Lancaster not fazed by mysterious Boks
5 Jun 2012
Stuart Lancaster says in the absence of footage of a Heyneke Meyer-coached Springbok side they have been forced to review Bulls matches and garner information from within his own squad.
The Springboks have only four days to prepare for the first Test against England in Durban on Saturday, which is clearly a significant obstacle. However, their advantage stems from England’s limited analysis material, whilst Meyer and technical analyst Rassie Erasmus have a wealth of information from England’s Six Nations campaign on which to build their challenge.
Lancaster acknowledged that it was a disadvantage but explained that there are avenues they have explored in order to fill in the gaps in their knowledge.
‘You go back through previous teams that he coached, he has a long association with the Bulls, and he also spent seven months at Leicester. We have six or seven players who’ve worked under him and given us insight into him as a person as coach,’ Lancaster said. ‘The beauty of this tour is that we play each other three times in three weeks so we are going to know each other inside out at the end. It’s more about who learns quickly during the game and who adapts to the match situation.
‘South Africa would have had a good chance to have a look at us during the Six Nations, while their last game was the World Cup quarter-final in 2011. So that’s a clear advantage. But again it’s about adapting quickly, especially in the first Test because come Sunday both sides will have a clearer idea of the other’s strengths and limitations.’
Click here to read Stuart Barnes’ take on Stuart Lancaster
Lancaster also explained that the experience and familiarity of the Springboks’ senior players will soften the impact of an inadequate build up.
‘The Springboks have had limited preparation for this series, but they have a core of players who played not only in the World Cup but prior to that as well. There will be a common understanding and philosophy. South Africa are a difficult side at home, irrespective of their preparation time.’
England last won in South Africa 12 years ago. It signalled the start of a golden era which culminated in them winning the World Cup in 2003. Asked whether this was their best opportunity since that last victory to return with the Bok scalp, Lancaster offered: ‘I tend not to look back, but rather forward to where we want to go.
‘This is undoubtedly a huge opportunity to test ourselves against high quality opposition in their own back yard. A tour doesn’t get any tougher than facing South Africa in South Africa, as the British & Irish Lions found out in 2009.’
By Ryan Vrede, in Durban
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635 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 13 » Show All
5 Jun 2012, 09:15 am
Go Bokke!!!!!!!!
5 Jun 2012, 09:20 am
England to win by 10.
5 Jun 2012, 09:24 am
Going to be a tough first game
5 Jun 2012, 09:24 am
Boks by 12+
5 Jun 2012, 09:24 am
Probable bok starting team if reports from training in Durbs are to be believed.
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (capt), 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
5 Jun 2012, 09:28 am
@Riaan26(Riaan26)-1: Go Mysterious Bulle Bokke!
5 Jun 2012, 09:29 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-5: Not a bad team except for Kirchner at 15.
5 Jun 2012, 09:35 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-5:
More than likely… and with RP and Lambie on the bench it’s more a question of whether the spit is 5/2 and if so… Ralepelle will get the nod over Strauss and whether there will be two props or two flankers?
5 Jun 2012, 09:38 am
Kirchner and Spies. *sigh* No way that these decisions were made with an unbiased mind.
If this is the stats Rassie provides Meyer on players…. embarrassing.
5 Jun 2012, 09:38 am
Ever since I can remember I supported the Boks ,defended the Boks , loved the boks !! In my environment for every bok supporter there is a AB supporter , every Stormers a Crusader. I argue , I defend , I persist. Sadly after more than 20 years I give up. I cannot defend the undefendable. I cannot support this Bok team. Its laden with Tokenism and provincial biasness.
Jean is only captain to please the Western Cape , why appoint him so late ? They wanted to see the outcome. Meyer comes across as a man with good planning so he cannot say he wanted a day extra to think about his captain. k@k.
There is no way , not form related , not ability related , not previous form related that JJ or Meisiekind is better than Juan , ditto Aplon vs Basson. Every excuse written , every thing I went over trying to make sense but I cannot. Meyer says he picked the team because he had so little time to prepare so went with players he knows. How well does he know JJ ? He never evens coached him. He talks about needing experience , well again how experience is JJ ? He played a handful of games at centre for the bulls while Juan has been a regular Bok the last few years.Also he is comfortable at 12 and 13.
