Myth of a Bulls legend exposed
27 Jan 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that contrary to popular perception, Heyneke Meyer boasts an attacking philosophy more ambitious than a 10-man game and an underrated penchant for technical innovation.
The appointment of the new Bok coach should evoke a collective sense of excitement among South African supporters. In Meyer the Boks finally have a coach with the technical know-how to amplify their strengths. More importantly, they have a coach capable of developing a previously neglected aspect of the Bok game.
Those who were against this appointment argued that Meyer was too conservative in his thinking, and that the Boks needed somebody more ambitious if they were to ever challenge the trendsetting All Blacks. Where this argument falls flat, however, is where it assumes that Meyer’s past teams were one-dimensional or that the man himself is opposed to moving outside of the laager and exploring unconventional ploys and options.
On the contrary, Meyer remains one of the most technically astute and open-minded coaches on the planet. He appointed Australian Todd Louden as his backline coach in 2007 and the move proved inspired as the Bulls emerged as the second-best try-scoring side in the Super 14 league stage.
Outside of his almost un-South African willingness to employ innovative people from abroad, he has travelled extensively to study other codes and exchange information with other respected coaches. If there was anything to be gained by exploring the trends in European rugby or visiting Aussie Rules and American Grid Iron teams, Meyer has gleaned an appreciable amount to be used to better his beloved Bulls.
The Bulls have adapted in each campaign, tailoring their game to suit the laws in place. It’s an attitude that must be replicated at national level, and Meyer more than anybody won’t be swept up by the emotional call for complete change. An improvement to the Boks’ attack is necessary, but that does not mean the Boks should dispense with their traditional forward and defensive strengths.
The All Blacks are a stellar example of a team with a complete approach. They are one of the few teams that can match South Africa physically but they have an appreciation for territory that is rooted in the laws of the game. Even at Super Rugby level, the best sides, read the Reds and Crusaders, are loath to play too much attacking rugby in their own half. They follow the strategy of playing for field position before unleashing their attack.
The Boks beefed up their defence in 2011 while their forward play was vastly improved. They had two great tactical kickers in Morne Steyn and Fourie du Preez who were capable of winning them field position, but lacked the attacking personnel capable of translating territory into points. This is the problem Meyer needs to address in his efforts to shape the Boks of 2012 into a complete side that can challenge and beat the All Blacks consistently.
Peter de Villiers had grand attacking ambitions for the Boks in 2008, but his technical ignorance let him down. Instead of building on the base provided by Jake White, who installed solid defensive systems and forward-oriented strategic templates, De Villiers punted a plan that advocated all-out attack.
The Boks endured a hammering as a result, finishing last in the 2008 Tri-Nations. It was only when De Villiers’ job was on the line later that year that he reverted to White’s way, a game plan that he stuck with right through to the 2011 World Cup. As a result, the once ambitious De Villiers finished his tenure having taken the Boks back instead forward.
Meyer will use what has worked in the past and blend it with his own ideas of what will benefit the Boks in future. Rather than play a more attacking brand the Boks would do better to strive for a more balanced approach. Meyer’s past teams have enjoyed such balance, and although the task is much more difficult at Test level and the game-ever changing, there should be confidence in his ability to restore some equilibrium to the Bok force.
31 Comments
27 Jan 2012, 12:46 pm
At no point under Peter did the Boks ever play anything like Jake’s Boks. Jake had a lethal counter-attacking game whereby the backs scored the bulk of the tries. Under Peter the Boks relied heavily on the forwards. It was more bland and dysfunctional than anything before it, even Straeuli! This comparison to Jakes Boks needs to end as it’s another sickening myth. Jake’s Boks were a very well rounded side, that with lesser player pool than Peter. Meyer should do very, very well. I expect a return to Jake’s era and more. He has some tremendous talent and the brains. He will dominate for many years to come. I hope he goes beyond four years and SARU do not try to put another quota nutjob in after him.
27 Jan 2012, 13:43 pm
I like the fact that he’ll get the best, be it international or local, to help coach the team.
Perhaps we will see a foreign backline coach…
27 Jan 2012, 13:48 pm
White people are allways portrait as the victims of the current political situation.
Remember my white friends. You are still enjoying the good life as a result of apartheid.
Peter de Villiers is but only one coloured/black person who got an opertunity ahead of white people .
This still doesn’t erase the damage done by you and your fathers.
Stop crying and live…
Good lick to Heyneke and the Boks.
27 Jan 2012, 13:51 pm
@Zinto-3:
“Portrayed” buddy.
