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, 16:35 pm
Ja, ek gaan ook eers valla, bietjie nuus kyk en rook, hehehehe!
Cheers manne.
12 May 2009, 16:36 pm
#693 Puma:
So if the Sharks don’t make it Puma you picking the Bulls to go all the way?
12 May 2009, 16:40 pm
#693 Puma: Sounds great from what I hear. Last time I was at the tank was when I was still a kid and we travelled there from Eshowe a few times a year
12 May 2009, 16:44 pm
#697 NZINCHINA: Yes, If Sharks are out of it this weekend then of course I will support the Bulls. They are South African. Will always support a South African side first. If Bulls don’t make the final and Hurricanes do then thats the next team I will support.
#698 SA Barbarians: Best stadium for atmosphere anywhere in the world. Awesome. Friendly people too. I think the Lions supporters are going to enjoy themselves there a lot. Told Carol to make sure after the game to walk to the fields where they braai. They will be made to feel very welcome and will join in the braais.
12 May 2009, 16:46 pm
#698 SA Barbarians: You need to go back and watch a game there. Tank has the best vibe and atmosphere out of all the stadiums I have been to in SA. Have never been to Newlands so cant comment on the atmosphere there.
12 May 2009, 16:47 pm
Ok cheers guys, out of here for now.
It’s been a pleasant last hour or so
12 May 2009, 16:59 pm
#701 SA Barbarians: Cheers mate, I am out of here now too.
12 May 2009, 17:03 pm
#699 Puma: just gone through all the posts and i noticed that you are still crying like a baby, settler boy.you were absolutely disgusting in supporting your boeremag kkk boys against lilith,mr.reasonable.you are nothing but a joke and should grow-up into a man and not the wimp that you are before portraying yourself as saint on this site.
12 May 2009, 17:04 pm
Biscuits en biltong, ja ek is ‘n _________________
Boggom en voetsek
Wie het hierdie liedjies geskryf? Dis op my tong …
12 May 2009, 17:06 pm
#704 Sheriff: good afternoon coconut.
12 May 2009, 17:06 pm
#703 lukeisbaas:
Awe my bru!
12 May 2009, 17:07 pm
#705 lukeisbaas:
Djy like van aggro, ne?
12 May 2009, 17:07 pm
#671 grootblousmile:
anyway guys
i’m outta here
enjoy
o, and pleeeeeeeeeease behave?
12 May 2009, 17:12 pm
#705 lukeisbaas:
While you think of something to answer, here’s another question?
Why am I the person you love to hate?
12 May 2009, 17:15 pm
Vanaand gaan die volkies koring sny
Ja, vanaand gaan die volkies koring sny
Ken julle hom?
12 May 2009, 17:16 pm
#706 Sheriff: i see that you and your boeremag kkk buddies tried to intimidate lilith earlier on?what’s up mr.c, can you only pick on women nowadays?
12 May 2009, 17:18 pm
#708 Ashley: cheers coconut number 2,number 1 is reserved for sheriff,wannabe copper.
12 May 2009, 17:20 pm
#711 lukeisbaas:
Hou op soe fighterig wies my bru, hoes djy han?
12 May 2009, 17:25 pm
#709 Sheriff: you are the worst kind of coloured around and i’ve got no respect for your kind.your kind are lower than scum and should be treated like that.you are probably still doing the pencil test every evening in your bathroom without realising that those days are gone forever.
12 May 2009, 17:30 pm
#714 lukeisbaas:
Ek moet nou smyt my bru!
Djys stadig ou pel.
Ek wiet djy edmire vi my
Ek gaan alle cullerts op robbeneiland toeslyt
Raak wys skollie!
12 May 2009, 17:32 pm
#704 lukeisbaas: comrade, order comrade…to be brutally honest comrade, you are rubbishing the situation comrade, you can clearly see that the blog is pregnant with tension and your comments are inducing early labour comrade! Please cease & desist from your inflammatory language comrade…if you listened to comrade president JZ on saturday you will havw understood that the mandate we carry was endowed upon us by uTata rholihlahla, we dare not fail our people comrade! Please cease & desist from your erroneous ways comrade?
Amandla!
