Meyer: Goosen can be world’s best
3 May 2012
The Springbok coach has described the loss of Johan Goosen as a ‘massive blow’ but is adamant the young flyhalf will play an important Test role in years to come.
Goosen injured his shoulder in the Cheetahs’ recent match against the Highlanders, and it was later confirmed that he will be out of all rugby for four months. It’s a big setback not only for the Cheetahs, but also for the Boks since the 19-year-old was expected to play some part in the series against England.
Morné Steyn is set to start at No 10 in those three Tests, although there are some other strong candidates. Pat Lambie, Elton Jantjies and Peter Grant have all been exposed to the Bok set-up, and all three are currently in form for their respective Super Rugby franchises.
However, as Meyer confirms, it is Goosen that is the brightest long-term prospect.
‘We’re very fortunate at the moment to have four or five great flyhalf options. There’s Morné who has a great tactical game, and Peter who is playing the best rugby of his career. Then there is Pat and Elton who also have some special attributes.
‘I really believe that once he has matured a bit more Johan can become one of the best in the world. He has that ability to take the ball to the line, he likes to get physical, and that has impressed me. He has all the skills as well as the mental toughness.
‘It’s a big blow to lose him, but it’s because of that mental toughness that I believe he will bounce back.’
Meyer has said that he will favour experienced players for the England series, but thereafter, he will start making selections geared towards future success.
The new Bok coach wants a flyhalf with the full range of skills, and clearly feels that Goosen is the type of player who can bring South Africa success in the long term.
‘I am focused on the coming series against England, but the 2015 World Cup is also in the back of my mind,’ Meyer said. ‘You want a strong tactical flyhalf for those conditions, you want a flyhalf who can make a difference be it on defence, in front of goal, or kicking out of hand.
‘A flyhalf is the equivalent of a quarterback in American football. You pick your quarterback first, and you pick your flyhalf first. I want a player who has the skills but also has the mental toughness to kick it over in a big game.’
Goosen became a YouTube sensation when he booted a 67m penalty in a school game in 2010. Since making his Super Rugby debut this year, the power of his kicking boot has been complemented by his accuracy.
And despite his tactical kicking strengths, he has also shown a willingness to move the ball, or if the situation has arisen, to have a dart at the line.
South Africa has finally uncovered a complete flyhalf. While injury may have robbed him of an opportunity to face England, there’s no doubt that Goosen will get his chance later in the year.
By Jon Cardinelli
179 Comments
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4 May 2012, 05:50 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-150: yawn,..like I really care what a bunch of inbred Saffas think..
one rule for us, another rule for them, it is littered in your history and also reflected on this very site.. but you all remain unexplainably quiet when your countrymen do it aye?
why is that hypocrite?
4 May 2012, 06:02 am
Thing is, it is there for the World to see so keep it up. End of the day every rude and abusive response is a reflection on you much more than it is on the people you trying so hard to have a go at.
4 May 2012, 06:12 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-152: you mean like Saffas wishing more earthquakes for chch? and the ensuing silence from the majority of Saffa posters when this type of thing is bandied about, that is also a reflection of SA society.. but continue with your holier than thou attitude..
again, doenst matter whats said about NZ, but woe betide someone who says anything negative about SA aye?
like I said Slarti, if you guys were as adamant with the ones from your side that spew the filth, then maybe Id tone it down, until then I will return the hate with hate…
4 May 2012, 06:39 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-147:
Never backed out of anything from you dipsh it…….never, so don’t play the big faaaking hero please
4 May 2012, 06:42 am
and for the record again, I have never run NZ down as a country………….never, ……………….some di ckheads like you, yes, but not the country so you can hold up on the BS that is spewing from your mouth re this one as well
4 May 2012, 06:44 am
Guys like you only understand one thing……………………. a poesklap!
4 May 2012, 07:06 am
@whatever(whatever)-155:
Which part of NZ do you live in?
4 May 2012, 07:20 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-149: The thing about throwing mud,is that everyone gets dirty and you lose ground
4 May 2012, 07:50 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-153: Poppa – I am a passionate Kiwi, but I really find your posts tough to read. This is a SA forum and I think that you should consider yourself a ‘visitor’ and behave a bit more like you would visiting someone elses home etc i.e. smile politely and change the subject. Unless you have a pretty twisted sense of humour you surely can’t enjoy (?????) the pure hatred you engender on here with your comments. How about trying to be the adult part of the conversation and just ignore the hater comments. If nothing else the haters will probably hate that worse than you responding to them.
Five years ago I could spend a couple of hours on here enjoying the discussion and banter, today, I come on here early and have a quick read, then logoff once yourself, HG, and a couple of others get started. At that stage I just feel embarrassed for you all. Try a change of tact and see what happens to all your hate mail.
