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
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Follow SA Rugby magazine on Twitter
635 Comments
Pages: « 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 13 » Show All
5 Jun 2012, 12:29 pm
hypothetically speaking…..what would happen if the bulls go on and win the superrugby? or the sharks for that matter.
would that appease the cape brigade.
5 Jun 2012, 12:29 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-340: WTF?
5 Jun 2012, 12:29 pm
@Superbru(Superbru)-343:
Mate this is the point, PdV had a plan
But the so-called senior players (read Vic, FdP) always tilted the game to the way they like to play it
With Meyer installed as coach you see in effect a continuation of the Matfield du Preez regime
5 Jun 2012, 12:30 pm
I would have had Aplon there, at wing or fullback or cover from the bench, because I rate him.
I would not have had De Jongh there.
But if it’s going to be a kick and chase gameplan, then the taller Kirchner probably gives you a better chance to contest and regather an up and under. That’s probably also why Lambie isn’t starting at 15 (aside from his skin colour).
I trust Heyneke.
5 Jun 2012, 12:30 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-320: It’s because you can train 15 babooons to tackle and tackle and tackle – without playing any rugby and still win.
Meyer wants rugby players – not babooons.
Get it.
5 Jun 2012, 12:30 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-345:
Maybe the same dish but I always come with fresh herbs and spices
5 Jun 2012, 12:31 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-333: Can you not see that everything I said on Friday is evolving as truth right before our very eyes? You called me paranoid, I call myself ‘prophet’. That said, it’s damn entertaining watching the Blue Tokkies on this site crawl around trying to justify Meyer’s every move. Most of the hysteria is coming from those who find their Marketing and PR strategies under threat (and no additional budget being granted to step it up a gear). This Tacky dude and his mates – absolutely hysterical in a Modern Family way. One last question(and I asked you on Friday) – why is Meyer not allowed to be questioned, I don’t think he has been canonized yet, at this stage he is still mortal?
5 Jun 2012, 12:32 pm
@RL(RL)-355:
Wrong he wants to win! He said it would be defense that wins games.
You not reading the paper and just joining the hype! Get your facts first…
5 Jun 2012, 12:32 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-346: Your posts are starting to look more and more like ET’s, with your use of CAPITALS to try and emphasize points.
Sadly, much like one or 2 other bloggers on this site, you can’t be an argumentative fool 360 days out of the year and then try an look like the voice of reason the rest.
That’s the problem with being the fool. No one will listen to you when you have something that you feel is important to say.
But rant away Wells.
It’s your dime.
5 Jun 2012, 12:32 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-357:
You can question away (since you seem to see us as his proxies).
He’s not going to pay any attention to you though.
5 Jun 2012, 12:33 pm
I.m a stormers supporter and @stormersboy(stormersboy)-320: you are acting like a real ********. Leave HM to pick who he wants, he knows the game beter than you will ever know it and he knows the players beter than you ever will, so take a chillpill.
5 Jun 2012, 12:33 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-344: Divisive…? Au contraire…
I reckon I articulate a pretty uniform and unified set of valid criticisms of the whiny, hysterical, sudden anti “Northern” Meyer sentiment from a patently jealous “Southern” pretty ignorant set…. I just dont say it in a “nice” PC way…
Call it a Gift… Call it a talent
No journalistic, PC, or commercial pretensions required either.
5 Jun 2012, 12:34 pm
@RL(RL)-355: Don’t be a sourpuss little boy, why don’t you run over to a thread discussing YOUR team, oh, that’s right, no-one’s interested in losers…
5 Jun 2012, 12:34 pm
Nice pic of the Coke TV team on the right
5 Jun 2012, 12:35 pm
A farmer was out on his Welsh hillside tending his flock one day, when he saw a man drinking with a cupped hand from the stream which ran down from one of his fields. Realising the danger, he shouted over to the man, ‘Paid a yfed y dwr! Mae’n ych-y-fi!’ [Don't drink the water. It's disgusting!]
