Breakdown turnaround root of success
10 Jun 2012
Heyneke Meyer identified the Springboks’ improvement at the gainline and breakdown as the reason for their better second half performance against England at Kings Park.
The Springboks struggled to find an attacking groove in the first half, with their primary strike runners regularly repelled by accurate and physical defence from the tourists. They looked rudderless at times on attack as a result, but improved markedly in this facet of play in the second half and were able to ask far more probing questions of England.
Asked what his directive to his charges had been at half-time, Meyer said: ‘I’m very emotional, sometimes I lose it. Jean [de Villiers, captain] was brilliant at half-time and I said to the forwards they have to get stuck in better because I wanted to up the tempo. They responded and we got better cleans and our ball carriers got into the game. When that happened I felt there were times we played some brilliant rugby.’
Speaking about the officiating at the breakdown De Villiers explained he felt referee Steve Walsh was ‘quick on the call’ [to penalise the Springboks], but stressed the responsibility rests with them to improve.
Central to their second half showing was the ball-carrying potency of blindside flank Willem Alberts, who earned the Man of the Match award off the back of an outstanding performance. Meyer was lavish in his praise of Alberts, and noted his back row partners’ contribution as well.
‘I was very happy with the loose forwards, I think they were important in us winning the game,’ he said. ‘Willem was brilliant. I spoke to him during Super Rugby and told him he was going to start and I wanted him to be at his best. He was awesome. Marcell Coetzee, starting his first Test, was unbelievable. People criticised that selection but he showed his class. Pierre [Spies] had one of his better Test matches as well. They’ll get better as a combination the more they play together.’
He also spoke highly of Bryan Habana’s showing. The winger has struggled in Tests in the last four years but looked sharp and dangerous throughout the match.
‘Bryan has probably played his best rugby for me. We’ve had long chats and I told him he needs to enjoy the game again, and be that vibrant player he had been at his best. He got to the point where he was just too conservative. He doesn’t have the X factor when he is like that, so I encouraged him to take risks. He was brilliant at times tonight, and he’ll grow from here.’
Meyer was absolutely clear when asked about possible changes for the Johannesburg Test next week.
‘I don’t believe in giving jerseys away, you earn the chance so I’ll stick to the same team. We don’t have a lot of time, two more Tests and then they go back to Super Rugby. They have to get game time together,’ he said.
233 Comments
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10 Jun 2012, 13:30 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-45:
Getting forward momentum in the no.12 channel is the basic platform that this attacking gameplan is based on. Frans was awesome in that capacity yesterday.
The beauty is that he also has great ball skills in addition to his bulk and power.
He is absolutely crucial to our success under Heyneke’s gameplan.
His presence in the midfield gave us incredible stability. Our midfield defensive woes are now a thing of the past and our attacking play was looking very dangerous as well.
Step 1, Frans gets in shallow and carries it up and gets over the advantage line.
Step 2, Morne takes it deep and passes behind the dummy runners in channel 1, to take it wide for De Villiers to launch the second phase attack.
It was great to watch, and its only going to get better as they play together under Heyneke.
Next week will be a great game for us.
10 Jun 2012, 13:34 pm
The Boks were very good considering the lead in time. One week playing against each other the next week playing a test is a serious challenge.
No player disgraced himself. HM is right to stick with the same team.
England are on a hiding to nothing. The Boks outmuscled them and out thought them. This will be a 3 zip whitewash because HM won’t be charitable like pdiddy was to the Lions.
Once the players start tuning in to each other they have the potential to be great Bok side, especially when you look at the talent outside of the squad which will obviously be brought in as HM settles on his combos.
A few of the players got the nod because HM has worked with them before but the likes of Lambie, Aplon and Kolisi won’t be waiting long.
10 Jun 2012, 13:40 pm
A good solid start to the Meyer Era of Springbok Rugby. Well done to Heyneke, management and players. A bit churlish of fans to start assassinating any individual players after the first game. Is there room for improvement? Of course, yes, but to start cursing players after just one game is being far too premature. A lot of the non-supporting of runners could be due to the unfamiliarity each other. It will come together soon. It is also very obvious by the players criticized as to what provinces these fans cheer for.