12 May 2009, 17:32 pm
#715 Sheriff: cheers coconut
12 May 2009, 17:35 pm
#714 lukeisbaas: The worst type of reality check must be that 15 years after independence you are still a fcukall.
In the past you could blame apartheid, now it’s just you, you small inconsequental blob.
12 May 2009, 17:37 pm
#716 Transformation: what inflammatory language?for telling a so-called coloured bro what i really think of his kind?you did not put up much of a defence for lilith earlier on, so go and lecture someone else.
12 May 2009, 17:44 pm
#718 Bul-a-Bhloo: no loser,you are nothing.you have been reduced to sweet nothing in the new south africa.we have taken away everything that’s dear to you afrikaner losers,your schools,suburbs,military,police and were well on our way to take away your so-called god-given right of rugby.when we say jump your afrikaner losers have no choice but to ask,how high?
12 May 2009, 17:44 pm
No answer from the twerp?
Alrighty let me settle down for the evening then. Outta here.
12 May 2009, 17:49 pm
Nou’s ek weer honger. Lekker ribbetjie en pap….hel dit sal lekker wees!
12 May 2009, 17:51 pm
#721 Bul-a-Bhloo:cheers ,my subject.your king will see you tomorrow.
12 May 2009, 17:51 pm
Die Sharkies moet asb die game “gooi”! Ons moet n span met n home final hê anders is daar moeilikheid. Wonder wat die Sharkies sal vat om die game te “gooi”?
12 May 2009, 17:54 pm
Wag – lat ek gaat kos soek. n mens moet eet en daai appel wat ek vmiddag geeet het was maar vrek klein.
Nou-ja cheers aan al die rugbykenners en Stormer supporters. Gaat groot… Jy lewe net 1 keer.
12 May 2009, 17:55 pm
#720 lukeisbaas: you know little but you shout the loudest…i’m just saying to you’re not helping the situation….oh and you’re her champion?…lol… Just stop what you’re doing mate, it was perversly funny in the beginning now it is embarrassing…there’s a time for militancy & there’s also a time for rational thinking…
12 May 2009, 18:07 pm
as someone growing up supporting western province rugby i could never support the bulls because they were the enemy and the team to be despised off.its a kiwi team for the title for me.have you ever seen a man city supporter supporting man united in a final?
12 May 2009, 18:13 pm
#726 Transformation: you don’t tell me what to do and another thing i’m not your mate.go preach somewhere else because you were very reserved when that **** was going on earlier.go change your nick you cnut.
12 May 2009, 18:20 pm
#726 Transformation:why did it took you all of 20 min to respond to my post?are you pietman in disguise?…dumb,dumber and dumbest.
12 May 2009, 18:21 pm
#728 lukeisbaas:
In sekere opsigte is ons so eenders dit maak my bang. Net soos jy nie die grote N-TVL kan ondersteun nie, net so voel ek oor die WP. Damn, ek vertel elke dag aan my vriende wat die WP ondersteun, dat as hulle teen die bleekbene van oor die see speel, ek die Bleekbene maar sal moet ondersteun. As ”Little Lulu natuurlik nog vir bok ook gekies word, sal ek maar net die Bulle moet ondersteun.
Verder, jy voer jouself een groot poep as jy dink julle het alles gevat. Hoekom moet hele gemeenskappe baklei om in die klein gehuggies te bly wat RDP huise genoem word.
Hel, my kind word in Afrikaans skoolgegee, in ‘n ordentlikke skool en net 2 wat die IK van die klas so bietjie afbring.
Skrik wakker uit jou ”struggle” beswyming. Jy het in elk geval toe niks beteken nie, en nou ook nie. Ek **** mos elke dag die gemor oor die Government. Dis mos hoekom die Kaap so groot DA ondesteuning het.
Jou soort word maar net ”gehumour”.
12 May 2009, 18:26 pm
#729 lukeisbaas: Lukeisbaas…this has nothing to do with me….i respectfully ask you to stop this….the last couple of days have been very unpleasant…for both normal everday saffas as well as lots of foreigners on the site. You are not doing anything except polarising people…as happened yesterday with Lilith when she was ridiculed and bullied on the site. I am telling you that you are serving no purpose by being inciteful and spreading this hate.Please …i ask you as a decent man to man…stop this now. Lets start afresh …all of us….for the sake of the site…show ubuntu…please.