The man at the stream lifted his head and put a cupped hand to his ear, shrugged his shoulders at the farmer, and carried on drinking.
Realising the man at the stream couldn’t hear him, the farmer moved closer, ‘Paid a yfed! Dwr ych-y-fi! Defaid yn cachu yn y dwr!’ [Don't drink. Water's disgusting. Sheep poo in the water.]
Still the walker couldn’t hear the farmer. Finally the farmer walked right up to the man at the stream and once again said again, ‘Dwr yn ych-y-fi! Paid a’i yfed!’. [Water's disgusting. Don't drink it!]
‘I’m dreadfully sorry my good man, I can’t understand a word you say dear boy! Can’t you speak English?’ Said the man at the stream, in a splendid English accent.
‘Oh I see’, said the farmer, ‘I was just saying, if you use both hands you can get more in…….. !
5 Jun 2012, 12:35 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-324:
Swak argument.
In daai geval kan al die top spelers maar net so wel vir 1 span uitdraf dan hoef ons nie te worry oor selections nie.
5 Jun 2012, 12:35 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-348: It has been hysterical since it witnessed such a calamitous weekend,it’s dynamite fizzled in the coke tin and then to top it off the hated strompies beat the bulls at loftus,I think it has damaged itself,yes,something most definately has popped.Calling all stormers supporters veraaiers when the only looney that said he won’t support Meyers boks is skoppie.2 of a kind,skopshyte and Heaven’s game it seems.
5 Jun 2012, 12:36 pm
Dai had a dog that used to bark out the score whenever Wales beat England? ‘What does he do when England beat Wales?’ he was asked. ‘Dunno,’ said Dai, ‘we’ve only ‘ad him eight years.’
5 Jun 2012, 12:36 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-366:
Well, if any one union can afford all the top players, then by all means.
The reality is, the Bok coach should only be concerned about winning.
That’s what his performance will be judged on.
5 Jun 2012, 12:36 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-362: Call if a gift, call it a talent you say? I call it Tourette syndrome.
5 Jun 2012, 12:36 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-360:
An honest question. Whould you have been “ready to get on with the job of clobbering the Poms” and not have said anything negative about the team selection if a coach selected only 3 Bulls players for the Bok team (as you are now expecting the Stormer supporters to be)?
5 Jun 2012, 12:37 pm
@RL(RL)-355: Really, please go talk hogwash somewhere else.
5 Jun 2012, 12:40 pm
Q: What do call an Englishman holding a bottle of champagne after a 6 Nations game?
A: Waiter.
5 Jun 2012, 12:41 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-359: Oh Stormerboy, Stormerboy where art thou…
Self proclaimed Keo Prefect of righteousness and moral standing…
Staff of “truth” stamping and booming… Wailing “ET”…
But to no avail…
Show them true colours boy… I dont see anything near Green and Gold there… I just see Blue and White…
You are really proving yourself…A petty Cape Town hypocrite.
Aren’t you
5 Jun 2012, 12:42 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-357:
you aren’t questioning anything.
you just harp on about a series of historical superstitions and hackneyed cultural cliches. using old school rugby kenners mutterings after 5 brandies and cokes as a basis for some kind of informed opinion.
furthermore questioning something is one thing.
but going on and on about the same thing is boring and devalues any point you think you may have had.
Beside these constant references to a person’s culture and religion as the basis for which they do their job are pretty silly.
and then in the next breath you call yourself a prophet.
are you related to gwantie?
5 Jun 2012, 12:42 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-361: Like a real what? Rugby supporter?
Person with a valid opinion?
I tried to put forward a well argued point of view but obviously that is lost on you.
Shouldn’t you be at school? Or are you writing exams at the moment?
5 Jun 2012, 12:42 pm
Banner seen at Cardiff Arms Park. – “Ray Gravell Eats Soft Centres”.
The great man explained his rugby philosophy thus: “You’ve got to get your first tackle in early, even if it’s late”.
