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, 16:04 pm
#641 SA Barbarians: Hallo baba!
Ek gaan ook nou tjaila en my kuk gaan uitsort.Cheers vir eers (hopelik nie weer so laaank nie)
12 May 2009, 16:05 pm
#642 Ed_the_Lion: Sien so, dis waarom ek weer ‘n slag inloer. Dis die voordeel van vryheid van assosiasie
12 May 2009, 16:05 pm
#636 RugbyRulz:
interesting about the union heritage of your family, did not know it was that common.
yip think the ladies liked ET, but the oke i know supported crunolla sharks and i got to see a video of ET’s best moves/tries. think he would’ve made a superb centre.
dont know if its the league influence or just the game u guys play in terms of shifting the ball skilffuly, but ella and dwyer pretty much revolutionised taking it flat. the other area u guys appear to be coming more right is in the scrum, which is not the traditional strength of the oz game, benn robinson at NSW is doing a great job, the ozzies are clever and have really applied themselves to finding the best scrum techniques and packing strategies. i have no idea what they trying to do half the time, but there’s method there.
Later Rulz, oh btw which oz S14 team do you support?
12 May 2009, 16:06 pm
#646 trupisero: cheers Trupi
12 May 2009, 16:06 pm
#526 Dawn: what’s new on our beloved keo?have been away for a couple of days so just about catching up on all the scandals.
12 May 2009, 16:06 pm
#359 grant10: Phew … that is good news. WO has played some great rugby and should be back up to JdV. Not sure how to fit FS into the puzzle.
12 May 2009, 16:07 pm
#600 rangerman: Ok, Greek DJ?
Mate don’t know if this is meant to mean my husband or not. We’ve hired more than a few in our time but no neither of us has been employed/contracted as one. I don’t know how it works in SA but here in Oz our DJ’s don’t spin the CD’s, they use the real deal… REAL VINYL. Been that way for years… funny how the old stuff is now preferred again. Has to do with the sound… so I’m told.
12 May 2009, 16:08 pm
#641 SA Barbarians: Armaans, helloooooooooo
Daar’s net een dag wat ek nie daai fiets kon bestuur nie, die dag toe ek behoorlik leer rook het, agter die Kaffee… blerrie Elcano Sigarillo’s….
Moes die fiets huistoe stoot.
12 May 2009, 16:08 pm
#646 trupisero: Cheers Trupi.
#647 SA Barbarians: Dit is so waar. Sal nooit vergeet nie. Ek was nog laatjie toe koop my pa vir my een van daai Honda Scooters wat soos ‘n fiets gelyk het om in die veld mee rond te neuk. Eina, my pa het die dink later weggegee. Mal Koppie gegaan ek en my vriende.
12 May 2009, 16:09 pm
Waar is Dawn?
Het sy gou bietjie papier gaan shuffle voor sy hardloop vir die bus? As jy maandelikse kaartjie koop moet jy hom gebruik, ten volle…..
12 May 2009, 16:09 pm
Vir ‘n man wat nie ordentlik skool gehad het nie is Jacobus Zuma darem moerse slinks.
Ek sien hy het nou hier met ‘n slenterslag gekom en Pieter Mulder daar in sy kabinet ingewerk. Helse storm onketen en sommige, soos Willie Spies, dink dit is die begin van die einde.
Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg klaar geskors.
Ek dink nie dit het al gebeur in VF+ geledere nie; so die HNP gaan seker sou sê:” Sien julle, ek het julle mos gesê, bly weg van die stembus af. Vir daai manne is pensioen voor beginsel”
Ek wonder hoe hulle hierdie een gaan hanteer en of dit tot ‘n skeuring gaan lei. Hulle hou Kortbroek ook daar om te kan sê: “Sien julle, daai man is nog steeds daar en maak ‘n verskil, julle kan ook!”
Ai die politiek darem!
12 May 2009, 16:09 pm
#653 grootblousmile: Kon nie sit nie. hehehehee.
