Meyer: ‘We need to keep improving’
18 Aug 2012
Heyneke Meyer was satisfied with a winning start to the Rugby Championship, but admitted his disappointment in missing out on a four-try bonus point against Argentina.
The Springboks recorded a comfortable 27-6 victory at Newlands, but there was a sense that their mission was incomplete as the hosts missed out on a valuable four-try bonus point.
South Africa dominated most of the match and had the entire final quarter to search for a fourth try, following wing Bryan Habana’s impressive score in the 57th minute. However, the Boks lacked the killer blow as they created promising opportunities, but failed to convert them.
Meyer pointed to the Pumas’ impressive defensive effort for their attacking struggles in the final 20 minutes of the match.
‘I think a lot of people underestimate Argentina,’ Meyer told keo.co.za. ‘This is still a Test match and I knew this was going to be a low-scoring game. If you look at previous Tests, there haven’t been many big results against them.
‘Argentina did very well on defence and some of their tactics paid off, like their rushed defence in the midfield. They also competed very well under the high ball and at the breakdowns. Many of their players have played in Europe, where there’s a strong focus on the breakdown battle, and those expertise was evident during the match.’
Meyer was happy with the stronger sense of cohesion among his players, and stressed that the team will need to continue improving as the tournament progresses.
There will be certain facets of play the Boks will need to focus on ahead of their Test against the Pumas in Mendoza, which will be a much bigger challenge as the South Americans are known to perform much better on home soil.
‘We need to recycle the ball much quicker at the breakdown,’ said Meyer. ‘That’s one of the main things we need to look at. We want more competition at the lineouts. There were times where we contended well, but it can improve.’
Meanwhile, Meyer added that he was impressed by the performances of Morne Steyn and lock Andries Bekker. Steyn has been critcised for his poor performance during the Test series against England, while Bekker played his first Test in two years.
‘I had a good feeling Morne was going to do well,’ said Meyer. ‘He looked very good at training and proved his quality during the win over Argentina.
‘Andries also impressed during the lineouts and in general play. He wants to step out of Victor Matfield’s shadow, and I think this was a step in the right direction.’
By Gareth Duncan, at Newlands
36 Comments
18 Aug 2012, 21:00 pm
dissapointed coaching dragon
18 Aug 2012, 21:03 pm
There were some improvements
M steyn was one big one
Hougaard was better
Daniels was an improvement for Spies
Kirshner had a decent game too
The problem was on at least 2 occasions we could have scored the 4th try
If we cant score these tries against a weaker team at Newlands , we wont sniff the line vs ABS
18 Aug 2012, 21:07 pm
Ruan should play scrumhalf and Houg!e should play w!ng.
F!n!sh and klaar.
18 Aug 2012, 21:11 pm
@Jeraldjay-3:
This may happen next week
Habana was great on 14 instead of his usual 11
Hogaard now can step in and start at 11
18 Aug 2012, 21:11 pm
Did anyone else think that the Argies were offside a lot at the breakdown in the closing minutes especially , only saw the last 15 minutes and a couple of times they appeared to me to be not behind the last mans feet yet we were called by a touch judge for exactly that. I think that was the main reason we couldn’t suck in defenders and also the tackler not releasing the player on the ground to allow the ball to be placed enabled them to slow down our ball a lot. Maybe I’m wrong but it appeared that way to me.
18 Aug 2012, 21:15 pm
@CoachPete-2: I think everyone knows this would not have been good enough against the All Black, but luckily we did not play against the All Blacks. Argentina was very motivated and they will be difficult to beat in Mendoza.
Very worrying is Bismark’s injury. We now have lost 8 world class players in the last year (JPP, FdP, Matfield, Bakkies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Guthro). I think we have two remaining (Frans Steyn and Alberts) and hopefully they will not get injured.
It is also clear that JdV, Kirchner and Steyn is only good solid options, but we need the likes of Goosen, Serfontein, Jordaan and a fullback or two to become world class players in the next four years.
18 Aug 2012, 21:16 pm
@bananaboy-5: Correct i said that during the match too
18 Aug 2012, 21:18 pm
@CoachPete-2: With Pienaar they can be much better.