A portrait is what you hang on your wall.
27 Jan 2012, 13:54 pm
@Zinto-3: The good life? Jobless, targetted by self-pitying animals? Yes, the good life indeed. Your perspective. And do you not realise that your chums in office have BETRAYED you all? But hey, do a little dance at election time and get a free t-shirt and all is well. You are a typical uneducated fool. Good luck with that in the disaster that is the nu South Africa. The worst era in the countries history.
27 Jan 2012, 14:03 pm
@Zinto-3:
Its unfortunate that the ANC haven’t done much to improve the lives of black South Africans….instead they enrich themselves and bring no real change. They can only give a bunch of empty promises. There is enough wealth to go around. The ‘middle class’ white people dont have to be the only race to ‘enjoy the good life’. The middle class can grow, that is IF the ANC was interested to improve the lives of all South Africans. Apartheid was terrible, but who is to blame for the state South Africa is in after 18 years of democracy? 18 years! thats a whole new generation. Do they still blame a government who is not in power and that does not even exist anymore?
Now who wants to talk rugby?
27 Jan 2012, 14:06 pm
@Jeez-6:
Me! Me! Pick me! I want to talk rugby!
27 Jan 2012, 14:14 pm
@Alucard-5: Apartheid was the worst era in our country’s history….did you forget?
27 Jan 2012, 14:19 pm
kietzphat. Good you can spell??? Well done.
Jeez: They actually have done alot. Blacks can now study anything they want, They can live anywhere the want, the can go to any beach they want, they can get a job anywhere, they don’t have to enter the post office through the back door, the don’t have to show their “dompass”when taking a walk, they can now even have white people working under them???
And the list goes on and on. More time is needed though, but yes some are stealing andthats to be expected. They were not used to the power and money you whites are used to.
But the police get the people stealing just like the whites was caught stealing from blacks.
So, would Zint live under a white or black government? The answer is BLACK.
27 Jan 2012, 14:20 pm
@Sasuke-8:
We’re not living in Apartheid anymore…. are we? For many people it sure as helll feels the same. How does a mother feel that her 18 year old son cant go to university to work for a better life, just because the educational system let him down thanks to the government who cannot govern properly. How do the people feel who are still stuck in poverty after 1994?
We are living in the present and dealing with problems that can be fixed now.
27 Jan 2012, 14:20 pm
hey Ryan, how do you pronounce ‘penchant ‘, just curious
27 Jan 2012, 14:23 pm
@Zinto-3: sounds like the chip on your shoulder is a niknak?
27 Jan 2012, 14:24 pm
To say the present SA is worse than Apartheid is disgusting beyond belief.
27 Jan 2012, 14:25 pm
Oh yes Jeez
Apartheid officially started in 1948 and the first democratic election was in 1994.
Do the maths.
Compare that to 18 years. Don’t forget, the country wasn’t handed over by the whites. And no war forced them to hand it over to the blacks.
The whites messed it up. The last 18 years was spend trying to save the country you whites messed up.
27 Jan 2012, 14:25 pm
@Zinto-3: You are right unfortunately and the situation needs to move on.
27 Jan 2012, 14:28 pm
Jeez
We’re not living in the present. The past is living with us. What you’re saying is true, but what happend between 1948 and 1994 caused this. Not the passed 18 years alone?
27 Jan 2012, 14:29 pm
WTF !!!!!! a race war now ????
27 Jan 2012, 14:31 pm
@Zinto-9:
If you truly believe that the will ever be a white government again there is no point in discussing the matter any further. There wont be thats the point its not about black and white. Its not about black and white its about doing what is right for the good of the country. Apartheid was ended by the ANC during the ‘struggle’, the ‘struggle’ against Apartheid is over. the new ‘enemy’ is poverty, crime and bad below standard education. The whites play their role they form the backbone of the economy to give the government money so that they have the financial means to fix the problems we face to help poor people advance in their quality of life. But unfortunately the government dont have any good leaders, they dont see the need for hard work to fix problems. They know they will aways stay in power and therefor dont feel the urgency to make changes. And thats why its so easy and effective to remind people of the struggle. Wake up the struggle is over the ANC is holding SA back to reach its real potential. The ANC can govern for the next 500 years for all I care, they must just be made responsible by the people so that they can deliver for the people. Forget about the black and white rubbish. There will never be a white government again, but a south african one. Hopefully one with people willing to work hard and get results without having their own personal political agende.