5 Jun 2012, 12:43 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-354: I tell you and tell you good, if Heyneke kicks and chases our ball away, he won’t be a Bok coach for long, let alone his glaring selection errors.
5 Jun 2012, 12:43 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-371:
If 5 of my team’s first choice stars were out injured and yet we still got 3 players in the Bok team, then it would be kind of silly to complain, wouldn’t it.
Even at the height of the Bulls power, (when we won 3 Super Rugby trophies, remember) we rarely had more than 5 or 6 players in the Bok team.
The Stormers have not won a single trophy, and yet if Duane, Schalk and Andries Bekker were not injured, they would all have started.
That would have given the Stormers 6 players in the starting line up.
It seems, however, that the Stormers – despite not winning a thing yet, and scraping through by only a few points in all of their big games this year – want more their top 6 players in the team.
It seems they want about 10 of their players in the team.
You guys are simply out of touch with reality.
5 Jun 2012, 12:44 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-374: Running out of rehashed phrases to use??
You can (and will) call me anything you like.
Doesn’t change what I am.
Or you sadly.
5 Jun 2012, 12:44 pm
Three Englishman walk into a bar and spot a Welshman sitting alone at a table.
One fellow said to the others, ‘Let’s pick a fight with that Welshman over there.’
His partner replied, ‘Wait, we don’t want to be arrested. Let’s make him start the fight.’
The third Englishman said, ‘Wait here chaps. I know how to do it.’
He went over to the Welshman and said, ‘St David was a flippin’ sissy.’
To this the Welshman replied, ‘Ah well you don’t say!’ and calmly resumed drinking his beer.
The second Englishman now tried his luck and said to the Welshman, ‘St David was a stupid fool that wore a dress!’
The Welshman again replied, ‘You’re very sharp, you don’t say!’ and calmly resumed drinking his beer.
The last Englishman told his friends he knew how to rile the Welshman and bounced up to the table and yelled, ‘St David was an Englishman!’
The Welshman replied, calmly, ‘That’s what your mates were trying to tell me.’
5 Jun 2012, 12:45 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-372:
It is amazing what a win can do to some and a loss to others…
5 Jun 2012, 12:45 pm
By the time the four nations come along the Stormers will have at least 2 more players in the squad.
5 Jun 2012, 12:45 pm
Greybeard @198
Thankyou
5 Jun 2012, 12:45 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-376:
Some hide their hurt more than others! That doesn’t mean it isn’t sore though…
5 Jun 2012, 12:46 pm
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-383:
So you counting hey! Naa three is enough – nuff said…
5 Jun 2012, 12:47 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-349: Yup… And clobber them WE must…
In Heyneke Meyer WE trust…
Well, most pragmatic, knowledgeable and realistic Rugby supporters do.
His team does need to win though… If only to give a figurative middle finger to the rather petty “Southern” set…
WTF is it anyway with this “North”, “South” thing from a bygone era suddenly making a reappearance…?
Maybe the Verligte “Southerners” not as verlig as they actually pretend to be after all…
5 Jun 2012, 12:49 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-379:
Seems like you still dont get it.
It’s not about the starting team. It’s the useless extra Bulls who made the squad ahead of more deserving players who unfortunately don’t play in Pretoria, so they either need more development or a too small.
You yourself was a big critic of Kirchner who made it head of Aplon, a player you rate if I’m not mistaken yet you’ve just accepted this selection error as Godly divine selection vision from Heyneke.
5 Jun 2012, 12:50 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-380: And what are you, Stormerboy?
Especially since casting yourself in this “righteous” little role of yours?
Come… Tell… You have an audience with Wells now.
5 Jun 2012, 12:50 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-375: You just have to admit I was right, simple really. After all the sh y te that went down when Mallet coached, I’m really shocked that so many of you are feeling betrayed, bewildered and confused at the reaction from some segments of the population to some of Meyer’s calls thus far. You really didn’t think everyone was just going to hold hands and follow the Pied Piper,skipping with glee did you? Meyer has got it easy – as I said on Friday, with the majority blindly supporting him and his decisions – if he didn’t think he had that blind, fanatical support, no way in hell he would have announced a squad like that to begin with. Anyway, the proof will be in the pudding – but even if the Boks win, don’t expect Greenpeace in the south to stop their activism.