12 May 2009, 16:10 pm
#644 SA Barbarians: Thanks boet, Yes she is. My sister from Cape Town flew to Durban to look after her while she recovers. Thanks for asking.
12 May 2009, 16:10 pm
#645 Ed_the_Lion: Soort soek soort… Weet nie of jy al saam hom gekuier het nie, maar pasop vir daai ou man… Hehehehhe!
12 May 2009, 16:10 pm
#653 grootblousmile:
daai eerste sigaret is maar ñ gemors nê?
ek was skoon dronk na myne …. nooit weer gerook daarna nie!
12 May 2009, 16:11 pm
#653 grootblousmile: hehehehe het julle ook bloekomblare gekou om die reuk van rook weg te vat?
12 May 2009, 16:11 pm
#659 CUZZY is BAAACK: Nog nie. Ek **** hy is die shooter koning. Sal versigtig wees.
12 May 2009, 16:13 pm
#655 Bul-a-Bhloo: Bwaahahahaha!!! is sy nog steeds op Keo…??? Jis ekke is n jaar weg en sy is nog steeds hier…
12 May 2009, 16:13 pm
#658 Puma: That is good to hear mate. You going to the tank?
12 May 2009, 16:13 pm
#661 SA Barbarians: Nooit gerook nie, maar kon die eerste keer onthou toe ek dronk by die huis aankom, en my kar “die ou mini Cooper” so skeef gehardloop het want ek het die pavement gegroet. My pa het nog buite gewag vir my want dit was 4 uur in die oggend. Eina!!!
12 May 2009, 16:14 pm
#662 Ed_the_Lion: Man hy is die Herbal tea koning in huis herfsblaar!!
12 May 2009, 16:15 pm
#666 CUZZY is BAAACK: hehehe. Ek sê niks nie. Hy is ‘n Leeu.
12 May 2009, 16:16 pm
#665 Ed_the_Lion:
Ek rook al van ek dertien is….sal seker binnekort moet stop…..
12 May 2009, 16:16 pm
#665 Ed_the_Lion: hehehe wens ek het nooit begin rook nie. Ons het destyds los sigs gekoop en later toe ons meer sakgeld gekry het kon ons pakkies 10 Lexington bekostig
12 May 2009, 16:16 pm
#664 SA Barbarians: No wish I was. Had to fly back to Joburg this week but fly back on Saturday morning. Will probably go and watch with mates on the big screen.
I don’t have a season ticket because of all the going back and forward from Umhlanga and Joburg. From next year hope to just be in Umhlanga all the time. Will get a season ticket then.
This is one game that I really wish I was going too. Nothing better than watching a Bulls and Sharks game. Also all the supporters mix so well together its like a festival after.
12 May 2009, 16:17 pm
#661 SA Barbarians: Nee, Vicks Bubblegum….
Vicks doennie trieks, sodat maaaa jou nie ruik nie….
#660 Ashley: Nee, kyk, ek is die eerste keer gevang rook op ouderdom 6…. Daarna permanent begin stook na daai Kaffee episode… in Std 8….
12 May 2009, 16:18 pm
#668 Pietman: As Pietman. Soos my oupa altyd gesê het, hoekom my hy iets stop wat hy geniet?
#669 SA Barbarians: heheehe, lyk my almal daai tyd was lekker stout.
12 May 2009, 16:19 pm
#668 Pietman: Jinne Pieta…. jy rook al 67 jaar…. hehehe
12 May 2009, 16:19 pm
#460 Transformation:
I’m not sure why you tell me to shut up.
I know you always listen when I speak. Did you see the “stages” post?
12 May 2009, 16:19 pm
#673 grootblousmile: my wiskunde is swak, ek dag dit is al 77 jaar.
12 May 2009, 16:20 pm
#671 grootblousmile:
Daar is niks wat so stink soos n Rothman’s topper wat ge-nip is nie…
Het eendag na pouse een in my kadetkouse gebere vir die klein pouse, toe stap die onnie sommer reg op my af en in die wetenskapklas, so snuif-snuif….en ruk my uit!
