Boks aim to squeeze Blacks
2 Oct 2012
Heyneke Meyer says the Springboks’ best chance of beating the world champions is through a superior forward showing as well as a pin-point tactical kicking display.
The Boks thrashed the Wallabies last Saturday, running in five tries. It was a superb all-round effort where the Boks executed their game plan perfectly and a change at flyhalf made all the difference to their attack.
The Boks have not, as some fans and critics suggest, changed their game plan. Meyer has made it clear that not much will change when the Boks tackle the All Blacks at Soccer City, although he did concede that it would be a far tighter match, a real arm-wrestle.
‘We will never beat them by playing them at their own game,’ Meyer said. ‘We won’t out-manoeuvre or out-run them. No, if we’re going to beat them we must force them to play our game. We will have to put the necessary pressure on them, on defence, at the breakdown and through our kicking game.’
The Bok pack has been in outstanding form recently, turning in a powerful display in Dunedin that unfortunately wasn’t translated into scoreboard dominance.
The forwards produced another platform-setting performance in Pretoria, and Meyer lauded the collective after Saturday’s game. On Monday, he was still reaching for the superlatives, and stating that another hard-nosed display was needed to upset the All Blacks.
‘I’ve been very happy with them, and I think [assistant coach] Johan van Graan must take a lot of the credit too. We’ve suffered some big losses this year. We lost three quality locks [Victor Matfield retired, while Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw are now playing abroad]. We’ve also lost a number of loose forwards to injury [Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies to name a few], but the forwards that have come in have done an outstanding job.
‘They were superb in that loss in Dunedin, and again in Pretoria. I think Andries Bekker played his best Test last Saturday, he had a very high work rate. He is really starting to hit form. Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen have also stepped up, and I’m happy with the way that loose-forward combination is working, also with Marcell Coetzee coming off the bench.
‘Suddenly we’re competing against the best in the world,’ Meyer continued. ‘It will be another huge test for us again this Saturday.’
The Bok coach did concede that dominance up front is meaningless if you can’t convert that pressure into points. Last Saturday was the first time that the Boks played with confidence and converted their attacking chances. Meyer hopes this will be carried through to the next Test, and that the Boks will also improve on their erratic goal-kicking.
He intimated that the side that fronts the All Blacks won’t differ from the one that started against the Wallabies, unless of course injuries force his hand.
‘I like to plan for the long-term, I don’t like to chop and change. They are playing with more confidence, and they are starting to execute the game plan. That confidence can be contagious.
‘Somebody told me today that we are now ranked No 2 in the world. I don’t like to talk about myself, but when I started we were ranked No 4. So we are doing something right. It’s a process, and if we win this weekend, we would have not lost a home game in 2012. It will show that we’ve come a long way.’
By Jon Cardinelli, in Johannesburg
133 Comments
1 Oct 2012, 17:31 pm
I will be in Soweto
At FNB
And already I feel like I should scrap the trip
Continuous insistence on kicking everything to the most dangerous back 3 in the world will only get Boks smashed
Add the fact that Boks will not get the AB fwds as they were in NZ.Bite me once….
Wise a nice victory on weekend for Boka but with so many injuries and 14 men etc in already the weakest wallaby side in a while…..pump the brakes on the euphoria
The demolition of Argies only further illustrated that if u dont play positively,you wil catch it.
Boks alway front at home especially on D,but if we kick kick kick execution over innovation…expect to see the back of Dagg’s boots under the poles a few times
1 Oct 2012, 17:40 pm
@mshiniwami-1: Sound the alarm! Mshiniwami is breaking out!
Get back in the laager dammit!
Yeah accurate kicking is essential as long as it’s for territory and not to try and hit the birds above the stadium…
1 Oct 2012, 18:01 pm
‘We will never beat them by playing them at their own game,’ Meyer said. ‘We won’t out-manoeuvre or out-run them. No, if we’re going to beat them we must force them to play our game. We will have to put the necessary pressure on them, on defence, at the breakdown and through our kicking game.’
Ohforfuckssakeman. This here is the reason I wasn’t too ecstatic about the Bok’s win.
I don’t trust this sneakyfuckerasfaraswhatIcanseehiswalkietalkie.
Prepare for Morne Steyn to be in the Match 22…with a possible start.
I will hang my head and wail…and wail…and wail.
1 Oct 2012, 18:17 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-3: Look I’m not a massive Meyer fan but he said he’s not changing anything barring injury and considering he dropped Morne for the Loftus game you should give him the benefit of the doubt.
You’re being extremely bias and making us honourable, awesome and most logical WP fans look bad!
Pull up your socks sir or Tac will eat you for breakfast!
1 Oct 2012, 18:19 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-3: Wail? We have enough of that in the Hilux Fish Hoeker.
1 Oct 2012, 19:27 pm
Sorry – this might not be the best thread for this question but I have to ask the gurus because my friends look at me with blank faces when I suggest this.
I am convinced Goosen should have been awarded a penalty try in that TV ref incident during the Aussie game. I said so at the time and after replays I am more sure and I dont understand how it is not part of the discussion with the TV ref.
Pat McCabe tackled him, never released, never recovered his feet, never rolled away, and in fact intentionally got himself over Goosen so he could smother the ball. Had he released goosen would have had a pretty simple opportunity to reach forward and place the ball.