There is a group of players however, that should be criticized heavily for their non-performance. They should be made to explain themselves. They should be punished should no reasonable explanation be proffered. I’m talking about the ubiquitous Player 23! How in hell can they not fill Kingspark Stadium for a Springbok Rugby Test match? For the first game of a new coach and new team with more Sharks players than any other province represented and the people of Durban could not fill their stadium!
A few years ago there were 20 000 empty seats for a semi-final against the Cheetahs. The Sharks supporters on this site offered all sorts of excuses. For the big important matches they told us Kingspark would be full. Kingspark rocks they would have us believe. The best ground in the world to watch rugby at is Kingspark they keep trying to tell us.
Well, pray tell, how is it the the ‘best rugby supporters in the world’ can’t fill the ‘best stadium in the world’ that show all other rugby lovers at all other stadiums just how it should be done? How is not that Kingspark was not full? Why were there any empty seats at all? Loftus and Newlands would have been sold out to the last ticket. The KwaZulu Natal supporters need to examine themselves and their commitment to their team and to the Springboks. Not filling their stadium for a Test Match is completely unacceptable.
Yes, there are genuine loyal sincere committed supporters but the inability to fill their stadium that they continually boast about proves that the majority of their ‘fans’ are not only fair-weather Johnsons but like the Fritzl Family of HeavenShame, the Petrock Predawn, and the Little Sister Fern, are not rugby supporters at all. They are simply big-mouthed braggarts who come onto Keo to make trouble, stir, insult and cause trouble.
Saru must ban Test Rugby from Kingspark and hold it at other stadiums like Loftus, Soweto or Newlands.
10 Jun 2012, 13:44 pm
@Dirty Harry(FckU2)-53:
There’s something peculiar going on in Durban this year. Even for the Sharks games the stadium has been barely half full this season.
What’s up, Sharks fans? Why is no one going to the rugby in Durban anymore?
10 Jun 2012, 13:53 pm
i am continiuously concerned about the mental state of some of the posters here on Keo, and even on some othe sites.
srsly. i think if we beat England by a 100 points, all the players scoring tries, and keeping them off the team sheet, there would be people complaining about that.
is it unhappiness in other parts of their lives that makes them vent about rugby in general?
10 Jun 2012, 13:55 pm
@Dirty Harry(FckU2)-53: Exactly. Not sure why we should ‘bow down’ to some of the very average Sharks players this lot round here herald as ‘the best in the business’, when the Durban locals obviously don’t feel the same. They don’t have much regard for either the Sharks or Boks (much less the individual players). Really pathetic from the Sharks praise singers. And then they whinge when I question their rugby pedigree? Rugby pedigree means, full stadiums amongst other things……
10 Jun 2012, 13:55 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-51: Tac go and watch the first try by Morne and you will see that the catalyst gor that try was in fact Coetzee taking it up at speed and quick recycling by Pienaar to get it out to Alberts in space. English defenders couldn’t get around in time to stop Alberts going over the advantage and offloading to Jannie, but it was Coetzee all afternoon who created the space for Alberts and Frans.
10 Jun 2012, 13:57 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-57: “but” in the last sentence should read “and”
10 Jun 2012, 13:57 pm
coetzee was immense, consider his age and that it was his first test.
10 Jun 2012, 14:00 pm
@Dirty Harry(FckU2)-53:
“..who come onto Keo to make trouble, stir, insult and cause trouble.”
What was that comment the other day about us being…. “Dirty Harry(FckU2)-514:
“..ignorant sub-eductaed idiots.””
Skopshyte you are special…as in Down Syndrome special.
