hell of a good looker ) I’ve never thought about it before. If Gaz can convert why not ET. Gaz isn’t half as good at league as Reg was.
As far as league backs go I would have thought Michael Cronin would have done well.
Diverse sporting people the Aussie. We love most sport.
12 May 2009, 15:56 pm
#634 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Cheers K9.
12 May 2009, 15:56 pm
#630 Pietman: Hehehe, ja, ek het R 28.00 betaal vir ‘n nuwe donkerblou “dik-lip”.
Eerste ding wat jy doen is jy haal die modderskerms af… dan is dit net saal, wiele, raam, ketting en handles……. net so…. niks anders nie.
12 May 2009, 15:57 pm
#634 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: cheers maanhaar.
12 May 2009, 15:59 pm
#634 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Well hope the Lions run them tired at altitude. Lions almost beat Canes at Ellis Park and also almost beat Chiefs in New Zealand. If they play like that Lions could beat the Tahs. Hope so after that Sheehan got off from that dirty shoulder charge into Barritts face.
12 May 2009, 16:00 pm
Mirrag aangename gekultiveerde mense!
#638 grootblousmile: Ja daai fietse het lekker op sand paaie gery
12 May 2009, 16:02 pm
#641 SA Barbarians: Sa barbarians, hoe gaan dit. Ons praat van fiets ry, geen knaters en seer knaters hier vandag, en so bietjie rugby tussen in.
12 May 2009, 16:02 pm
#637 Ed_the_Lion: Ed sien jy het n maaitjie geerf…Hehehehe!!!#634 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Waar gaan jy, weer gebad word?
12 May 2009, 16:03 pm
#640 Puma: How is your mother doing Puma? Hope she’s recovering well?
12 May 2009, 16:03 pm
#643 CUZZY is BAAACK: Ja, ek en K9 is maatjies. Die Leeus moet maar saam staan, ons is min.
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