Why is it just because the mans a foot from the try line all the tackle and ruck laws go out the window.
1 Oct 2012, 21:13 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-3: meyer possibly pulling sheep wool over your and kiwi eyes. We all saw how the game plan was different yet he insisted it wasn’t. Now the kiwi bird doesn’t know how the bokkie will catch him
1 Oct 2012, 21:21 pm
If Flow gets injured early we’re done for. Brussouw should be openside cover.
1 Oct 2012, 21:31 pm
In sports, you always beat the opponent off the field first. So I really hope this talk about tactical kicking, the all blacks are a massive challenge,etc is just talk and mind games.
1 Oct 2012, 21:49 pm
@GreenFan-6: In effect, yes – those rules do go out the window close to the try line. The officials know they can’t expect defenders to release and roll away, giving the attacker the chance to place the ball neatly on or over the try line. In any case, I think it should have been a try as Goosen made no second movement. Yes, he didn’t release – but it was only a matter of a second or two at most, which is well within the leeway given to the tackled player anywhere else on the field.
15.4 THE TACKLER
(a) When a player tackles an opponent and they both go to ground, the tackler must immediately release the tackled player.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(b) The tackler must immediately get up or move away from the tackled player and from the ball at once.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(c) The tackler must get up before playing the ball and then may play the ball from any direction.
Sanction: Penalty kick
15.5 THE TACKLED PLAYER
(a) A tackled player must not lie on, over, or near the ball to prevent opponents from gaining possession of it, and must try to make the ball available immediately so that play can continue.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(b) A tackled player must immediately pass the ball or release it. That player must also get up or move away from it at once.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(c) A tackled player may release the ball by putting it on the ground in any direction, provided this is done immediately.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(d) A tackled player may release the ball by pushing it along the ground in any direction except forward, provided this is done immediately.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(e) If opposition players who are on their feet attempt to play the ball, the tackled player must release the ball.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(f) If a tackled player’s momentum carries the player into the in-goal, the player can score a try or make a touch down.
(g) If a player is tackled near the goal line, that player may immediately reach out and ground the ball on or over the goal line to score a try or make a touch down
1 Oct 2012, 21:53 pm
@GreenFan-6: If the referee wanted to stick to the letter of the law of 15.5, then he should also have rigorously applied 15.4 – in which case, your penalty try would be the logical outcome.
1 Oct 2012, 22:01 pm
I hope that we get Flouw back in the domestic system again. Other than Brussouw there is no other real opensider in the country. For the Stormers of course…..
1 Oct 2012, 22:11 pm
@GreenFan-6: I should preface this by saying i’m talking out my ar*e and don’t know the laws but it looked to me that the tackler and tackled player were in the in goal so the ruck rules no longer apply and he was trying to hold Goosen up. Also, Habana flopped all over McCabe before he could roll away.
What I don’t understand is at least a couple of times during the super 15 teams scored when the player was shunted over the try line. Not through his own momentum but of his team mates. They tended to award the try (although i think Bryce Lawrence may have been the TMO on one of those occasions) although the commentators disagreed. Perhaps the TMOs were given instructions it is illegal
1 Oct 2012, 22:17 pm
@GreenFan-6: Also, not to stir, but we kiwis get a lot of kak for our tries from forward passes, which is why i tried not to whine after the French won via one in RWC 2007. But did you notice how many “flat” passes the boks made on the weekend? It turns out when the backs start scoring tries there are a few forward passes that the refs don’t pick up on.
But if it happens this weekend i reserve my right to whinge
1 Oct 2012, 22:20 pm
“Somebody told me today that we are now ranked No 2 in the world. I don’t like to talk about myself, but when I started we were ranked No 4. So we are doing something right.”
Heyneke just forgot to mention that SA swapped places with then 3rd placed France the very next week after his appointment exclusively thanks to Froggies drawing at home with the Paddies and then suffering 2 consecitive losses to the Poms and Dragons (thus tumbling down in the rankings) while Boks did not play at all.
So effectively Heyneke started with comfortably 3rd placed Boks, so he’d better refrain telling half-truths.
1 Oct 2012, 23:32 pm
@GreenFan-6: Good point. Behind the gaolline everything goes. But this happened …where?? Interesting!!!
2 Oct 2012, 01:17 am
Meyer you 1st PR note bud:
You talk too much! Say as little as possible and never talk about game plan and how you are going to play an oposition, especially the Blacks. It would come back to and bite you.
A politition never answers a question, have you ever realised that. They always talk around it…
There’s a reason why…
So keep it short and sweet explaining nothing.
2 Oct 2012, 01:23 am
Our depth is slowly looking better and better, so far. Nothing came be taken from the Oz game as they were a B team. Even Habanana’s “Magic” is over estimated. To very simple things he nearly stuffed up. ONe the quick start where he tapped it on his foot, here he nearly bolloxed it completely just managing to hold ON to the ball and plunded into Ozzies.
Two his try under the posts , was so happy casual that an Ozzie player nearly prevented the try which he had iternity to place the ball down.
Did you see the Goose’s reaction here to the Ozzie player. What a diick!
2 Oct 2012, 02:14 am
@optiplay-16:
If all this happened behind the goalline then surely it was a try, not?
2 Oct 2012, 02:28 am
PS. I was listening to the Oz commentators and they all agreed it was a try.
