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
Pages: « 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 [9] 10 11 12 13 14 … 16 » Show All
12 May 2009, 13:48 pm
#386 Pietman: Did’nt he mention something about chasing elephants today???
12 May 2009, 13:48 pm
#395 grant10: Cheers Grant
12 May 2009, 13:48 pm
#391 Wallabie. – ‘Keo night owls’ Superbru S14 CHAMPION!!:
I forgot the pool code, but I am sure some of the okes here will have it.
12 May 2009, 13:49 pm
Roy
When are you going to stop this?
12 May 2009, 13:49 pm
#385 KingPaul:
I have lost my title but will make the most of my time as champion. I will abdicate once the final whistle of the final has been blown.
Probably last is my current position.
12 May 2009, 13:49 pm
#397 poppa69: Hey Poppa. Did you write to them to tell them how they disgust you? Or only me?
I don’t see you preaching to them, just me.
12 May 2009, 13:49 pm
#396 poppa69:
Howzit cuz!
Saders and Bulls final, it seems….
12 May 2009, 13:49 pm
#383 lilith:
Ok, your views are insignificant. That is my opinion and judging from various responses I think a few others share that view.
You think the keo version of Sheriff is harsh? Try real life, I have more to work with then: tone of voice, facial expression, body language…
We all need to invest heavily in personal mastery.
12 May 2009, 13:51 pm
What’s going on here – people still fighting and lilith still spewing her racist bile…?
12 May 2009, 13:51 pm
#399 Pietman:
I have no idea…where can I find it?
I have not logged for weeks and I have not tipped since round 5/6 just been too busy and away from computer. Also forgot to tip most times.
12 May 2009, 13:51 pm
#397 KingPaul:
Yes, something like that, he is probably out in the bush somewhere.
Lekker joppie wat daai ou het…..
12 May 2009, 13:51 pm
#388 Wallabie. – ‘Keo night owls’ Superbru S14 CHAMPION!!:
Your Post did mention the Hurricanes Wally………Surely this was an oversight on your part!
Or are you barking mad?
12 May 2009, 13:51 pm
#397 poppa69: You found it in you to tell me, that i am as bad as those that I accuse. Did you say that to them? Well did you?
NOOOOOOOOO!!!
12 May 2009, 13:51 pm
#390 Staal: Dis nou seker die Benoni-maplotters waarna jy verwys….
Die res, gee nie persente nie, hulle kom net vir die tjop-en-dop…. o ja.. en ook vir die “windsurf” oppie dansbaan… o ja.. en om hulle sound systems in hulle Fords te vergelyk…
12 May 2009, 13:53 pm
As 2 ouens van Benoni in die ry en die radio is af….wie bestuur die kar??
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
die polisie!
12 May 2009, 13:53 pm
#406 Wallabie. – ‘Keo night owls’ Superbru S14 CHAMPION!!: #410 grootblousmile: #397 KingPaul:
You have that pool code for walla here?
12 May 2009, 13:53 pm
#408 cane:
Should read…..”did NOT mention the Hurricanes” (God bless them, each and every one.)
12 May 2009, 13:53 pm
#410 grootblousmile: Hehehehe – het in Benoni ‘n bumper-sticker op ‘n 3liter Cortina gesien wat gese het – ‘The Ford is my Shepherd’…
12 May 2009, 13:53 pm
#408 cane:
HURRICANES!!!
who are they…they based in LONDON?
Hurricanes are good but I think they will go missing in the fog.
Seriously I did forget them…honest mistake.
12 May 2009, 13:54 pm
#408 cane: Cane
Whats is the news on Laula’s injury? Will he be back for the semis? If so, I back the Crusaders to win this years S14, even if they have to play the Bulls at Loftus…
12 May 2009, 13:54 pm
#402 lilith:
“YOU ARE ALL AS FARKIN BAD AS EACH OTHER”
this was the only thing I said, was that only preaching to you ???? I dont think so, it was directed at all of those involved..
do I condone what was said, NO, by all sides…
12 May 2009, 13:54 pm
#410 grootblousmile:
12 May 2009, 13:54 pm
#406 maybe ed the lion was leon boshoff for a day…: I thought Roy said that whatever our nicks are now they cannot be changed. Was that rule only for certain bloggers?
So your nick is designed to show that the racial slur made by Ed was him losing his mind for a day. How quant.
You should have said that was possible before, because when Luke Watson made his comments he was bloodied for 8 months. No mistakes allowed.
Different Rules for Different people I suppose.
12 May 2009, 13:55 pm
#413 cane:
I think the aus sides are going to miss out on the semis…and I am going to get it in the neck from some boys on this site.
to name a couple….GBS, Pietman….et al.