12 May 2009, 18:28 pm
#730 Xkreni-WP: asseblief…moenie die vure aanblaas nie…wanneer is genoeg genoeg? Niemand gaan ooit ‘wen’ met die tipe houdings…
12 May 2009, 18:31 pm
#730 Xkreni-WP: you make me laugh but in any case who are the 2 that brings down the iq level?
12 May 2009, 18:31 pm
#730 Xkreni-WP: Ek het ‘n mail ontvang uit jou omgewing, duineman… en gewonder of dit dalk van jou af kom….
Lui Colliers ‘n klokkie ?
Sal eintlik graag die foon wil optel en privaat gesels, nie hier nie.
12 May 2009, 18:34 pm
Maak so Grant. Ek is ook al mooi gatvol.
Jy moet dalk net bietjie verder in die argiewe gaan lees en sien dat hierdie al ‘n lang pad kom. Mense gaan net vir solank nonsens opvreet.
Elke ”thread” word binnegekom met afkrakende opmerkings teenoor sekere dele van die populasie/spanne of spelers.
Maar ja, dit is maklik om dit agter ‘n rekenaar in anonniemieteit te doen.
12 May 2009, 18:37 pm
#735 grootblousmile:
Sal jou e-pos soek en met jou kontak maak. Het my adres boeke saamgesmelt.
Ons kan dan gesels. Jy kan ook net op die e-pos antwoord as jy wil, en ek sal dit dan by my swaer kry.
12 May 2009, 18:40 pm
El laaik nie die bulle nie!!!!!!
12 May 2009, 18:40 pm
In elk geval, ek is uit. ‘n yskou Grolsch en ‘n vleisie op die vuur gaan nou vorentoe smaak. Ons het so bietjie van ‘n bergwind die laaste 2 dae en dit is nog warm buite.
12 May 2009, 18:41 pm
I normally only read and post now and then a comment, but the last few days was really the worst I have seen on this site since I logged on about 3 years ago. Racist comments, gutter language, you name it. And it doesn’t stop.
Come on, Roy, take some action. Ban those that need to be banned. white and black.
12 May 2009, 18:41 pm
#736 Xkreni-WP: Soek maar my adres jong…
Ek neem aan A of L is jou swaer.
Sal beter wees as ek en jy in direkte kontak is… so mail my as jy kan, gee jou Cell & Tel, dan bel ek.. no problem.
12 May 2009, 18:42 pm
L is die swaer. So groot bleskop bogger.
Maak so.
Cheers
12 May 2009, 18:45 pm
#731 grant10: no surrender,no retreat unfortunately.when afrikaner racists change their ways we will live in peace with them.keo should also take responsibility for this **** in providing these racists with a platform to spew their racist bile towards black,coloured and indian people and keo.co.za should really be reported to the proper authorities for investigation.what did roy do to stop the attacks on lilith?,he basically laughed in her face.
12 May 2009, 19:00 pm
#742 lukeisbaas: i believe all those who watched as this 2 days of craziness passed on this site have blood on there hands and should be ashamed of themselves…this includes you and the lynch mob that so humiliated Lilith.. Lilith herself did herself and her cause no good either…deep down i have no doubt that all those involved feel ashamed….No one is requesting a surrender.
I am requesting…on behalf of all those bloggers who pop in to discuss rugby…have a good natured banter and a laugh…that you stop the inflammatory baiting and use of terms like ‘boer’ …whitey…etc…
Madiba, Zuma , and all the leaders would be horrified at the lack of ubuntu and nation building you are doing on this site. If you have to use the site as a platform for exposing racism…please amend your approach…i ask you humbly…
12 May 2009, 19:10 pm
#<#743 grant10: go,run along and write your long essay for your boeremag kkk buddies.do you always reserve long responses for coloured/black bloggers?do you people still have that mentality of trying to bring black people into line?i don’t see you going around lecturing pietman,gbs and their cronies so passionately.are you afraid of them?
12 May 2009, 19:13 pm
#743 grant10: go tell the your boeremag kkk buddies about nation building.they are the real obstacle to nation building in this country.
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