2 Oct 2012, 03:00 am
Jaco Taute, who debuted alongside captain Jean de Villiers, said he couldn’t wait to face the All Blacks. “I’m excited. I enjoyed my debut, it flew past, but it’s every boy’s dream to face the haka and I’ll be very motivated for that if I get a chance. You always want to measure yourself against the best.”
The couch critics on KEO hate the Haka yet its every players dream to face it, I wonder who is right.
2 Oct 2012, 03:23 am
The thing that made the Boks effective last weekend was not a runing game, but a balanced game that keeps defences guessing. Never say never to anything. use teh conditions. And never do the same thing three times- it becomes predictable.
Reverting to tactical kicks only makes the Boks easy to defend against. If its no, have a go.
2 Oct 2012, 03:56 am
@NZINCHINA-21:
He’s just blowing smoke up your ar se to make you feel good. You blokes need positive affamation all the time don’t you?
2 Oct 2012, 05:06 am
@whatever-23:
Seems you know a bit about things up yabum and feeling good.
Clown
2 Oct 2012, 05:08 am
@SjamBok-22:
and lets also not forget at least 10 frontline Aus players out injured, your backline still crabs sideways, Goosen needs to watch Carter and see how he darws the man before passing
@whatever-23:
We don’t need to feel good, we have every trophy there is to win and have won our last 15 tests, how about your boys?
2 Oct 2012, 05:17 am
@NZINCHINA-25:
Dont ask that dipstick a question, his answer will be doos this and doos that.
2 Oct 2012, 05:36 am
@Hurricane-26:
Hurri he won’t answer that question.
2 Oct 2012, 05:53 am
@Hurricane-26:
Not really, you boys deserve your trophys, what alot find irritating is the schoolboy gloating and the my d ick is bigger than yours BS. Very childish, and yes makes you look like doos’s
2 Oct 2012, 05:55 am
and Hurricane you should know all to well that the pendulum swings dude………….all to well, it was tears in ’95 and ’07 and ’09 ……………….
2 Oct 2012, 06:41 am
@whatever-23: he he .. we have our resident kewees on keo to keep us in line … I dont think Meyer is seriously proposing a return to k&c .. however I do agree the forwards are going to have a much tougher battle than in Dunedin.
))
Lets hope Goose doesnt get too open mouthed in amazement at Carter
2 Oct 2012, 07:20 am
@whatever-28:
i’ve come to view it as a very, very long term educational / enlightenment / coming of age project / process.
2 Oct 2012, 07:39 am
Ab’s paying $2.90 for 13 and over, might be worth a flutter. There is only going to be two outcomes, very tight or Ab’s by more than a few.
2 Oct 2012, 07:44 am
@whatever-28:
I agree, some of the comments from us Kiwi’s have been a bit pointed, but in a large part were riposte’s to some outrageous prediction, comment or verdict pushed into our noses with zero substance to support them.
Apparently this is called banter, which I am not very good at, so I avoid it.
If I tell someone I think they are a ****, I mean it.
2 Oct 2012, 07:58 am
I think it victory will come down to these match ups
1. Goosen v Carter – ill give it to Carter purely on experience
2. Louw v MCCaw – Louw wins this because he’s slight more aggressive
3. Habana v Jane – Habana to edge it based on current form
4. Ruan v Smith – Smith is far quicker and can run from the base of the ruck (but he is due a shocker what better time than this weekend)
* Locks v Locks – Boks have the edge with more mobility and line out capability
* props v props – its dead even
* centres – Abs have a better pair
At this stage it looks dead even but having said that it wont even be close , travel factor gives the boks all the advantage
Boks 40 – ABs 18
2 Oct 2012, 08:03 am
@NZINCHINA-32:
I agree the AB’s should win, but the margin is anyone’s guess.
Once a team like the AB’s get a decent lead, the opposition seem to stop playing their normal game. Hence the two matches this year where Ireland and Australia lost the plot and were dorked to Zip.
Same with Argentina last weekend. After 25 minutes it was clear they were only going to win via a miracle, and that was how they played, rather than shutting us down, limiting the damage and stick to nudging their own score up with goal kicks and pray for some horror error by the AB’s.
2 Oct 2012, 08:06 am
@boktillzero-34:
There in lies the exact example I needed for my post #33
2 Oct 2012, 08:06 am
Boksnok ill eat .my hat if the Bok score wont happen sonny you can put the house on that.
Youll give Carter over the crying little boy on experience, the young man has 100 tests, thousands of points, Irb player of the year awards etc before hes even mentioned in the same breath as the “great” Dan Carter.
2 Oct 2012, 08:08 am
Score 40 points
2 Oct 2012, 08:11 am
“I don’t like to talk about myself, but when I”
1st and last letters are the same.
DH
2 Oct 2012, 08:15 am
@boktillzero-34:
very well put and reasoned assesment.
coulnd’t agree more.
2 Oct 2012, 09:02 am
@whatever-28:
lol
@whatever-29:
So in 17 years, we have cried 3 of those years…… not bad.