18 Aug 2012, 21:19 pm
@CoachPete-4: come now boet , Mvov had a very good match, nbot hs fault the ball wasnt being passed to the wings
18 Aug 2012, 21:20 pm
@Horings-6:
yeah add to the young up and coming stars also injured
Goosen
Connie
Vermeulen
Taute
yes the 2 young centers will be great addition but HM does not want the boks to play 15 man rugby so Steyn and Jdv are there for a while
18 Aug 2012, 21:21 pm
@sharks_lover-9:
Its meyer style rugby
Wings are going to have to look for work and take the scraps
18 Aug 2012, 21:23 pm
@sharks_lover-9:
Sure he did not have a bad game
But if he starts Pienaar he needs Hougaard on the wing
he has the game plan on his arm
18 Aug 2012, 21:30 pm
@CoachPete-10: You do not have many options with Steyn at flyhalf. He will not blow a game open with a half break and offload. Goosen got most offloads in Super rugby and Serfontein (although at junior rugby) is superb in offloading in the tackle. We need those skills in our backline and then we will get the momentum to play more attacking rugby. Luckily for Bok rugby the Bulls have a coach at Currie Cup level that wants to develop a balanced game. It is not a good time to make this statement after last night’s game, but I think Pienaar will ensure that Venter, Serfontein and other exciting players will develop nicely this year.
18 Aug 2012, 21:36 pm
@Horings-13:
I think he would have started Goosen if he was available He has hinted on it
Even though Daniels did note lite up Newlands he was a big improvemtn to Spies
Our areas of concern are 8 9 and 10
Either start Alberts at eigth and wait for Vermeulen in a few weeks, but dont play Potgieter at flank
Pienaar may be the choice at 9 Just more experianced and has improved since he has been with Ulster, plus he can kick goals
10 well right now its morne and we hope he plays well like he did this weekend There is no one else until Goosen gets fit
18 Aug 2012, 21:39 pm
And if M Steyn gets injured we may have to play Butch at 10
18 Aug 2012, 22:03 pm
6.Coetzee
7.Potgieter
8.Alberts
for next week
9.Pienaar
14.Hougaard
15.Lambie
18 Aug 2012, 22:13 pm
everyone and their ouma wants HM to pick Goosen
the kids got bags of potentail (so does jantjies and lambie) but his too physicaly valnerable at this stage
in plain English: his tall (the tallest flyhalf option we have) and thing (well thing in comparison to the average test even super rugby flyhalf)
i know HM cant wait to play this kid but the plan should be have him in the training squad for RC, and let him come off the bench for the EOYT
his fearless but he cant take hits like lambie and janjties can
heck sometime people who tackle Jantjies end up injuring themselves. Siya Kolisi currie cup semi final at coke cola park 2011
goosens time will come
18 Aug 2012, 23:14 pm
@Horings-6:
did you watch ABs v Aussies? Aussies were aweful and ABs failed to put them away. If the boks play to their potential and face an AB side playing like that, we will definitely beat them at home.
We need to beat aussies away though, like ABs did to have any chance in this comp. Although a solid second would be very good for HM and his bok team in transition.
19 Aug 2012, 01:05 am
Bismarck, a big loss, and although Daniels was better than Spies he is not the option. Frans Steyn had avery quiet nite, in fact our centres as a whole don’t really inpire do they?
Average performance overall, but we starting to test our depth with these injuries now
And HM, please stop spitting and venting into your walkie talkie, you look like a phsyco! Anyone know who the poor ****** is on the other side?
19 Aug 2012, 03:34 am
I would not have played my best men not in this test nor the next. Forget cohesion, we should not be shooting for the stars with a rebuilding team anyway, not when Abs and Oz have a perfect flowing system after the WC. The dirt that Arg dish out is not worth loosing men for.
They got away with murder today probably next week because they re new comers.
Springbok Rugby should learn from the AllBlacks how transsission should flow from the old coach to the new. Racism has screwed and robbed our rugby over the passed 4 years , the hurt will last longer.A backward step in our Rugby, meaning other teams advance. A generation of players hardly to be replaced anytime soon , a golden era gone and how much silverware lost.
