Bekker jolted by Mendoza nightmare
3 Oct 2012
Andries Bekker says his ‘shocking’ performance against Argentina in Mendoza was a massive wake-up call.
Bekker had his worst-ever Test for the Springboks in that 16-all draw, eliciting widespread criticism for his performance, with some even suggesting that it was evidence that he was a pretender as a successor to Victor Matfield.
Bekker was dropped for the next two matches, against Australia in Perth and the All Blacks in Dunedin, with coach Heyneke Meyer sending a strong message to the second rower to significantly improve or face time in the Test wilderness.
He responded with a masterclass against the Wallabies at Loftus on Saturday, and credits his improvement to deep introspection.
‘Mentally after the game in Mendoza I struggled,’ Bekker said. ‘Some [critics] described my performance in harsh terms, but I know I wasn’t up to standard and mentally I needed to make that switch. I was shocking.’
Bekker has consistently shunned comparisons with Matfield, but accepts that he will be the benchmark for years to come. Injuries have seriously curtailed his ability to exhibit the potential many believe he has, and he said staying fit, not stepping out of Matfield’s shadow, is his primary focus.
‘I just need to get back into top form. I’ve struggled after my back op last year and my ankle op earlier this year. If people eventually see me as better than Victor, then all good. I don’t think that will ever happen though. He was the very best in the game,’ he said.
Bekker said in his experience the key to beating the All Blacks was always bossing them physically, with failure to do so terminal to your cause.
‘You need to pitch up physically against the All Blacks or you’ll take 50 points. I’ve been in the Springboks set-up for five or six years and every time you play them you have to take a step up,’ he said.
He added that the pack, which dominated the Blacks in their last meeting, is fast developing into a formidable unit.
‘We are going to be one of the best packs in the world. There’s a good balance of experience and youth. We’ve also got good depth and a range of different combinations. That was the case back with the team under Peter de Villiers,’ he said. ‘It’s great to have competition. If you don’t you’ll sit back and think you’re the best in the world. That’s when you get moered every week.’
By Ryan Vrede, in Johannesburg.
62 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
4 Oct 2012, 09:28 am
@jacoshark-50: Which of the old experience heads from last year were availible for selection? Not a lot hey? So where does that leave him? Of course he need to look young guns to start building for 2015. Bullshit argument Jaco
4 Oct 2012, 09:31 am
The game against Aussie was the first in which Bekker demonstrated his potential on the international stage.
Even as a non-Stormer, you have to be excited (and disappointed to this point), about Bekker’s potential.
4 Oct 2012, 09:32 am
@jacoshark-50: So let us have a look at the youngsters picked by HM this year. Etzetbeth, Coetzee, Goosen, Taute, Coenie. Vermeulen made his debut. Did these guys perform this year?
Heyneke Meyer has a long term as well as a short term plan and all these youngsters are in his long term plans. Our experienced players are the one that is letting him down. Pity that Bismark, JPP, Guthro Juan Smith, Jaque Fourie and FdP are injured or not available, because it would have been better to build a team around them, rather than JdP, Beast, Pienaar, Steyn and JdV.
Jaco the dumb lying Shark out!
4 Oct 2012, 09:33 am
@jacoshark-50: I Barely never post, but read most of the comments on most of the stories. JacoShark, you’re so far off base it’s not even funny.
@Horings-45: Agree with most of your recent posts.
I don’t support any franchise, I support every SA team and watch every game, a bit sad I know, but I have been a champion for Goosen since Currie Cup last year, but agreed he needed a S15. Well he played in one, and dominated before a freak injury scoring a try.
As for Jan, he is a future BOD. Most likely in the 12 shirt though, but offers more than Venter and the Bulls start Venter as he has been in the systems a bit longer, has been heavily invested in and is also a youngster so they deem him the next 12 off the rank. Jan will make it his own in the coming year and I’m looking forward to watching Jan and Mapoe in the Bulls centers
4 Oct 2012, 09:37 am
@seamus-52: What I want to establish is what is Etzebeth’s potential as a number 5 lock. Can you imagine playing him, Rossouw and Bakkies Botha. Then my last wish will be for Juan Smith to make a Os du Randt like comeback. We will dominate lineouts and the rucks, especially if Steenkamp, Bismark and JdP is our front row. A hard as nails pack will then be:
8. Vermeulen
7. Smith
6. Louw
5. Etzebeth
4. Bakkies
3. JdP
2. BdP
1. Steenkamp.
4 Oct 2012, 09:37 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-51:
South Africa:
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp- beast
2. John Smit (c)- strauss (better than smit)
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Danie Rossouw- etzebeth (better than danie)
5. Victor Matfield- bekker/kruger v(ictor better)
6. Heinrich Brüssow- not selected (injured now)
7. Schalk Burger- injured (coetsee is better)
8. Pierre Spies- injured (vermuelen/alberts better)
9. Fourie du Preez- not selected)
10. Morné Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Jean de Villiers
13. Jaque Fourie- overseas (fourie best)
14. JP Pietersen
15. Pat Lambie
Replacements
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. CJ van der Linde
18. Willem Alberts
19. Francois Louw
20. Francois Hougaard
21. Butch James
22. Gio Aplon
if you see the team, 13 players were available this season
more than enough experience
he chose not to select FDP or brussouw or aplon
yes, been a little unlucky with injuries but australia have had it far worse than we have- so there are no excuses
4 Oct 2012, 09:37 am
@seamus-52: Seamus three years ago he was up to scratch and we all felt comfortable with the fact the he would be a good replacement for Matfield but he never really stepped up to the plate since then. Persisting with a guy that is as inconsistent as he is in a crucial position is a hell of a gamble especially if you consider the talent HM has at his disposal.
4 Oct 2012, 09:40 am
@Horings-55: Bliskem that is a monster pack. Etsebeth has still got to show he can dominate the line out ball ala Victor but I believe he has the goods. Time will tell.
4 Oct 2012, 09:40 am
@Horings-55: JdP is our weak link, but Bakkies will just tell him “keep your back straight and you will not go back with me behind you”.
4 Oct 2012, 09:43 am
@Horings-59: …..as regularly heard in night clubs in Cape town as well……
4 Oct 2012, 12:47 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE-34:
I’m not on this site a lot anymore but have been commenting since the beginning of keo!
Mostly not worth it anymore as most of the stuff said here is irrelevant and way to biased.
I poke some fun sometimes to get the blood boiling but not ven that works these days!
4 Oct 2012, 14:54 pm
@Horings-55: Big, brutal and INCREDIBLY stupid pack! They will play the most brainless rugby ever seen… you can’t just select hard players.
Tons of b.alls and no brains… hey, it suits HM losing game plan to a tee! The only time when we could effectively stifle Maccaw, Pocock or any of these guys was when Brussow (for his brain, not his brawn) was there to counter them.
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.