12 May 2009, 16:20 pm
#673 grootblousmile: Bwaahahahaha!!! Pietman dis gaan seker ongesonder vir jou wees as jy nou ophou as wat dit is as jy aanhou rook!
12 May 2009, 16:21 pm
#670 Puma: It’s going to be great to watch as a neutral without emotions
12 May 2009, 16:22 pm
Nou wat sal n Hadida tussen die swaane nou maak!!!
12 May 2009, 16:22 pm
#672 Ed_the_Lion:
My oupa is nou 103, rook nog steeds skelm daar by die ouetehuis in Vredenburg…drink ook nog Golden Dice vaaljapie skelm, en loer die ou vrouens uit.
12 May 2009, 16:23 pm
#676 Pietman: My vriende het altyd die nips in hul dasse gesit. hulle het goed gehonk. Die moeilik was, die meeste mense in die klas het dit gedoen, so die onnies kon niks doen nie. Gehoor hulle bou nou rook kamers by die skole.
12 May 2009, 16:24 pm
#676 Pietman: Ek het nooit ‘n siggie “ge-nip” nie….. hom eerder gedouble-clutch en klaargemaak….
Hehehe
Hel, ek was fancy op ‘n tyd.. het my spesiale sigarettabak by die tabakwinkel gekoop en met ‘n Rizzler sigarette gerol, filter en al….
12 May 2009, 16:24 pm
#680 Pietman: Nee wat Pietman, dan het jy geen rede om te stop nie. 103?? Dit is great. Hy moet die ou tannies vasvat. Klink vir my soos die Bul van Porterville.
12 May 2009, 16:26 pm
#682 grootblousmile:
Elke keer as ek vlieg, oorweeg ek om op te hou…18 ure sonder rook…
Daai skoonmakers by Singapore lughawe se rookkamer ken my al, ek hol alles plat om daar in te kom.
12 May 2009, 16:27 pm
#684 Pietman: hehehehe.
12 May 2009, 16:27 pm
#684 Pietman: Hoeveel siggies rook jy n dag?
12 May 2009, 16:28 pm
#686 CUZZY is BAAACK:
So dertig, party dae as die rugby aan is dalk meer…
12 May 2009, 16:32 pm
#687 Pietman: Ek hou ‘n pyp in my studeerkamer aan – moerse lekker om aan die steel te kou as iets my die moer in maak
12 May 2009, 16:32 pm
Manne ek gaan groet, moet na huis gaan kyk!!!
Cherio praat later!
VIX UIT DIE MIX!!
12 May 2009, 16:33 pm
#689 CUZZY is BAAACK: Sien jou Cuzzy.
12 May 2009, 16:33 pm
#689 CUZZY is BAAACK: Ja, ek groet ook…. moes al by kliente gewees het….
12 May 2009, 16:33 pm
#689 CUZZY is BAAACK: cheers Cuz – hoop die agint is iets om na te kyk
12 May 2009, 16:34 pm
#678 SA Barbarians: I think it will. Well even if Sharks win cant see us making a semi at all. Need a miracle from the other teams to get beat. So for that reason its going to be stress free to watch. Unless by that time we know all the results of the other teams.
Still would have been great to go and watch. Next year going to go to most of the games if I get a season ticket. My mate has a ticket for the parking right in the field next to the stadium. You wait years to get that. Thats where all the braais take place and its a awesome atmostphere. I will just go with them once I get a ticket at least we can all just walk back to the car and braai.
12 May 2009, 16:34 pm
#688 SA Barbarians:
Ja, ek het ook n paar pype, n kleintjie vir Pampoen ook.
Sy meng die R&M en Fox, sit sy dit hier op die balkon om te droog, en dan suie sy haar pypie….almal wil hulle vrek lag vir die klein vroutjie wat sulke dik dampe rook.
Maar sy blaas net, trek niks in nie.
12 May 2009, 16:35 pm
#687 Pietman:
#691 grootblousmile:
#692 SA Barbarians:
Sien julle manne later miskien vir die nag uile. Ek gaan vir eers ook groet.
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