Meand the other 14 we have been happy and you guys have cried…… backing the wrong team whatever
2 Oct 2012, 09:05 am
I HOPE Meyer is saying one thing and planning another…. because if he thinks last Sat’s better showing was all due to ” the game plan” and tactical kicking than god help us. Time for the players to be told to believe in themselves and then take over – like they used to with PdV. Goosen was good but it was the whole idea of flatter ball, ball in hand and NOT aimlessly kicking it away to those players that HM says are better runners than us !! I HOPE the man talks with forked tongue – because he doesn’t make any sense otherwise.
2 Oct 2012, 09:10 am
@whatever-28: says the man whose form in 09 was nothing short of outstanding.. paybacks a ****** isnt it?
learn the lesson, then maybe we wont have to return serve..
but nah, I envision if the boks win this weekend we’ll get all the normal rabid fans out in full force..
I understand though, it is rare that you beat us these days, so every moment must seem extra special..
2 Oct 2012, 09:15 am
@whatever-29: “and Hurricane you should know all to well that the pendulum swings dude………….all to well, it was tears in ’95 and ’07 and ’09 ……………….”
Yeah, mate, I recall very well all those talks about “swinging pendulum” after 3N 2009 here. I guess you were farken right, it did swing bloody fast and furious.
2 Oct 2012, 09:20 am
@poppa69-43:
Hey Pops
At least we dont say things like we wont go to SA until they get better. Why even get off the plane, we have won…… boy those posts were great in 2010 before the 3 nations.
hahaha wish i kept some of those posts.
2 Oct 2012, 09:22 am
Shame poor kiwis
So hard done by here
2 Oct 2012, 09:29 am
@Hurricane-45:
I love the recurring idea that SA would improve if they moved North and left SANZA.
That sort of thinking has no doubt been well thought out over a huge dump, which has left the poor sod’s light headed.
2 Oct 2012, 09:29 am
No point getting too far ahead of ourselves. We had a good win on saturday, and it was good to see the guys running the ball effectively. It is important to bear in mind that we were playing a severely weakened Aussie side, on our best homeground, and they had 14 men on the field for a significant amount of time. Our scoreline should have been better than it was.
Anyway, we looked much better with Goosen instead of Steyn. Lots of positives to take out of the game, and a lot to look forward to ths week. The ultimate test of our progress is to play the AB’s. I think it will be close and I do hope we get a win, for then we can really feel we are on track.
Congratulations to you Kiwis for having taken the Championships his year, some great rugby from your team. Always good to watch!
2 Oct 2012, 09:30 am
@Dawn-46:
Are we?
2 Oct 2012, 09:30 am
@Hurricane-45: me too..
you must understand though mate..
most SA fans were happy the Argies joined the comp because coming last 10 times out of 16 was getting unbearable… they seen it as a asure fire way to avoid their collection of wooden spoons spilling forth from the bare cupboard.
now an AB win and an Argie win on the weekend just could see them finish last yet again.. a different spoon, but a spoon none the less
no wonder some of them are a bit uppity
2 Oct 2012, 09:32 am
@mako-48: youre not SA are you? thanks for the gracious post, and I agree, the Boks look like they are on an upward curve…
2 Oct 2012, 09:35 am
Hurri -you must understand though mate..
most SA fans were happy the Argies joined the comp because coming last 10 times out of 16 was getting unbearable… they seen it as a sure fire way to avoid their collection of wooden spoons spilling forth from the bare cupboard.
now an AB win and an Argie win on the weekend just could see them finish last yet again.. a different spoon, but a spoon none the less
no wonder some of them are a bit uppity
2 Oct 2012, 09:36 am
@Brads-49:
Yep
Masochists the lot of you.
2 Oct 2012, 09:37 am
@boktillzero-34: 40-18. LOL
Do you really think this lot is able to do what every single mighty Bokke teams (bar ONE game more than 80 years ago) have failed, i.e, beating Blacks by more than 15 points?
And okes are lecturing about the arrogance.
2 Oct 2012, 09:39 am
@mako-48:
Well said Mako.
The win over Aus was not a sure thing before the game, but it became clear they were not up to the challenge and the result speaks for itself.
There are questions being asked whether the AB’s will get their heads together to match the Bokke’s reinvigoration.
The assumption being the AB’s might have the mindset the contest is over.
However, that also assumes the Bokke haven’t bought into the media hype of the win over a depleted Aussie team.
2 Oct 2012, 09:40 am
@Dawn-53:
they are just returning serve.
poor ickle things.all the nasty saffers are so beastly.
yet still the little lambs come back for more day in day out.
masochists indeed.
2 Oct 2012, 09:41 am
@Brads-47:
Yeah Brads.
A few on here see that going North is a bad idea, but a couplebad eggs thinks its great. Thes eare the ones that blame NZ/OZ and the refs for losing.
And not only that but our rugby could suffer as well,Boks have made us better.
Thing is ABs and Bok are getting better, of course Ozzie by playing the 3 best team in the world.
Basic stuff really.
2 Oct 2012, 09:41 am
@gunther-56:
And you love it
2 Oct 2012, 09:42 am
@poppa69-51: As South African as Biltong and Boerewors mate! I just happen to be realistic…
I also love watching the All Blacks play rugby. They are the benchmark, and it is always great to have the opportunity to see where we are at by playing against them.
I think this weekend is going to be an important match for us as Springbok fans. It will show just how far we have come, and how much we still need to do. I have been pleasantly surprised by our Bokke as the season has progressed. They are doing well, considering the fact that critical guys such as Bismark, JP Pietersen etc are out of the mix.