10 Jun 2012, 14:00 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-56: Guys all the baggage you guys are carrying towards Sharks supporters is going to weigh you down in life, get over it. Its not worth getting hot under the collar over us, we are a small province,insignificant in the greater scheme of ,it only serves to affect you
10 Jun 2012, 14:04 pm
Province supporters behind me at the game…reason I knew..they went, “Proviiiiiince” when de Villiers scored. They were also throwing ice at the marshalls on the field.
Thank you parents for living in KZN and bringing me up to behave like a man should behave in public.
Of course when I turned around to see who the culprits were everyone looked away. Cowards.
10 Jun 2012, 14:13 pm
Frans created nothing. All you JDV haters would obviously not see any bad in what he did. Funny enough JDV looked good without much help from him in anycase.
10 Jun 2012, 14:15 pm
Frans Steyn got across the advantage line which is good work for a centre. Stop being childish.
10 Jun 2012, 14:16 pm
Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters………………so much so fans from other parts of the country have to fill your stadium for you. Disgraceful lol
10 Jun 2012, 14:17 pm
Awwwwwww the Sharkies standing up for Fransie.
10 Jun 2012, 14:21 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-65:
As I said….stop being childish. Bok supporters come from all regions of South Africa…perhaps to a lesser degree in the Cape where the All Blacks have their very own “South Africa All Black fan club”. Are you planning on starting a “South Africa England fan club” in the near future? You should be able to harness quite a following there in the fairest Cape.
10 Jun 2012, 14:22 pm
I’ll leave it to Meyer. He believes he has the right combinations. No miniature backline for him.
10 Jun 2012, 14:26 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-62: I left an answer for you on the other thread……..basically it said what a huge pity it was none of the ice they were throwing hit you.
10 Jun 2012, 14:31 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-69:
Those wheezy fat gits would have felt the wrath of the Great White Shark. It woulda been a feeding frenzy.
10 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-63:
At 12, F Styen entirely depended on a good, timely ball from Morne Styen via Hougaard, a good ball that never happened.
When Pienaar came on, Fran started punching holes in case you missed it?
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-64:
Sound like PW makes an argument for JdJ’s inclusion?
The defensive work by the centres yesterday was monumental, they did receive some help from JP but that was it. Morne Styen, Habana and Kirchner contributed very little as expected.
10 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-70: Left you an answer on the other thread Mr Great white shark. Your fighting name? Stage name? No man dude. It’s akin to the nerdy kid calling himself the ‘terminator’.
10 Jun 2012, 14:38 pm
The start that was wanted and needed.
Everything played against Meyer and the team and the scoreline flatters the Poms.
I see a serious hiding coming up next weekend if Meyer tweaks one or two things.
Well done coach & team.
10 Jun 2012, 14:42 pm
71 @ Hondo
So Frans “punched holes”…………as in broke the line…………….hehehehehehe. You obviously watched a replay of the Bokke vs Namibia game in the WC. Please show me where he broke the line?
10 Jun 2012, 14:42 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-71:
If de Jongh and his other midget pal were so good, Meyer would have picked them.
I thought Habana was on top form boet. Even Donkey de Villiers had a game of note. Kirchner has a long way to go to prove himself but apparently Meyer will give him another start. Looking at the game again I was a bit happier with Morne Steyn..bar the kicking. Kirchner is my worry for now.
10 Jun 2012, 14:44 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-74:
Don’t take anyones word for it. Just watch the game again on your PVR…or your moms..whichever.
10 Jun 2012, 14:45 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters. Stormers support England.(Predawn)-68:
HM needs urgently another big hitting guy at the Back line
We only measure the Boks vs the ABs and based on the ABs performance yesterday, their back line will run through as if the Boks backs’ defence is a sieve.
10 Jun 2012, 14:46 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-74:
You have issues, my friend.
Actually, scratch the part after the comma above.
10 Jun 2012, 14:47 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-73: Absolutely PA and what is pleasing to see is how astute HM has been with his combo’s. FS forexample gives JDV enormous space and confidence and Marcel freeing up Willem with the first carry up over the gain line is important. Did think that benefitted enormously from quick link play by Pienaar when he came on.