He talks about strong players that can win the ball in contact and defend well. Pull up Basson’s stats and you will see he is one of the worst defenders in the comp , heck without stats I think most people can see. Then Basson is hardly a big guy now is he ? Also what about Steyn ? He is a revolving door at flyhalf , Meyer says that Steyn’s defense is overlooked due to his accuracy. Heck , if you want accuracy pick Grant , he has been more accurate this season (I actually dont believe Grant is good enough , just using Meyer’s logic). Steyn has been dismal this season with his kicking , he blows hot and cold and this past weekend we saw again how he faltered when it mattered.
Meyer reckons some players need time to get use to the system , the youngsters should not be thrusted into the frontline. I agree but what about Etzebeth and Mercel ? Had Goosen been fit do you think he would have been picked ? Off course. So howcome Kollisi needs time to adjust but a guy like Marcel is ready ? Kollisi is actually a very matured , confident young man and on current form the best flanker in the SA comp , probably in the top 3 in the entire comp.
There is so many more things wrong with this squad , justify Jano Vermaak for me. etc etc.
Nope for the first time ever I will be boycotting the Boks.
PS – Every time I read how people are disgusted by the Cape Crusaders who support the ABS , well WTF to you want them to support ? The SA Bulls ? Meyer and Ian Mac picked whoever they thought was okay and then filled the gaps with players from everywhere else.
5 Jun 2012, 09:41 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-10:
good girl.
now take your tissues and fukkoff already.
5 Jun 2012, 09:41 am
wasn’t aware of this – anyone else?
From City Press
Celebrity rugby writer Mark Keohane resigned suddenly on Friday as spokesperson of South Africa’s Olympic team – hours after City Press confronted him with allegations of drug abuse and sexual harassment.
Some of Keohane’s former female employees have claimed that he sexually harassed them, suffered from “sad, gross cocaine addiction” and used prostitutes.
Over the past two years, several women have approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), claiming he dismissed them unfairly.
The allegations against him are now being spread among sports writers and written about on Twitter.
On Friday afternoon, three hours after City Press confronted him, Keohane replied, saying that he had informed Sascoc chief executive Tubby Reddy that he was resigning as spokesperson for the Olympic team and would no longer be going to the Olympic Games.
He has also resigned as publishing director of Cape Town-based Highbury Safika Media (HSM) with immediate effect.
Keohane was in charge of 30 magazines and the leading website keo.co.za, which is visited by 700 000 users from 220 countries each year.
He is also the writer of several books and was SAB’s sports journalist of the year.
Keohane told City Press in 2008 that there was an “agenda” against him and that he could not allow “disgruntled and malicious former employees, one of them who was retrenched, to undermine the credibility and integrity of either HSM or Sascoc”.
Female employees claimed that they were sexually harassed and were victims of his erratic behaviour allegedly brought about by drugs. Their allegations include:
» During the opening game of the Super 14 series in 2010 he sexually harassed an employee and allegedly tried to kiss her. Keohane said afterwards that he had only asked her for a date;
» He wrote off his car in November 2009 after he allegedly went on a two-day cocaine binge;
» He apparently tried to “change his ways” after the accident, but a month later he was back on cocaine;
» During the South African Breweries annual sports awards in Johannesburg in 2009, Keohane and several other sports writers snorted large amounts of cocaine before the function. Afterwards they hired three prostitutes for the night; and
» One woman said in a statement: “I realise that I have been like an abused woman. I have been put through hell and back by having to accept the blatant illegal use of drugs. I have had to sit back and allow my female staff to be sexually harassed, which breaks my heart and makes me ashamed as a boss.”
Another of Keohane’s former employees, who occupied a managerial position, said it was well known that he was often “totally off his face” as a result of his excessive cocaine use. She claims she had an emotional breakdown as a result of his erratic behaviour towards her.