27 Jan 2012, 14:38 pm
@Zinto-16:
Like I said, living in the past wont solve any problems. Playing the blaming game neither. Besides, its a new country, whites dont want Apartheid. Do you think Germans still want to live under Nazi rule? Its the same thing. If you live in the past you wont build the future.
27 Jan 2012, 14:40 pm
Jeez
The”new enemy is poverty crime and below standard education”? You must be joking. For some of you white people its new yes. Don’t make me laugh. Go to rural eastern cape and ask them if poverty crime and bad education is anything new to them.
This was caused by the National Party and not the ANC. The ANC doesn’t have any good leaders? Should they rather be like Verwoerd or PW Botha. You would like that? And how the on earth are whites forming the backbone of the economy? On the one side you say its not about black or white and on the other side you claim whites are holding the economy together.
Why in your educated opinion did the Whites give the country back to the blacks?
27 Jan 2012, 14:43 pm
Jeez
Maybe you’re right, but name me one white squater camp.
27 Jan 2012, 14:44 pm
Now now, let’s all play nice.
Lest Keo put another warning up about having to moderate comments again like he did a few years ago.
Its hard enough for Keo’s minions to copy and paste articles, we don’t want to have to burden them with having to read comments and then decide if they’re okay to post as well.
27 Jan 2012, 14:48 pm
Fair enough Kietzphat (spelling?), but whites musn’t ever claim they got the worst end of Apartheid. Peter de Villiers deserved to be coach and thats that. Let him be, don’t blame government, because governments actions was forst apon by whites.
27 Jan 2012, 14:52 pm
or is it forced??? I can’t remember.
27 Jan 2012, 14:57 pm
Haha dude im sure we can go for ages.
We all want to \ live in a country that is govern by a government that does a good job. Look at other first world countries if you need some examples. Its not about white its not about black. Tax payers help build the country. Unfortunately the middle class who form the majority of all taxpayers are is still white. If you would like to blame the past its in your right, im not saying the past are not responsible for all the problems SA is facing, im asking you where and how will this be resolved ?
Sooner or later you would like to expect more from the government. Im just asking for more. A government should fear its people not the other way around. At this point I fear what their incompetence is doing to a country that could be much better.
A failing government do not have good leaders. Most of them are corrupt.
Why not try to compare our government with a successfull country’s government, take your pick. USA, Canada, Australia, England, Germany,who picked themselves up after the worst thing in the history of mankind- WW2.They are now the leading economy in europe. Why cant we do the same after Apartheid, I wonder?
Have a good day brother, I know you just want whats best for the country. Its good to share opinions. Peace out.
27 Jan 2012, 15:28 pm
@ zinto this present anc government is corrupt just as every other government ruling today and in the past has been corrupt that is just the nature of politics,but the level of corruption over the last 18 years has taken corruption to a new level,just ask that nutcase julius malemba how can he afford the house he is building on his govt salary,we could go on and on about this there is a reversed apartheid system in south africa now and the anc is revelling in it,but in every day to day living style the black man is impoverished under the anc,and that is a fact that you just have to except.
27 Jan 2012, 16:17 pm
What does most of what is said here have to do with HM as the new Bok coach? Absolutely nothing! I think the article is fair when analysing PDV’s approach. To say that he deserved to be the Bok coach is highly debateable as even Oregan Hoskins admitted it. Anyway, the whole race thing is like watching an annoying rerun where you know how it’s going to end. Fact is, we have a new coach who has won Currie Cups, Super Rugby titles and I really hope politics and race issues can be dealt with in a more constructive way. South Africa is the only rugby-playing country in the world where politics and “representation” so often take precedence over winning. It shouldn’t matter if the Bok team is made up of 15 Indians as long as they’re the best players in their positions with the right chemistry winning matches with a highly competent coach at the helm.
27 Jan 2012, 22:04 pm
Blueboy. Don’t act as if you know what it feels to live under Apartheid. Do not make any comment cause you don’t know. Until you do. Stay away little man.
27 Jan 2012, 22:09 pm
Jeez, sorry i was away. NO!!! I expected whites to be better people. They’re more corrupt then all the blacks put together. You see you doge one important question and you know why. Luckaly me like most blacks understand, So go end ejoy what you’ve got. Leave Peter de Villiers alone…
27 Jan 2012, 23:29 pm
I have not been on this site for some time, and tonight after reading the remarks of Zinto, I realise again he is a man with vision, a true leader with insight and a wonderful student of the white race and who really feels happy and welcome on this site. Such a nice boy…
28 Jan 2012, 01:14 am
How old are these little twats that keep f*ng around with politics! Thought its a rugby site!!
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