4 May 2012, 08:04 am
@aliboy(aliboy)-159:
He is just returning serve, ask him
If you were here 5 years ago you may remember we actually had some serious rugby talks with the old pops. Unfortunately these days he is trying to return serve to about a 100 people whilst only a handful of people actually served anything to him…so he ends up looking silly with all those wild swings and general silliness at nothing!
4 May 2012, 08:21 am
@aliboy(aliboy)-159:
thank you ali, this is so reasonable and i could probably use the advice too.
4 May 2012, 08:21 am
sadly poppa decided to try and fight every saffa for the comments of a few and this simply leads to more negativity.
it wont be long before he melts down again and “leaves for good”
personally i think its the real poppa we see here and the old one was a grinning mask.
4 May 2012, 08:28 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-162:
i genuinely think there may be mental health issues involved.
and i say this sincerely and not just to be a deek and insult him.
4 May 2012, 08:31 am
He is indeed a very angry young Maori. Perhaps off the wagon too and abusing the brew.
4 May 2012, 08:51 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-160:
5 years ago, the opportunity to exchange views and banter with Kiwis and Aussies was still a novel pastime. Where things started to go sour was when SA politics entered the equation and e-mails started flying in the background summoning the troops to join the fray. It was a bit like kids in the playground telling their gang members they had a victim.
At some point this approach was also turned on the Kiwi and Aussie bloggers who started to respond in kind.
That’s when it got rather ugly and adolescent.
4 May 2012, 08:53 am
@David(David)-165:
Indeed.
4 May 2012, 08:59 am
@David(David)-165:
The majority of trouble makers moved along a very long time ago, idiots still posting on this blog is but a hand full. The problem now is that moderation does not exist and the few are making it difficult for the rest of us. Keo and his cronies however do not care.
4 May 2012, 09:00 am
Maturity also comes into it. The morons and social misfits usually hang around to troll.
4 May 2012, 09:02 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-167:
It’s all about hits. Money talks and common sense walks.
4 May 2012, 09:13 am
@David(David)-165: @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-166: the wars on this blog were something to behold but i do miss some of the “broeders” quite a bit.
gbs and pietman had valuable insight and added to the convo massively imo but took it too far when they started looking into peoples personal details, contacting peoples workplaces etc.
the kiwi and aussie bloggers behave no differently now than they did then imo. they have very little frame of reference for our political bs and mostly stay out of it. Poppa lost his marbles in 2009 when the boks were dominating the ab’s and kobus kitty made him cry into his lager and it snowballed from that point imo.
most kiwis like hurri, cane etc are a pleasure to chat with, same goes for the aussies like walla and brumbiesboy etc.
they give as good as they get banter wise but personal attacks and filth concerning rape etc etc dont seem to be part of their daily bread.
unlike poppa.
no doubt he will defend his actions with finger pointing but he is as bad as those he points at.
he will be gone again for a rukkie soon imo.
4 May 2012, 09:21 am
Oh what short memories you have, the C was worn out on all your keyboards because of typing chokers so often, Pops states the facts the Ab’s own the Bokke head to head and in every other stat and you can’t handle it. Keep up the good work Pops.
4 May 2012, 09:25 am
Oh Dear !
Steyn at 10 we can maybe win 1 test.
4 May 2012, 09:25 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-170:
I miss BlackPanther, I enjoyed his point-of-view and his opinions.
4 May 2012, 09:32 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-170: Morning ranger, hope you are well.
I have to agree. The “Broeders” added valuable rugby knowledge to this blog. I missed the whole saga which led to their ban as I didn’t blog here from 2007 to 2009, but I do miss them.
Especially Pietman, my all time favourite blogger – he always had a rugby story or six to tell about some event or some club, rivalled by none.
I remember spending some time in Germany in 2006, when I first discovered this blog. I smiled from ear to ear when he posted about rugby clubs in the Northern Cape, which are very close to my heart.
4 May 2012, 09:38 am
@willievz(willievz)-174:
They weren’t banned as such, just decided they wanted their own site. What’s interesting is that despite protestations of wanting to keep politics out of rugby, some of them still come to stir.
I also miss a number of them, especially Pietman as well.
4 May 2012, 09:41 am
Geez my comments get taken off Sharksworld if they are too harsh. Talk about Gestapo.
4 May 2012, 09:53 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-176:
At least you can lodge your complaint here and Rob might respond.
4 May 2012, 09:57 am
Hehe!
4 May 2012, 10:56 am
Morning GreenTea
. Just reread my comments from yesterday. Yes it is hard for the Bok supporters to give credit where it is due.
I have to concede that the Boks with 80% of the ball in last years RWC still couldnt win, no drop goals nada!! The Ozzies tackled the living daylights out of the Boks and that is that. We had a terrible coach wh had no game plan!!
And yes the ABs were definitely the best team across the entire RWC, i think Wales were the 2nd best team but were a bit unlucky.
The French are just an enigma, what they did in the Final only they can do becoz you can’t coach that flair you either have it or you don’t!! The Pumas have a bit of that French flair too!!
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