Meyer laments breakdown efforts, discipline
26 Aug 2012
Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer says his players let themselves and the nation down with their disappointing performance against Argentina in Mendoza.
While the Boks (who trailed most of the match) avoided a first-ever defeat to Argentina as they forced a 16-16 stalemate, Meyer pulled no punches in his view on his team’s display.
South Africa trailed 13-3 at half time, and broke down the deficit in the second half thanks to Frans Steyn’s charge-down try and Morne Steyn’s boot, who added the conversion and a penalty in the final 40. Meyer pointed to Argentina’s strong approach to the breakdown battle and the Boks’ poor discipline for the near loss.
‘Firstly, all credit to Argentina. We were not good enough and they played very well, but we let our country and ourselves down tonight,’ said Meyer. ‘Our problems started at the breakdown, where we could not get any quick ball and when we did at stages, I thought we played good rugby only to lose the ball in good positions on the field.
‘We have a lot of inexperience and youngsters, but it’s not an excuse. For a lot of these guys it was their first Test away from home, but we talk a lot about mental toughness and we needed to make the step up.
‘We always knew they were going to come out hard at us and that it was going to be very tough, but you can’t afford to give away all those penalties we did early in the game. That was unacceptable.’
Skipper Jean de Villiers also expressed his frustration as there were numerous disruptions caused by the Pumas’ high penalty count.
‘Every time we got in their half, they gave away a penalty. We didn’t get a lot of ball out wide but when we did we made some metres. However, it was one of those games where we never got into it and it ended in a draw.’
65 Comments
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26 Aug 2012, 21:14 pm
What we need to focus on is keeping the ball alive in contact instead of going to ground so easily. That’s when the breakdown becomes less of a focal point and you begin to make easy meters. Boks were doing it during the RWC under PDV. Something that can be coached – you don’t need wholesale changes.
27 Aug 2012, 01:28 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl-17: I agree that teh ref was being very lenient on teh Argies at the breaksdown, but FFs that is why we should have a plan to nullify this kind of ****.
27 Aug 2012, 01:29 am
If we are up against it with eth ref, we need to change to thext plan – keeop it close with the forwards, smash into their 22 (before they start their illegal play)and get the drop kick over.
27 Aug 2012, 01:47 am
@brains_trust-47:
Our NZ warriors team (Rugby League) coach got sacked about 5 games to go until end of season. It was his first year as well.
27 Aug 2012, 01:54 am
@SjamBok-52:
@SjamBok-53:
Dont listen to people who now think the Argies play illegally.
These people just cant figure out how an Argentine team can match it with the mighty Boks. So only way they can get there head around it is to believe the Argies played illegally.
Argies are no push overs.
I am quite worried when we go over and play them. Like a few on here i wont take them lightly and i hope our AB team does not relax around them.
27 Aug 2012, 02:06 am
No, excuses.. That effort was nothing short of pathetic. At what point will we realise that kicking the ball away is not the answer.
I’m sick to death of watching this failed tactic come into play time and time again.
Ball in hand with solid support play, Busting up the middle and drawing in the deffenders before spreading the ball to a DEEP backline that has room to execute a backline move. Time to wake up Bokke.. Have trust your ability boys.
27 Aug 2012, 02:20 am
@Hurricane-55:
Rest assured the Abs wont take the Argies lightly, not after what they did to the Bok on the weekend. In saying that I think we do need to give some of our reserves a run against them preferably at home, Cruden,Cane,Vito and Faumaina all need to get some starting game time.
27 Aug 2012, 03:20 am
@Te Rangatira-57:
Yep with you there. We need to play those players but would prefer them to start in NZ.
27 Aug 2012, 04:06 am
@Hurricane-55:
are the Argies cheating now, fark these SAFFA’s are really bleating now have they no pride?
27 Aug 2012, 05:23 am
@NZINCHINA-59:
Yeah just a few believe Argies are playing illegally.
Of course majority believe its a Bok problem but the few just can not accept that.
27 Aug 2012, 16:13 pm
This is where experience plays a massive role and why i disagree with most peoples posted dream teams full of young stars.
Things will get better.
Bekker is just no Matfield and our line-out contesting on opposition ball is ****. We need to turn over opposition ball in the line-out to ensure we starve them of ball and give ourselves more chance to play.
27 Aug 2012, 16:20 pm
Yip i agree we need to have more support runners and small offloads in the tackle. It will speed up our attack and not give the opposition time to regroup. currently we look like the Stormers on attack.
27 Aug 2012, 16:21 pm
Lambie or Goosen at Flyhalf, Joe Pieterson at the back to kick goals. F. Steyn to take longer range kicks
27 Aug 2012, 16:22 pm
Also agree Kruger rather than Bekker
27 Aug 2012, 17:01 pm
@ mike h 63- don’t replace k..k with k…k…
The best we have at fullback is that andries coetzee of the lions… U may differ with me but with lines he run from back is what we need… Some1 to ignite our backline… jean is becoming anonymous lately so is fransie…
15-coetzee(lions)
14-ndugane(bulls)
13-engelbrecht(bulls)
12-steyn(sharks)
11-habana(wp)
10-lambie(sharks)
9-hougaard(bulls)
I chose ndugane coz he is by far at the moment the better chaser for heinekes gameplan and he defends his channel well… Attacking wise we do need some one who attack the vantage line and lambie and hougaard will complement eachother
Jj will be a lovely runner off steyn.
8-vermeulen(wp)
7-alberts(sharks)
6-brussow(cheetas)
2 bulky forwards upfront to clean out with the skilfull brussow to attack the breakdowns and win us forward ball
5-kruger(bulls)
4-etzebeth(wp)
3-cilliers(lions)
2-strauss(cheetas)-captain
1-oosthuizen(cheetas)
Mobile enginroom and contestable in the scrums… Bekker is superkak so is jannie and beast is vading aswell… Heineke need to peel of the skulls and choose on merit… Not experience and what he think will work… He is losing my vote of confidence slowly but surely
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