2 Oct 2012, 09:42 am
@gunther-56:
Naa you are not at all nasty Gunther, quite harmless really.
2 Oct 2012, 09:43 am
@boktillzero-34: If you’re comparing Habana and Jane you need to squeeze Dagg in there somewhere. He was quiet last week but he loves to score vs the Boks.
Habana is always talked about as a potential center but do you think he could cover FB? Otherwise Hougard will be dropped to the bench when JP gets back and I’m sure that’ll be the end of him in SA. Lambie to take the other bench position. Ditto
2 Oct 2012, 09:46 am
@mako-59: ultimate game this weekend mate… and I think players from both sides will always see this as the biggest game in test rugby…
it takes baby steps , and continual improvement is what the team should be striving for.. your team can certainly beat us this weekend, without question, but its applying that same standard to every test rather than just when its the ABs that will get your guys win percentage up to where the majority of bok fans would like it to be
2 Oct 2012, 09:46 am
@Dawn-53:
Broad brush comment that..
2 Oct 2012, 09:46 am
two fishies.
a pair of snoekies.
2 Oct 2012, 09:47 am
@Brads-55: I am sure the AB’s will be fully up for it. They don’t go into any game with less than 100% commitment, which is one of the main reasons that they have the record that they do. There is also a 15 match winning streak that they would dearly love to continue, so I don’t expect any lack of intensity at all this weekend. I just hope that the Bokke keep their feet well on the ground after last week’s effort and bring their commitment with them to Soweto. The only way we beat the AB’s is when our players want it so much they would rather die than lose.
2 Oct 2012, 09:49 am
@Brads-63:
Indeed.
Anyhoo like I said elsewhere
Cory is here
I am happy
2 Oct 2012, 09:50 am
@Dawn-66:
awwww how cute
2 Oct 2012, 09:50 am
@poppa69-62: Agreed 100% Poppa, I have noticed that the main difference between our teams is the sustained level of commitment. Your guys play every single test as though it is their one and only. When we do that we get it right too, but for some reason the Bokke need something extra to lift their intensity to that level, and only get it for some games. If we had a motivating coach, who could get the team up every week like your lot, we would be 20% better.
2 Oct 2012, 09:52 am
@mako-65: yep, hope the game lives up to expectation myself, happy to lose if it is an exciting game..
obviously would prefer another fairytale finish, like last time
2 Oct 2012, 09:52 am
@Hurricane-67:
Am so happy!
2 Oct 2012, 09:56 am
@poppa69-62: The mutterings coming from the Messiah Meyer’s mouth at the moment have me really worried. Talk about forcing his gameplan on NZ, and tactical kicking etc etc and other sorryassedshyte being spat out by him once again.
He is living in a false bubble in which he reckons all his ‘critics’ have forgiven and forgotten his arrogance and incompetence after one win against a train wreck of an Aussie side.
I have a bad feeling that the sneakyfuckerthatisMeyer might have one or 2 selection surprises (of the unpleasant kind) in store for us long suffering Bok fans…….
2 Oct 2012, 09:57 am
@poppa69-62:
Agreed.
The targeting of specific games or tournaments is an excuse for explaining away loses.
The IRB needs to push out the deadline on when the WC qualifying and seeding extends.
Make all countries pitch up and play all tests with the intention of winning, not disguise any loss as development or completing sponsorship obligations.
2 Oct 2012, 09:57 am
@poppa69-69: Hmmm, that is where your fairytale is my nightmare! I am afraid we won’t gift you a Dean Greyling this week! I think it is going to be a great game, probably the game of the year in terms of intensity and player effort. I am with you in terms of the reult being less important than the game itself in this case. One team has to lose, however well they play.
2 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
@Hurricane-67:
He has a great fend
2 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
@mako-65:
I agree, there should be no excuse if the AB’s fall over.
Enough motivation exists to make this test an epic.
2 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
@mako-68: real hard for any team to be up continuously though… I think its more that your team often doesnt prepare as well during the week, I imagine the intensity will be in their training sessions this week, but when you play teams like Scotland sometimes the players are a bit lacksidaisacal… and if you dont train as you intend to play it can cause real problems..
2 Oct 2012, 10:05 am
@Brads-75:
No-one is talking about Cory’s fend!
What is it with you people.
2 Oct 2012, 10:08 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-71: he could be indulging in some subterfuge perhaps? I dont foresee too many changes this weekend for you guys, maybe Morne which everyone doesnt want, but he is surely smart enough to note the improvement? I would hope so..
@Brads-72: couldnt agree more mate, every test should count towards qualification for the world cup, obviously with a cutoff at the start of the WC year? would then not get teams like Eng etc snding second string sides to the SH… especially now that they have reverted to june tours again (which is great imo)..
@mako-73: no shame in us losing to you guys, thats for sure.. the more we win the closer a loss gets, and it only ever takes one bounce of the oddly shaped ball..
2 Oct 2012, 10:08 am
@Dawn-77:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dsSp1j9kyg
There we go
2 Oct 2012, 10:10 am
@poppa69-76:
That is a scheduling issue.
And as for playing lesser teams, NZ has done it consistently in the last 17 years.
Put out a team that is capable of beating the opposition.
Which has worked by and large, expect against our regular enemy Aus and SA.