5 Jun 2012, 09:41 am
The funny thing is that Meyer and the Bulls think we are stupid enough not to see how they planned the ‘purchases’ of the coaches beforehand. Earned a lot of money to buy new players. (Meyer probably got his cut as well)
Strange that neither the FS nor Stormers received anything for Rassie when the Boks pulled him into the ranks. Once again, well thought out strategies.
5 Jun 2012, 09:41 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-10:
Dry your eyes now.
It would have been pointless to pick a captain before Saturday. What if Jean was injured in the Loftus game?
The correct procedure was followed.
5 Jun 2012, 09:44 am
@Bouts(Bouts)-13:
You crybabies can give Michael Moore a run for his money when it comes to conspiracy theories.
So much paranoia.
5 Jun 2012, 09:44 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-8: two props. England is always a scrumming challenge so it will help if we had 2 props on the bench. Coenie and Werner.
5 Jun 2012, 09:46 am
@Bouts(Bouts)-13:
Rassie resigned from the stormers.
5 Jun 2012, 09:51 am
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-12:
The alleged sexual harassment part is no good but the charlie and hookers sound alright.
5 Jun 2012, 09:52 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-16:
My Head says the Poms will edge us at scrumtime. Dan Cole is a Real beast and he will trouble us.
The poms will look to get the edge at scrum as they always do.
5 Jun 2012, 09:52 am
Go bokke, let’s hope Meyer made the right selections. A lot of people confused by some selections, but let’s hope he knows what he is doing. This England squad won’t be as forgiving as other lesser squads that have toured SA.
5 Jun 2012, 09:53 am
we should still beat them out wide – my prediction – 10+ win
Go Blou!
5 Jun 2012, 09:55 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-15:
Its getting like that around here isn’t it, we had 4 years of PDV whining, you all get what you asked for in Meyer and the bickering actually gets worse, how does that work?
5 Jun 2012, 09:55 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-10:
He made a subtle statement! Let’s see what he can do with this squad. Can you imagine if Smit is right and the English win the first test!!! It is sure to kick up a Storm…
5 Jun 2012, 09:56 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-18: yeah, the wee man knows how to party.
5 Jun 2012, 09:58 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-22:
There’s a massive divide in this country.
It’s not the provincialism thing, it’s much stronger than that.
I actually cannot fully understand it, truth be told.
5 Jun 2012, 09:58 am
Rain predicted this weekend in Durbs. Strong wind as well.
Need to be strong up front in the tight stuff, kicking needs to be acurate and back 3 better have their A games with them.
5 Jun 2012, 09:59 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-26:
Oh dear! English weather…
5 Jun 2012, 10:00 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-14: Dry my eyes ? LOL , kinda ironic coming from you dont u think. What if Jean was injured ? Well he knew he was not by the time the squad was picked now did’nt he. What if Steyn was injured ? Why did he call his name or any of the other members ? Try again.
5 Jun 2012, 10:01 am
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-12: Yoh thats heavy! Nikita and other girlie watch out.
Did he really resign?
5 Jun 2012, 10:01 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-11: U first kind sir. Sticks and stones may break my bones but you remain a idiot
5 Jun 2012, 10:02 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-11:
5 Jun 2012, 10:02 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-25:
actually quite sad to read it about it for days on end I feel sorry for Meyer he’s got a tougher job than the AB coach
5 Jun 2012, 10:02 am
Go Boks…
True Bok supporters are behind you all the way…
Just Win… Thats all.
5 Jun 2012, 10:03 am
Meyer was perfectly correct naming his captain late. He is taking pressure off the captain and his team. Why subject the team and captain to foaming at the mouth abuse for weeks rather than a few days.
Good move Heineke.
Glad to see P DeVilliers roped in as the scrum coach. His French experience will add plenty I hope. The Bok scrum has been disapointing for years.
5 Jun 2012, 10:03 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-28:
What the heck are you on about?
The squad was announced about 10 minutes after the Bulls and Stormers players left the field.
The way it works is you offer the captaincy to a player, and wait to see if he accepts it.
So you’re saying Heyneke should have cornered the exchausted, sweaty De Villiers in the tunnel on the way to the changeroom straight after the game and asked him there and then to confirm quickly if he will accept the Bok captaincy, as the press conference is in a couple of minutes?
