Meyer must stay steadfast in vision
23 Oct 2012
RYAN VREDE writes Heyneke Meyer must resist the temptation to veer from his plan to blood more young players on the year-end tour in favour of more conservative selections.
In an informal chat just after his announcement as Springboks coach, Meyer indicated to me that he planned to gradually introduce young talent through the Rugby Championship and open the tap further for the year-end tour with a view to building squad depth ahead of 2013, which he felt from the outset would be a far more successful season than the current one.
Meyer didn’t say as much, but he would have undoubtedly expected better than the four in nine return (two draws) he sits with. Pressure has mounted quickly, and fuelled by what is perceived to be an unimaginative game plan. Meyer desperately needs his sojourn to Europe to be a successful one. However, he must display the courage of his initial conviction in his selections. This is not a call for a troop of young turks to take on Ireland, Scotland and England. Balance is key. But Meyer’s selections have to be made with a view to the future, not one designed for damage control.
The Springboks squad will be named on Saturday evening and is sure to include a couple of names that will be questioned – most notably Morné Steyn and Zane Kirchner. Neither have justified Meyer’s faith in them through their performances and their struggles have become chronic. There are alternatives – younger and more dynamic ones.
Meyer will be particularly hard-pressed to explain Steyn as a starter if he opts for that selection. There will be rhetoric about his tactical and goal kicking value in northern hemisphere conditions, but Steyn has shown a low level of competence in both these disciplines of late. In Johan Goosen’s absence Pat Lambie must start, with Elton Jantjies providing cover on the wood. Lambie’s game management was exceptional in Durban on Saturday. But this would not surprise anyone who has followed his career closely. His temperament and technical and tactical aptitude has been sternly tested in the past, most notably in the 2010 Currie Cup final when he drove the Sharks to victory over a Springboks-laden Western Province side. He is 22, but plays with composure and intelligence beyond those years.
It is a fallacy that Lambie ahead of Steyn will be a bold call. It is the logical one.
It has to be noted that injuries to exciting young talents leaves Meyer shorter on fresh blood than he otherwise would have been. Coenie Oosthuizen’s season-ending back injury is a hammer blow to Meyer, who rates the prop highly and is in the process of grooming him as a tighthead (where he’ll play for the Cheetahs in 2013). Meyer is short on experienced cover at tighthead but has spoken glowingly of WP’s Frans Malherbe, including the 21-year-old in his training camps throughout the season. Pat Cilliers covered the position in the Rugby Championship, acquitting himself well. CJ van der Linde was called up to the Springboks’ squad in the latter part of the tournament, but he is a spent force whose ability to cover loosehead and tighthead can no longer be offered for his retention.
Furthermore, Siya Kolisi (thumb) and Piet van Zyl, whom Meyer was deeply impressed by, would have come into consideration had they not been ruled out for the remainder of the year.
I’d find a place in the squad for the Sharks’ Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20, who is able to cover lock and blindside flank. Du Toit was instrumental in the Baby Boks’ success at the Junior World Championships in June and has show himself to be a player of immense promise, more so than Jacques Potgieter, whom is an impostor at Test level. The Bulls’ No 8 Arno Botha has shone despite playing behind a decidedly mediocre pack. His international education must continue in Europe.
64 Comments
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23 Oct 2012, 14:39 pm
while i hear everyone going on about PSDT i want to ask, whats happened to Shaun Adendorff of the Baby Boks?
23 Oct 2012, 14:46 pm
@willievz-44:
I always have been a fan. I reckon he’s made the right move to 6, if he wants a chance at a Bok place.
23 Oct 2012, 14:47 pm
@papaown-51: He’s with the Baby Bulls
23 Oct 2012, 14:49 pm
@hendrikp-50:
Bok team is very average,made even more average by the way Boks player under Meyer.Regardless of personnel on EOYT dont expect much
Jean De Villiers is over the hill
Need to rest Habana, blood Rhule
Blood Jordaan
Let Lambie and Jantjies battle it out for 10 spot
I agree on playing Flip and Etzebeth.felt sorry for Flip being dropped after NZ away test,best game of his life.Kruger is rubbish,after he rode shotgun on the back of Ben Alexander over tryline,he aint sh*t.
23 Oct 2012, 14:55 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl-33: I’d pick Dewald Potgieter ahead of Keegan, but the issue is someone who can play 8 as cover, so it’s Keegan or Botha as cover for Vermeulen.
23 Oct 2012, 14:58 pm
In the spirit of blooding new blood into the team, I agree with many who feel that Craig Burden has earned a shot. Strauss is a safe option but offers nothing out of the ordinary and we know what we have in him.
Would love to see Jordaan get a shot from the bench. He is a far better 13 than Juan in my opinion. Jordaan is one of a few players ever who has the ability to step so sharply without losing pace. Shades of Gerber/ Cullen. He could be a very special player for us. The Boks desperately need more X factor in the backline and Jordaan is something special.
Arno Botha or Kolisi might be ready for the bench too. Steph Du Toit needs another season in SR I reckon before he gets selected.
Apart from that, I wouldn’t tinker too much.
23 Oct 2012, 14:59 pm
@stormersboy-55:
I notice nobody (even Sharkies) are suggesting Alberts as 8 cover. BTW Dewaldt can also cover all 3 loosie positions.
23 Oct 2012, 15:03 pm
1. Beast
2. Burden
3. Jannie
4. Etzebeth
5. Bekker
6. Coetzee
7. Flo
8. Vermeulen
9. Hougaard/ Pienaar
10. Lambie
11. JP Pietersen
12. Frans Steyn
13. Jean De Villiers
14. Habana
15. Taute
16. Strauss
17. Cilliers
18. Flip
19. Willem
20. Elton
21. Jordaan
22. Pienaar/ Hougaard
23 Oct 2012, 15:06 pm
Do Arno Botha and Etsebeth gym anything besides their arms?
Arno could make a good fetcher with arms like that… Food for thought.
23 Oct 2012, 15:07 pm
@David-57: Ja that didn’t work out when they tried it earlier this year though. He seems like a 7 or 4 at the moment.
This is where a guy like Danie R would come in handy.
23 Oct 2012, 15:11 pm
@stormersboy-60:
A few years ago, I suggested Alberts as a 7/4 bench player and was laughed off.
23 Oct 2012, 15:34 pm
1. Beast
2. Strauss
3. J dup
4. Flip
5. Etsebth
6. Louw
7. Alberts
8. Vermeelen
9. Pienaar
10. Lambie
11. Habana
12. JDV
13. DeJong
14. JPP
15. Taute
16. Cillers
17. Liebenberg
18. Kruger
19. Coetzee
20. Hougard
21. Jantjies
22. Side show bob
Missing and will be back in the future
2. Bismark*
3. Coenie*
5. Bekker*
6. Burger*
7. J Smit*
8. Kankowski**
9. F du Preez**
10 Goosen*
12. F Steyn*
13. J Fourie**
* injured
** overseas player to return to SA
23 Oct 2012, 15:57 pm
@David-61: Ahead of your time you were!
24 Oct 2012, 03:04 am
We need to recruit a few promising backs with serious extreme speed and natural talent as playmakers. And teach them to fend like Cory Jane…
Players like Jordaan and Sarel Pretorius need a chance.
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