Continuity and cohesion are words Springbok Rugby should be looking at for the Coaching level.
What a hickup, England tour should have been an easy White Wash…
19 Aug 2012, 05:08 am
Hi there i’m new to this site in regards to leaving comments, but have been reading comments for some time before deciding to start commenting!! Neway i think the boks played ok but like most of u said very uninspiring rugby from the centres, in saying that maybe it’s HM game plan is so it has to change!! **** steyn was beta but the sooner we have the goose in the side the beta! I def think that hougie needa to be on the wing, pienaar ads a complete dif gameplan when he’s there and “kicks better” lol…hougie loves running with the ball and always makes something happen when he has the ball!! Strauss will be a good stand in for bissie (unlucky late takle), and then alberts 8, siya at 6-7 and marcel the same!! Bokke will have to improve when we play AB’s and then will have to change gameplan agains aussies in perth…( hope they win as i’m going to be there)!!
19 Aug 2012, 05:32 am
you guys are insane. nobody ever talks badly of new zealand you know these argies have given these buttholez a good going over not so long ago in case you dont know! come on guys lets be real here we played quite well and if you all think new zealand would have put 50 to 100 on the pumas than you are crazy. not in a legal straight fight anyway. strauss was better than bissie and daniels better than spies loks like fate did us a favour here? didnt think our locks were that great and wud like juandre back beker didnt bring much at all.
19 Aug 2012, 07:14 am
@Spiesisworthless1-16: Snotgieter? Blegh…
19 Aug 2012, 07:27 am
@Blitzbok-22: when was this good going over you mention?
19 Aug 2012, 07:34 am
Its strange how these things work but SA missed the BP that assures they finish just ahead of Aus? Its going to take the first defeat for HM to reconsider the approach & personnel, with the result sown up there was nothing to offer towards a 4th try with Jean being a major culprit. The Dagg try was awesome, a delayed pass & SBW decoy run took out the midfield D, leaving Israel one on one with Beale, who looks like he’s done a Habana by bulking up at the expense of his speed
19 Aug 2012, 08:26 am
No **** Meyer! You talk of better cohesion! Are you for real! The standard of play was poor and do you have a game plan Meyer. When will our coaches understand that we actually wanna see good defense, running and innovative rugby and see this develop into winning rugby. I mean whats the use of doing the same ol same ol and still getting beat to a pulp
19 Aug 2012, 08:50 am
At least fans of a team like Wales always get a bit of entertainment out of their team. Win or lose they play in an entertaining, positive manner that keeps the fans satisfied. The Boks have been dull and one dimensional for too long. In a close attritional scrap with the All Blacks I can most certainly live with this but against all comers?
Rugby is a beautiful sport because of the variety it offers- this is it’s key strength over a sport like League. But to watch guys do the same thing over and over, up n under after up n under and then suddenly be startled later on into playing one man hit up rugby to claim the BP. I hope Meyer realises that the template for the Bok appraoch was the first 40 of the 2nd test vs England. We actually need to our team to play with the ball if we want to get better at it then maybe we can have a bit of success.
19 Aug 2012, 09:14 am
nothing wrong with Hougaard at 9, some moegoes want to start him on the wing., WRONG!!
Best scrummy in Sa right now is Sarel Pretorius but Meyer plays Hougaard then Pienaar then Vermaak, go figure how blind some wanna remain.
Should be Hougaard and Sarel on bench. Pienaar there for his versatility but he’s no better than Hougaard to start, would be worse.
The most overrated player in Bok squad currently is Frans Steyn, he should play prop or perhaps blind side flank not center.
Serfontein is actually the way to go at inside center for now with Jordaan and Engelbrecht on bench.
Best back up full back is Willie le Roux of Griekwas.
Potgieter is a whole flurry fluster of nothing.
Burden is a nice addition but I would have Fourie ahead of Liebenberg. Strauss played Ok against amateur Argies, when it comes to NZ will be another kettle of fish to fry.