Don’t be daft, man.
5 Jun 2012, 10:04 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-29: don’t know. first i hear of it.
guess if it wasn’t true, he or one of his minions would have denied it by now.
5 Jun 2012, 10:04 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-22:
PdV wasnt a great coach but he ‘kept the peace’ to a large degree by picking tried and tested players and playing to a particular formula.
HM is applying his own formula here and certainly not in it to keep the peace. He wants to win and this is obviously how he thinks that will happen.
That is why there is such an outcry here.
Vindication will come from either side when the results start coming in.
5 Jun 2012, 10:05 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-30:
Listen mate. The Bulls are happy campers. They have their team and reserves in the Bok squad. They are better than the Stormers in every way. They have only lost five games, three on the trot and one at home in front of their Pink Supporters, not forgetting the home loss to the Blues. They deserve to have the majority of players in the Bok squad.
5 Jun 2012, 10:07 am
Today we get to know who the vice captain is. Good money on Britney I would say…
Any other options…
5 Jun 2012, 10:08 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-5: I would never have expected England to have a better back row then the Boks have, but if that’s it they will need one hell of a performance from Alberts, because Spies and Coetzee are going to get owned by Morgan and Robshaw.
5 Jun 2012, 10:08 am
John Smit said that England had a good chance for the first test due to the more settled nature of their squad. What is so unsupportive about that?
Again, read the English media and they are all predicting their team gets smashed. Just the kind of motivation the English could use. All pressure is on the Boks.
In fact watching the turgid uselessness of the Baby Boks yesterday would have done the Boks the world of good.
5 Jun 2012, 10:08 am
@John Galt(John Galt)-37:
Amen. We are tired of losing so a win will do just fine…
5 Jun 2012, 10:09 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-30:
honestly do you squat to pee?
because that’s what it sounds like.
tinkle tinkle.
5 Jun 2012, 10:09 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-35:
totally agree about scrum coach. Jannie is not a dominating tighthead. I would prefer BJ Botha and Heinkie as our props if we are to consistently dominate opposition scrums. But that is dreamwishing on my part.
5 Jun 2012, 10:11 am
Morning all. In case you wondered (in between frothing at the mouth and crying about provincialism), the average age of the starting XV in Post 5 above is 26, and with a total of 458 caps (average caps 31) is the most inexperienced Bok side since the 297 caps that started the test against the All Blacks in Wellington last July. Three debutants (Coetzee, Etsebeth, Kruger) but a healthy amoutn of experience among the rest imo. The bench will be interesting.
5 Jun 2012, 10:12 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-44:
If it is true that the weather is playing a big role, I would expect the English to dominate at scrum time. Having a kicking flyhalf will help in this type of weather though. Just hope we get enough ball…
5 Jun 2012, 10:13 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-35: Well then the planning of the announcement was flawed then surely ? Why is all the previous times the Captain was announced with the team ? You trying to tell me they erred in their timing ? Meyer does not strike me as a man making such mistakes.
5 Jun 2012, 10:13 am
HongKongSlong.
The English captain and his backrow friends are becoming an ever better unit.
Individually I think we more than match them, but how effective we will be is in the future.
England will miss Tom Crofts pace out wide and his excellent lineout play. I somehow think that Haskell will be chosen for his percieved power and aggro. They will want to dominate the Boks up front in their own way. Keeping the ball away from the Boks for long periods is what they will want to do. Talk in the English media is that the English scrum will be the focus of their attack.
They do not rate the Bok Scrumming unit.
5 Jun 2012, 10:14 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-33: U mean the Bulls and Sharks then ? They are the true “bok” supporters here ?
5 Jun 2012, 10:14 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-35:
Hey, I thought you said the players already knew beforehand they were going to be picked for Boks as that was your EXCUSE as to why they underperformed.
If Meyer could stalk Fourie Du Preez for weeks after another BULL Matfield declined to take the captaincy before the weekend then surely he could’ve communicated to Jean that he was next in line to captain, somehow, somewhere.
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