12 May 2009, 13:55 pm
#389 lilith:
You know that’s not the case.
But I felt that for all your views combined I’d be prepared to spend R100k of the R8.4 million ie 1.2%
Be grateful.
12 May 2009, 13:55 pm
#418 poppa69: And yet, in FONT SCREAM, it’s being directed only to me.
12 May 2009, 13:56 pm
#400 Bul-a-Bhloo:
You too, let’s play Superbru night Owls, Lions Tour.
Superbul is the cappie there.
12 May 2009, 13:56 pm
Prozak, Rittelyn en Valium 3 keer n dag werk vir my….
12 May 2009, 13:57 pm
#419 lilith: Wow, that must mean I’m special…
12 May 2009, 13:57 pm
#423 Pietman: I also joined the Superbru Night Owls for the B & I Lions. See if I can beat you there.
12 May 2009, 13:58 pm
#400 Bul-a-Bhloo:
He has had 6 months to stop this shiiit. And was on the Thread today already.
NOTHING.
Bring back Ig.
12 May 2009, 13:58 pm
Roy
I am begging you. Please control the hot air monologue. It has nothing to do with rugby and is stifling.
12 May 2009, 13:58 pm
#420 Wallabie. – ‘Keo night owls’ Superbru S14 CHAMPION!!: Suffer baby, suffer !
12 May 2009, 13:59 pm
#426 Ed_the_Lion:
What’s that pool code again? Someting ‘slagger’…..
Walla wants to know.
12 May 2009, 13:59 pm
#412 Pietman:
Come join my pool in SuperBru Lions Tour, the ultimate Lions Tour prediction game! It’s easy – just go to the website and enter the pool code ourslags to join my pool, Night Owls Lions Tour. Website: http://www.superbru.com/lions Pool code: ourslags Pool name: Night Owls Lions Tour
12 May 2009, 13:59 pm
Jy moetie sommer enigiemand van Benoni wat op n motorfiets is raak ry nie…….
…dis dalk jou motorfiets!
12 May 2009, 13:59 pm
#426 maybe ed the lion was leon boshoff for a day…: Oh yeah. Over here on Keo, your sins are washed as white as your skin.
12 May 2009, 13:59 pm
#422 lilith: is it
take a look at the first for words Lillith
YOU ALL are as bad as each other
it does not say
Lillith you are as bad as the others, does it ?
to me, YOU ALL means all the participants, the fact that I replied to your comment does not mean it was only directed at you…
12 May 2009, 13:59 pm
#383 lilith: Thanks for answering.
I get your point (and though I didn’t ever call Bakkies “previously advantaged”, I have called him “dom” a couple of times – LOL!)
I agree, sometimes people do get carried away and insist on using Q as a replacement for K but not always. You can’t look me in the eye and tell me that Mujati for example is better than CJ, BJ or Jannie. I would call him a bok quota any day of the week, whilst the Beast is one of my biggest heroes and I also have a healthy respect for Gurthro.
I think you just need to tone down and target the individuals that offend, instead of the majority, otherwise you are simply no better. You have already alienated one of your supporters (Poppa69)…
12 May 2009, 14:00 pm
#430 Pietman: KingPaul het gepost op 431
12 May 2009, 14:01 pm
#420 Wallabie. – ‘Keo night owls’ Superbru S14 CHAMPION!!: #431 KingPaul:
Ok walla, there you go.
Code ‘ourslags’.
Thx KP.
12 May 2009, 14:02 pm
#425 maybe ed the lion was leon boshoff for a day…: Who are you?
12 May 2009, 14:02 pm
Eks honger!
12 May 2009, 14:03 pm
#423 Pietman: Will do Piet, going to be a tough one to call…
12 May 2009, 14:03 pm
good night people and enjoy.
12 May 2009, 14:03 pm
#435 poppa69: So all you saying is that you are on the fence and you have not chosen a side.
Okay Poppa. Have a good day.
12 May 2009, 14:03 pm
#438 Ed_the_Lion: Het jy ‘n stalker??
12 May 2009, 14:03 pm
#416 KingPaul:
Sorry KP I know nothing of Casey Laulala’s current state of health.
But personaly I don’t think the Crusaders the firepower to win.
Of the 24 Super 12/14 finals played to date. 20 have been won by the home team.
This is a staggering stat.
12 May 2009, 14:03 pm
#431 KingPaul: Is dit waar dat GBS se seun vir WP gaan speel?
12 May 2009, 14:04 pm
#440 Bul-a-Bhloo:
No, it will be easy, especially the midweek games, hehehehe!
Pages: « 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 [9] 10 11 12 13 14 … 16 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.