Elstadt would be better bench option for 4/7 than Vd Merwe
Squad should go something like this
Kirchner, Le Roux, Lambie
Engelbrecht, Habana, Mvovo,
De Villiers, Jordaan
Steyn, De Jongh, Serfontein
Steyn (Goosen when ready), Jantjies
Hougaard, Pretorius, Pienaar
Coetsee, Alberts, Kolisi, Elstadt, Daniel
Bekker, Etsebeth, Kruger
Cilliers, JdP
Strauss, Burden, Fourie
Beast, Greyling, Kitchoff
19 Aug 2012, 10:22 am
I think hougaard is our answer to 9 for now… And his exlosiveness and eye for a gap makes him wing nr 3 aswell… Heineke is doing the right thing with him… It was nice seeing steyn at his best again… But a hougaard/goosen combo migth well be the genia/cooper or gregan/larkham of south african rugby… Nd by all means I’d love for jean to keep going(as a bullsfan I rate jean very highly) but it would be nice 2 see jj engelbrecht get a extended run with fransie- why jj? Cause he’ve being capped on saturday and it would b nice 2 see that combo…. Fullback? Lambie taute lambie taute… Taute it have 2 be… Lambie need to establish himself at either 10 or 15(its a dirty shame on lambie… His versatility is keeping him on the bench) bryan just need 2 get lucky nr 50 tries and then lwazi/bjorn(again heinekes choice) can take over already… Bare age in mind 6/7(flanks) stock is great but we need a running 8( a spiess of 2009) or a vermeulen of 2010… Then I know we will be good come future test matches!!!
19 Aug 2012, 11:44 am
You have to blame the gameplan for much of our midfield’s performance. The ball from set phase was pure Bulls rugby – send Frans Steyn at the wall of defenders, tie up 3 defenders, recycle and send Willem Alberts at the line while they’re resetting…. over and over again. Frans Steyn is effective at crashball rugby due to his size, but it’s hardly an effective use of his skills and it won’t worry the All Blacks. The people eagerly anticipating the matchup between FS and SBW aren’t going to see much apart from FS defending.
19 Aug 2012, 11:49 am
Lambie is an x factor player if he can be developed, but HM seems to have factored him out. Probably going to end up another fringe player like Piennaar – so much potential wasted. He should do a FS and head off to Europe.
19 Aug 2012, 21:26 pm
Well done boks another win,pity they could not score that 4th try for a bonus point
buy they beat the argies with a solid workmanlike performance if not flashy.I wonder if the travelling to argentina for one game will affect the boks performance
just like the travelling affected the sharks v chiefs super rugby final.I am glad kirschener,hougaard,and steyn all had good games their best for a while,kirschener is a good solid fullback,and the more he plays for the boks the better he will get,hougaard is the BEST scrumhalf in the country,but i also like seeing himplay on the wing he looks so natural there,and steyn hopefully has his mojo back his all round play on saturday was excellent and all i can say is wellcome back guys.
19 Aug 2012, 22:22 pm
I was at Newlands to watch. Disappointing. Andries Bekker had a poor game in my view. He walked for most of the game and as expected didn’t play 80 minutes. Considering that England are much better and are also outstanding in the lineouts, Kruger would have been a much better option as he has a high workrate and competes better in the lineouts. I didn’t see Bekker clean one ruck, and the fact that he didn’t contribute to the rucks was part of the problem with us battling at the breakdowns. I also see Bekker as a liability as he never lasts a full game. The fact that Kruger was not even on the bench Meyer shot himself in the foot as we lost two lineouts , one crucial one in the end when we seeked a bonus point try. If Meyer reckons that a player who stands in the centre and on the wing and walks for most of the game “was outstanding in broken play” , he didn’t watch the same game as me.
19 Aug 2012, 22:25 pm
@fitz1ella-28: I think Paul Jordaan should be brought in. Allthough Jean De Villiers defended well, he is ineffective in attack. As the rest of province is
20 Aug 2012, 08:34 am
@CoachPete-2: Keegan is as best an impact player .
Eben and Bekker needs to step up their game, we took 1 line out from Argies ( Flip took it )
Hougie got terrible ball from lose, cause the locks did not clean the rucks, Pothieter did that when he came on.
20 Aug 2012, 08:49 am
@fitz1ella-28: Fourie can not like his partner throw the ball into line out….
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