5 Jun 2012, 12:52 pm
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-388:
Yes, I disagree with the choice of Kirchner, but the point is, each of us will have our own team in mind.
Do you think Kirchner will now be the permanent Bok fullback? You are delusional if you do.
What part of “picking a team he is familiar with” due to the short preparation time don’t you understand?
5 Jun 2012, 12:53 pm
What some of the lunatic fringe don’t get about me, and those that have met me will attest, I am exactly the same person on this Blog as I am in the real world. No hypocrisy. No repressed rage issues that are brought out under the (relative) safety of anonymous blogging, none of that. People who know me know that I blog here and what my name is. I have no issue with clients and family reading what I post, not just now but in the future (once it is out there it is there forever). So I must say that when a person calls me hypocritical on this blog I do find that very amusing, especially when it comes from the very embodiment of the definition of the word.
5 Jun 2012, 12:53 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-378:
The Antipodean teams have founds ways to outsmart the “kick and muscle” technique employed by the Vryhiedfront Plus ever since Johan Roux chowed Fitzies ear
5 Jun 2012, 12:54 pm
Putting everything in perspective i am surprised that he did not pick more Bulls in light of having so little time to make these guys mesh.
Pdv inhereted a no. 1 ranked team and handed back a no. 3 team….lets see what HM can do….
For the last 4 years i have been dismissing our losses to snor’s skill…
No excuses now, if we dont rule under HM then I think we deserve to be where we are….
5 Jun 2012, 12:58 pm
@Sheriff(Sheriff)-336: Please do. We do not need conditional Springbok supporters.
5 Jun 2012, 12:58 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-390:
Bullshit.
All Bok coaches catch flak.
And the majority of the people here are giving to him with both barrels.
To suggest that he is getting some sort of armchair ride is completely baseless.
But that doesn’t change the fairy dust you are serving up as informed opinion.
5 Jun 2012, 12:58 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-392:
What I have been struck with about you (since I first noticed your presence here about 12 months ago) is that you are excessively concerned about coming across as a reasonable, respectable, open minded individual when posting here.
Now maybe that is because you are open about your identity, but I find your approach to frankly be out of place.
No one comes here to make friends or impress others with their upstanding character or willingness to fairly examine each point of view.
People come here to speak their mind.
While your reputation is clearly important to you, the fact is, I think you could expend those efforts better in another forum. This is not where one comes to be taken seriously.
That’s my advice to you, and has been my view since I first saw you appear on here, which isn’t that long ago in comparison to us long term denizens of this cr*phole.
5 Jun 2012, 12:58 pm
There is a classic picture going around on facebook at the moment. It’s a picture of HM looking what could be seen as a little perplexed, with the caption below:
“That awkward moment.” “When you are about to announce your national team and they get beaten by the Stormers”.
Vat so.
5 Jun 2012, 12:58 pm
So even Lancaster know he must watch Bulls matches to prepare for the test.
5 Jun 2012, 12:59 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-379:
Yes, the cop out is now to say that Duanne, Schalk and Bekker woukd have been there. Fact is they are not, there is no guarantee that they (specially Duanne) would have been there- the stormers team may not have won any cups yet but they have been the leading SA team for the last 2 years I guess it is fair that the supporters were expecting to have more players in the team.
Remember we are not talking about about a team of 15 or 22 players but about a group of 32 players. So, based on the performance over the last 2 years , a selection of 3/32 with the possibility of a possible 6/32 is imo more than enough reason for any Stormer supporter to at least raise his/her comcern. It however appears that if we do it we are labelled as traitors and english supporters and thats just bullshit.
Pages: « 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 13 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.