10 Jun 2012, 14:47 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-77:
We measure the Boks against the English for now.
Next ,we’ll measure them against Argentina.
And when we finally face the All Blacks, then Heyneke will pick the most suitable team so that we can measure ourselves against them.
Don’t get ahead of yourself.
10 Jun 2012, 14:50 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-80:
There will be no midgets in Meyer’s future plans either. Scratch the entire Province backline bar Donkey.
10 Jun 2012, 14:52 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-79:
Like I said, couple of tweaks will do it for me.
Take Hougie and Eben to the bench, start with Pienaar and Flip – those two (Hougie & Eben) with Adriaan, Coenie & Clan can come on with 30 to go and seriously inflict pain on the Poms.
About the only two changes I would make.
2, max 3 training sessions as a team, 3 new combo’s (two in the tight 5!) with 3 new caps, at a ground we don’t do well at in heavy conditions which would have suited England? I was very pleased.
10 Jun 2012, 14:54 pm
The Messiah, the prodigal son, punched imaginary holes in the eyes of the masses who adore him. You guys are funny lol. I’d love to see the chosen one against NZ or Aus.
10 Jun 2012, 14:54 pm
A win is what Heyneke and the Boks wanted first up. And they did the job. Obviously, there is room for improvement and the guys who didn’t excell to their capabilities know who they are. You can’t hide from the team video analysis.
All 4 debutants will have decent careers – maybe even great ones – in the green and gold.
To single out a few players. Willem Alberts was immense so was Habana. JDV proved his detractors wrong. And Frans Steyn was collosal at 12 but needs better distribution skills and better awareness of the players in better positions around him.
Francois Hougaard will have to speed up his clearing and box kicking. Ruan Pienaar made a difference.
The only real disappointment was Spies. Everyone else was getting stuck in but he seemed to hold back. There are other players who want that no. 8 jersey.
10 Jun 2012, 14:54 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-82:
If I was England I’d be going into the Jo’burg test with a certain amount of trepidation.
10 Jun 2012, 14:56 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-85:
Indeed. I think they played at about 80% of their ability (they were quite good at various stages and plays) with the Boks hovering at about 60% at best.
Boks will improve by quite a margin in a week, don’t think they will.
10 Jun 2012, 14:59 pm
that team showed guts and there were glimpses of serious potential, i am quite happy with where we are going…
its a new era for Bok rugby, and its going to be an interesting ride…
10 Jun 2012, 15:00 pm
I am sure you will see a different England team next week we will definitely beef up the pack
And for ****** sakes we still havent solved the 10,12,13 problem!
Farrell, Tuilagi and Barritt great in defence but awful in attack!
Ben Youngs kicking game was poor he still hasnt recovered that blistering form he had. Amazed Danny Care didnt get picked hes without doubt the best scrum half in the NH imo
He was just incredible in the Aviva premiership final shame his behaviour off the pitch hasnt been as great
Jonathan joseph has to come in at 13 hes a really special young talent with electric speed, hands, step hes got that Jason Robinson ability in him very unpredictable he has to be given a chance
10 Jun 2012, 15:00 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-84:
This thing about Spies holding back is nonsense.
He doesn’t hold back. It’s just that in order for him to have the pace he does, he has to forego wide hips and tree trunk legs. His build is athletic, not blocky and stocky, and therefore if you take him low he goes down, whereas an Alberts tree trunk leg could well bounce the tackler off completely.
In exchange for this, Spies has twice the pace of Alberts.
Spies is difficult to stop if you take him high, or if he has the space to employ a hand off with his powerful arms.
It is now up to him to try and come up with a strategy to counter the weakness that is his Usain Bolt type legs (as opposed to legs that can kick start a Boeing that some other loose forward Behemoths have).
Basically, he should try to get a lower body position, so that it isn’t so easy to get him around the legs, but it will always be a weakness of his.
He really is best employed when acting as a supporting runner into a bit of space, but let’s see if he can boost his strength in close conditions as well.