Farking about with the team mix against either team has tended toward less than satisfactory results.
2 Oct 2012, 10:11 am
@poppa69-76: Yep, definitely something missing in some games, which means getting caught napping at times. That won’tbe the case this week though. This is the game our boys have been waiting for. All Blacks at home is our big chance and makes or breaks our season. If we win HM and the Bokke will be considered a success for their first season together, and rightly so. If we lose, well the it is a case of how we played. If we play well and it is a close game than I reckon above still applies.
2 Oct 2012, 10:13 am
@poppa69-78: Well Goosen sat out training with a bruised heel yesterday. And Meyer waffled on about how Goosen has to be 100% at his best to take on the AB’s……..and blah blah blah…..which (ok, maybe I’m paranoid as hell) could mean that he might see an opening to shunt the M.Steyn back in, because he won’t start with Elton J (fuckknowswhy), and Frans Steyn is already out…
So all this kicking talk, with Goosen a little iffy at the ankle, no Frans Steyn, and the Messiah not trusting Jantjies – ohdearhellno…..Nope, this must be my Meyer paranoia kicking in. Hope so.
@Dawn-77: It was glorious
2 Oct 2012, 10:14 am
@Brads-55: The AB’s won’t have any mindset issues. Regardless of some of the arrogant comments from our AB brothers on this site the actual AB players seem to have a lot of respect for bok rugby and will see this as a big challenge. This is the old rivalry, trophy’s and championships aside.
2 Oct 2012, 10:15 am
@Dawn-77:
Well I know you didn’t see it live, so you must have taped it and rewound the play a few times.
So what is you critic on Cory’s fends before scoring that try?
2 Oct 2012, 10:17 am
@Skeppie-83:
lol
Skeppie,40 points to 18 is the call around here to the boks…… what were you saying about arrogant again?
2 Oct 2012, 10:21 am
@Hurricane-85: Bud you have to understand the sort of mentality where a score prediction like that comes from. We are talking about the guys you may find lining up at soup kitchens for a hot meal in other parts of the world.
2 Oct 2012, 10:21 am
@Brads-80: something SA should be able to do too, but they seem to fall down often in this regard… fitness levels perhaps? Ive always thought that the ABs conditioning has been a factor that has set them apart…
@mako-81: if they show improvement from last week, even if they lose against us, then most Bok fans should be happy, but many wont.. long term I do think they will get better and better, its taken Meyer a few tests and hes leanrt from them too I belive… time will tell on that one though
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-82: every reason to be suspicious, but it may just be precautionary from Meyer. still only tuesday, maybe he just doesnt want him further aggravating it? so long as its not a deep haematoma (sp?) it should come right in time..
2 Oct 2012, 10:23 am
@Skeppie-83:
When AB fans wank on about how good our team is, where we can win anywhere, it is always in the mode of ignoring the elephant in the room.
Winning in SA is still the hardest task.
Stats prove it.
2 Oct 2012, 10:23 am
out for now, later all…
2 Oct 2012, 10:24 am
@Hurricane-85: Who gave that prediction? Certainly wasn’t any of the more rational thinking Bok fans……. Bakkies maybe?
2 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@poppa69-87:
I don’t have an answer there but to be fair. NZ rugby is a different animal than it was 30 years ago.
The 1987 AB team set a benchmark and style of play that had never been seen consistently by any living person.
Modern rugby started its era at the 1st RWC.
2 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@82 Pedigree……mate you have every right to be wary of the Meyer.His comments of late are of a man that resorts to type even when he has the players who have the skillset to play the fluid game.Meyer IMO is the weakest link.
PS Duanne has exceeded my expectations…respect
2 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@Hurricane-85: Look I mentioned some of our Kiwi’s friends arrogance I did not deny it works both ways. Personally I think we have a great chance of knocking over the AB’s but anything more than 5 points will be great. Giving you guys 40 points is crazy…I would love it but I think my countrymen are smoking their socks.
2 Oct 2012, 10:32 am
@Hurricane-79:
It is a good fend indeed!
2 Oct 2012, 10:33 am
@Brads-84:
No critic whatsoever
He has a fend which is the envy of many
2 Oct 2012, 10:34 am
Just to think if the Boks had got more of their kicks in Dunedin we may have squeezed a win in New Zealand.
However the loss finally forced HM to drop M Steyn, so maybe a blessing in disguise!
As for the FNB, the Boks better not think the ABs will take their foot off the accelerator as the ABs donnot think like that, there philosophy is to win every game.
2 Oct 2012, 10:34 am
@Brads-88: Yeah it’s what keeps the rivalry going. The AB’s take the cake historically but at least we give you guys the hardest time while doing it. Incidentally the reason I have so much respect for the AB’s is the way most (not all but most) of your players conduct themselves. Listened to snippets from Sam Whitelock and Sam Cane on Blitz Bulletin over here….very humble and respectful.
2 Oct 2012, 10:36 am
He can fend me anytime
2 Oct 2012, 10:37 am
@race of tan-96: Spot on….and that for me is their biggest advantage over us. They seem to be 100% for every game no matter who they are playing. If you beat the AB’ it’s a truly great acheivement whereas we have given away some silly games in the last few years. Scotland, Ireland etc…
2 Oct 2012, 10:38 am
@mako-86:
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-90:
lol
I know,it wasnt Bakkies. He thinks the whole world is against SA so that many points would never happen.
@Skeppie-93:
You guys have a great chance to win. If Ozzie beat you i feel that we would have gone to SA and won.
But with the way you guys won, does not matter if Ozzie were missing alot of players, the ones that played are very good players.
The way you guys turned it on in Dunedin was a highlight of what could be coming. We know exactly what to expect from SA and it aint pretty.
2 Oct 2012, 10:41 am
@Hurricane-100: I can’t wait for the day when we embrace a game that uses our natural strengths but also uses the pill a bit more. Once we get that right I think the old rivalry is going to get even better.
2 Oct 2012, 10:41 am
@97….Skeppie..
I have heard some excellent interviews given by no players…Burger and Brussow…good speakers and intelligent
2 Oct 2012, 10:43 am
no =bok
2 Oct 2012, 10:44 am
@Te Rangatira-103:
Too late
You really meant “no” players!
2 Oct 2012, 10:44 am
@Te Rangatira-102: Thats the funny thing…as fans we all end up slating the bejesus out of each others teams but the players seem to be a lot more philosophical and seem to have heaps of respect for each other. Funnily enough my least favourtie rugby player is Brian o Driscoll specifically because he seems to lack respect for other nations players and teams.
2 Oct 2012, 10:44 am
If I hear one more person calling the ball “the pill” I will moer someone
2 Oct 2012, 10:45 am
Cory has a stunning fend
2 Oct 2012, 10:49 am
Skeppie – I enjoy listening to Fitzy(Sean Fitzpatrick), i know we all hate him but he is an excellent interviewee!!! Thinus Delport is not bad either.
Francious Pienaar is definitely our best interviewee/r, him and fitz are very good together!!
2 Oct 2012, 10:50 am
Skeppie – Kobus Wiese is also a very intelligent panel speaker!!!
2 Oct 2012, 10:53 am
If the Boks are as competitive on Saturday as they were in Dunedin, and they finish off the opportunities they create, I will be a happy man, win or lose.
2 Oct 2012, 11:04 am
@Dawn-106: Ok but what if it’s used in the same sentence that compliments CJ’s fend? so…..”Cory Jane would love to use his fend on Dawn, after he is finished practising with the pill at training”?
2 Oct 2012, 11:09 am
@Nils-54:
i wasnt implying that the boks would run in 7 tries that would be arrogant , Im saying they could easily score 40 points at home this weekend.
Hmmm now can the AB’s score 40 points ? sure they can , but can they do it against a fired up bok team, with a flyhalf who doesnt kick the ball away, playing in Soweto and after traveling from NZ to Argentina and now to Joburg after a hard grueling season ?
@gonzo-61:
Habana covering Fb is not a bad idea but he is more effective in the first line of defense and running in from first receiver. I dont know if he as counter attack from as far as fullback so he probably will never be selected in that capacity
As for Dagg he’s dropped off a gear or two over the year ,but he is still a threat
2 Oct 2012, 11:17 am
@Skeppie-111:
If Cory uses that word “pill” instead of ball I will smack him
Then we will play a game of fend and tackle.
Fun it will be.
2 Oct 2012, 11:34 am
@Te Rangatira-92:
Meyerisasneakyfucker and I don’t think I will every trust him or his bloody ‘tactics’. It’s a shame really, as he is going to be a coach who is blessed as all hell in terms of some seriously YOUNG talent. He has the opportunity to mould, work with and build a group of fellows (most of whom could play in 2 World Cups guaranteed, and many of them 3) – and yet I don’t trust him with these youngsters development.
I don’t want to be a paranoid b i tch RE: Meyer, but I honestly can’t seem to ‘snap’ out of it
@Hurricane-100: Bakkies, bless his heart, is currently trying to work out just how it was the Boks managed to beat Australia without Morne Steyn……
2 Oct 2012, 11:40 am
You see I read sh y te like this, and I want to break something (or someone).
http://keo.co.za/2012/10/02/koen-keeps-faith-in-morne/#comment-2240144
2 Oct 2012, 11:41 am
@boktillzero-112: Look, I do believe that Boks are capable of winning on Sat. No matter what they always are and will be among the top dogs, sometimes leading the pack.
I just find it slightly weird that 40 points are “easily” expected after even less points earned vs pretty much decimated opposition (who are nowhere near Blacks class), plus your own team ain’t scaring anyone right now, to be honest. Yes, Blacks weren’t too shining either this season but if a saying “you are as good as your last game”, I’d say they were more impressive than Bokke.
Travelling may be an issue as it always is for anyone, nevertheless Blacks record in South Africa doesn’t read too bad, unlike poor Ozzies. So there’s no need for desparation, Boks may win, of course, but so can Blacks. Pretty even, I’d say.
2 Oct 2012, 11:56 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-3: Surely he cannot be daft enough to call Morne Steyn back?
2 Oct 2012, 11:57 am
@rossoneri-117:
What do you think of Cory’s fend?
2 Oct 2012, 12:14 pm
@rossoneri-117: He was daft enough to play Morne 7 games on the trot
Maybe I’ve just become so filled with parameyer that I can’t see the wood from the trees anymore 
2 Oct 2012, 12:35 pm
@Dawn-118: Fabulous. It’s amazing how he does that and never loses his footing. Gifted!