My point is just that it isn’t a lack of heart that keeps him back, but rather the inherent weakness created by his slim lower body build coupled with his length , which makes him vulnerable to tackles around his ankles.
10 Jun 2012, 15:02 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-86: also a bit more self belief and more cohesion.. we can also expect a few more plays from first phase possesion of set pieces.
and if we can start the game like we played the 2nd half, it will create opportunities for the backline in the second half.
i see the pom media is wailing and gnashing teeth…
10 Jun 2012, 15:03 pm
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-82: I actually suggested before the test that he should go with Bulls lock combo. I did enjoy Coenie and Strauss as well, thought they were immense.
10 Jun 2012, 15:04 pm
Spies, Steyn, Hougaard, Kruger and Kirchner. How average were the Bully boys yesterday? Fark me when those replacements came on in the second half we looked much better. Time to lay these Bully Boys to pasture. How the hell did Spies get to stay on the field? HM substitutes Coetzee – who had a stormer on debut – with an eighth man while Spies gets to falter on! Also Morne Steyn is primarily in the team for his kicking – seeing his pretty useless at everything else – so what’s his worth to the team? Niknaks substituted after halftime – was he perhaps injured – didn’t look like it lol!
10 Jun 2012, 15:05 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-89: Thought Spies gave his all yesterday. HM will get him there with him playing off the shoulder of Marcel and we will see some dynamite then.
10 Jun 2012, 15:07 pm
with HM and Rassie there will be no space for passengers in ths team. they are just too thorough and proffesional to either miss below par performances or allow them to get away with it.
10 Jun 2012, 15:09 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-93:
I agree.
Meyer seems to like a tall, pacy no.8 these days. Hence his inclusion of Kankowski in his squad as well.
The opposite would be to have a Vermeulen type player at 8, who isn’t as athletic, but would then give us three wrecking balls in the loose trio, but with significantly less pace.
Let’s see how it goes. Heyneke will retain what works, and get rid of what doesn’t. Whatever it takes to win.
10 Jun 2012, 15:09 pm
We can definitely beat the Boks
Our pack will get stronger (Shame Courtney Lawes got injured hes a real talent young 22 lock) with hopefully Danny care and Toby Flood at 9/10 and maybe a few chances in the centres (I doubt) there will be much more control and organisation in attack
Mike Brown hasnt played in a while for England thought he did well at FB, Ashton and Foden havent played well for a while
Ben Foden seems to have lost that ability to counter attack from deep hes much more conservative now
I hope someone like Christian Wade gets given a chance yes hes small but he can create and is a natural try scorer
Top try scorer last year in the junior world cup
Shame Joe Launchbury was injured he was our star player last year in the junior rugby world cup an amazing prospect
10 Jun 2012, 15:13 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-95: Yeah HM knows that primary ball off the back of a lineout is vital to a good game plan and Pierre is a very good lineout option and he gets the wrecking ball option with Willem. HM will play Vermeulen with Juan to keep that balance.
10 Jun 2012, 15:13 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-89:
We all know about Spies’s athletic ability. He is at his best when he has space in which to operate. Test match rugby doesn’t allow you that. And Heyneke himself has said that Spies doesn’t go well in heavy traffic and doesn’t always like the collisions. Rugby is a collision sport not a contact sport. Heyneke’s words, not mine.
Heyneke has said that Spies has to up his game. And I saw him drop a ball under no pressure at all. But then again most yesterday made a mistake.
Heyneke favours the big ball carrying loosies. And Heyneke likes Vermeulen. So do I. And I know you don’t.
10 Jun 2012, 15:13 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-89: Well if he hasn’t come up with a strategy to counter his ‘Usain Bolt’ type leg weakness after becoming the most capped 8th man in Bok history, he never will.
10 Jun 2012, 15:15 pm
@john123(john123)-96: I think anyone writing your lot off completely needs to have their heads checked. but they will have to dig deep. its going to be an immense 2nd test. any word on the injury list?
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