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-119: He had a fetcher phobia, and got over that right quickly when he played Francois Louw, and now Louw is his go 2 guy. He is the sorta oke that bangs his head on the wall, and gets forced into making the right decisions. Goosen, has layed the golden egg for Meyer in Pretoria, in front of his faithful disciples. There is no turning back now.
2 Oct 2012, 12:37 pm
@Dawn-118:
Not that fend …. THAT fend!
2 Oct 2012, 12:39 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-119: Then again. I agree with you. His past record, and the words he is using now is not inspiring much confidence.
2 Oct 2012, 12:55 pm
I think we will kick, but we will run more. We will try to be more unpredictable, as we should be. You can run everything, or kick everything…. we need some balance. So when we do kick, i hope the crowd doesnt start to boo because really, they dont understand the simple fact that we are trying to create some confusion in NZ’s defense as to what we are going to do. Goosen will kick it a few times, and if its pin point and we win it in the air, thats a good thing… we’ve then made 30m in 1 kick, whereas we could make maybe 10m, in 7 rucks, with 7 chances of losing the ball. Dont buy into the rest of the worlds hype about our tactics, The Boks know what they are doing and if it works – it works well.
2 Oct 2012, 13:00 pm
@rossoneri-122: I’m cooked in parameyer. I can’t rid myself of the negativity that has engulfed me since his appointment. At least I am consistent though
(I didn’t appreciate a lot of what went down when he was with the Bulls either, and I have never bought into the BRAND that is The Messiah Meyer, nor the worship….)
I’ve always believed the man was just a luckyfucker who happened to have a few of the best players on the planet in their prime to work with.
I would love to have to chow my words, not just short term (1 or 2 wins), but long term……over a few successful seasons. (and then he will have to up his man management as well…)
2 Oct 2012, 13:02 pm
Jake no it doesnt you’ve won 4 from 8 this year, how can you say it works well?
2 Oct 2012, 13:06 pm
@Jake_White-123: kuk man – it doesn’t work. You rely on opposition mistakes instead of creating your own chances.
There is a time and a place to kick, but its not the whole ******* time and from all over the place.
2 Oct 2012, 13:08 pm
Just read graham Henry’s book. A few interesting snippets about how he and the AB’s viewed the Boks:
- since Henry’s second year in charge, the abs have invited the boks into the Ab changing room post match for beers.
- the boks have always accepted, and the players and coaches have gotten to know each other well
- after a few years of this they invited the Aussies for a drink post match. They said No.
- Henry liked and enjoyed the company of jake white, pdv and Jon smit. He rated smit as a leader as much as he rates mccaw
- for Henry, the team he most wanted to beat was the boks. However, he found the players were more fired up by beating Australia. He put this down to the dominance aus had over the abs from 1998 to 2003, when the current crop of abs would have been at school and watching us get beaten by eales’ last minute goals etc
2 Oct 2012, 13:17 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-124:
I love you to chow your words too.
However there are so many out there that I don’t think this is realistic expectation my lovely.
2 Oct 2012, 14:14 pm
@Dawn-121: We get the picture !
2 Oct 2012, 14:45 pm
In other words ‘Stamp en skop’ Heyneke ?
F*kkit maar jy is a dikker beenkop as wat ek gedink het.
If they going to try play kick and chase rugby – bring maar useless Morne back.
2 Oct 2012, 23:49 pm
@boktillzero-112: this is where you stumble
You state “the boks could easily put 40 on the AB’s” yet you question if the AB’s could do the same
Confidence is one thing, one eyed blindness is another, and in this case you contradict yourself.
Simply put – it will be difficult for either team to put 40 against the other, but if I had to place a bet – I would back the game plan of the AB’s to do this over the boks because we generally go for far more width and we are always looking to secure 5 pointers. Its purely an observation of the way both teams tactics are displayed
3 Oct 2012, 00:52 am
@KiaKahaNZ-131:
would you have prefered it if i said the boks would win 6 – 3?
Read my post again at no one point did i say the AB’s are incapable of scoring 40 infact i said “sure they can” but theres a lot going against that happening biggest factor travel despite what anyone says travel will always play a part especially back to back long distance journeys
Am i confident – yep , one eyed blinded – nope
I just said the Boks are more likely to score 40 whether they kick 13 drop goals or score 8 unconverted tries it doesnt matter. My feel is that it wont be close as most people expect.
Good luck to both teams they’ll need it regardless of who wins
3 Oct 2012, 01:05 am
@boktillzero-132: It may be more realsitic if you hoped for a 6-3 scoreline, but I think its a little disingenuous if you feel the boks have a higher chance.
the travel factor may be slightly in your favor compared to previous visits as the AB’s traverse from Argentina into SA – a 9hr journey in a different direction to what they normally do. Their preparation will initially be unsettled, but I think they will adjust quickly as the game draws closer.
Back to the actual game, the AB’s defence has been quite strong in recent games. When playing with freedom as they did against Argie, their structure yielded 2 tries. However, in a tighter affair expected against the Boks, our defence lines will be deployed with far more accuracy.
This is shaping to be a great battle, its a one-off test match, and for all the history, that alone between these 2 great rugby sides will be more than enough motivation.
I’m picking NZ to beat SA by 8 points.
BTW – who is the ref?
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