Meyer’s selection shocker
8 Nov 2012
MARK KEOHANE writes that Heyneke Meyer’s failure to include Elton Jantjies in the Bok match 23 cannot be excused or justified.
Meyer’s got this one wrong on every level. A coach lives and dies by his selections but the failure to recognise the merits of Jantjies as a player is made even worse because of the obvious issues surrounding transformation – and the illusion that qualifies for transformation in South African rugby.
I don’t want a numbers game with the national team. I am opposed to quotas because it does a disservice to the merits of selections and especially casts doubt on any black player. Jantjies should not have been included because of his skin colour. He is a merit selection in the match 23 and many would make an argument for him to start ahead of Pat Lambie.
The argument that Jantjies was the player in possession of the No 10 jersey can’t be dismissed without examination. Jantjies played the last 50 minutes against the All Blacks and now can’t make the match 23?
Meyer’s loyalty to Morne Steyn is a weakness in the context of the Boks in 2012. Meyer is doing himself no favours and he certainly is doing Steyn even fewer favours.
I’ve always felt Steyn would make a contribution to the Boks, this season, and in the lead in to the World Cup, but his form doesn’t warrant inclusion at the moment and he is a player drained by being overplayed at every level every for the past four seasons.
Meyer is failing to recognise this. Steyn, so in need of a proper break, should not have been on tour. What he offers the Boks is a known entity. Meyer will learn nothing new from Steyn should he play against Ireland. Steyn will not be wiser or more experienced for getting a cameo role against the Irish.
Meyer had the ideal opportunity to evolve the balance of the match 23, to improve the experience of a player like Jantjies and to provide an opportunity for him. All he has done is insult him.
I don’t care what spin anyone attempts to put on it there is no way this selection of Steyn ahead of Jantjies can be defended. It’s not only conservative it’s bloody disturbing, given the issue of transformation and the lack of national recognition for players like Jantjies and centre Juan de Jongh, who consistently have been among the best in their positions in the country.
De Jongh, the player to provide the inspirational and crucial moment in Western Province’s Currie Cup final win against the Sharks, must know now he isn’t rated as the go to guy. He couldn’t have made a more telling case for inclusion, yet he lost out.
So too Jantjies for Steyn.
It’s crazy when you consider it also comes at a time when the Saru administration has given itself a pat on the back that ‘this time after 20 years of unity’ they want to show genuine commitment to transformation.
I can’t believe the president and CEO of Saru did not guide Meyer on this one. Surely they must have had a whisper in his ear and said ‘No Heyneke. There’s nothing to gain here and everything to lose’. Clearly they didn’t or Jantjies rightfully (on merit) would have at least been in the match 23.
It tells me Meyer is blinded by his belief in Steyn because of a provincial affiliation and it also tells me that the game’s leaders have again failed transformation.
This is not about picking a player because it will appease the politicians. This is not about window-dressing. This is about common sense in the context of South African rugby and transformation and more pertinently it is about common decency in relation to the talents and selection merits of the player.
Just imagine Steyn, given his form this season, was a black player. Imagine what so many would be saying if a black Steyn was in the match 23 on Saturday.
There was a time when the absolute racial prejudice within South African rugby appalled me, but now it just saddens me because it is so inherently engrained when no wrong can be seen in the performances this year of Steyn and no right can be seen in those of Jantjies.
What price then for change when it can’t come naturally and from within? Actions make a statement more powerful than any spoken or written word. Meyer in Dublin was in an all-win situation given the talents of Jantjies and his form this year.
I am mystified he opted for an all-lose selection of Steyn, given what he has produced at Test level this year, but I am dumbfounded that Meyer – in his choice of player and explanation to the media and rugby people of South Africa – obviously believes Steyn is an all-win situation.
Meyer says he needed an insurance policy in the form of Steyn. Why?
This isn’t a World Cup final. This isn’t the final of anything.
Meyer talks of insurance policies in picking an out-of-form goal-kicker who this season averaged a less than 60% goal-kicking strike rate in seven successive Tests and in two of those missed goal kicks that would have won South Africa both Tests.
Would Jantjies have been given seven successive Tests in 2012 for Steyn’s return this season?
Springbok rugby in 2012 needs inspiration and innovation. It certainly does not need a dated and questionable insurance policy.
367 Comments
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9 Nov 2012, 10:09 am
@306.saru1983 – i agree, and not only racist toward blacks, but English too!
To pick MS before PL & EJ is racist from all sides. I think when HM brings MS his morning coffee in bed they discuss the demise if SA rugby and how the previous evenings dinner tasted.
@323.Diplomatic oeK – someone you can trust your life with? maybe, unless you were in a death match against ZK, MS or J Krger. then you would have to watch your back to cos whilst your fighting HM would try shaft you up the bum just before you die.
9 Nov 2012, 10:23 am
@Dylan-351: Trust you have a lot of experience in the bum-shafting department. It is about the only statement of value that you have made. You can only be recist towards someone with a racial identity. clearly this is not the case with the English. Please, in future think carefully before spewing drivel, alternatively, shut-up and sit in the corner while the big people are talking.
9 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
I am 100% behind Meyer
9 Nov 2012, 11:57 am
@greatest13gerber-353: duh – no brain to think with for yourself? I agree totally with Mark on this one. Shocking. De Jongh and Jantjes as well as playing Taute out of position yet again and placing Francois Houghaard at wing ahead of Lwazi. Really really poor – as was his avoidance of giving Siya Kolisi a chance when he so easily could have. Too many Bulls players all year long. Pierre Spies ad nauseum, Jacques Potgieter, Wynand Olivier (who would probably be in the midfield today had he not gone to Japan). Poolman (whO??ffs). And to think we complained about PDV? Meyer has made some very very poor selections this year.
9 Nov 2012, 12:13 pm
Hmmm… yeah.
De Jongh should be in for JDV, and JDV should be booted from the boks. Kolisi should have been chosen instead of Vermeulen. Lwazi should have been chosen before JP. ROFL.
Guys, Meyer (as much as I dislike the guy) did say he’s gonna test all players in these three games to find the players he’ll be going forward with. Which means, Jantjies will undoubtedly be the starting 10 next week, as well as De Jongh.
Mvovo doesn’t deserve to be there. This season he was terrible… nothing like he was last year. Rhule should be ahead of Lwazi.
9 Nov 2012, 12:18 pm
“MARK KEOHANE writes that Heyneke Meyer’s failure to include Elton Jantjies in the Bok match 23 cannot be excused or justified”.
CANE writes………………………………..You can’t keep all the people happy, all of the time……………………..so Heyneke may as well please himself.
So phuuck Markie.
9 Nov 2012, 12:19 pm
Meyer, in his first year as Sprinbok coach, has been FAR worse than Snorre was.
He is beyond conservative and an absolutely blind fool.
Certainly giving Streauli a go as the worst coach in the modern era.
9 Nov 2012, 12:39 pm
http://www.grassrootsrugby.co.za/?cat=1
9 Nov 2012, 14:00 pm
oopa gangnam style
9 Nov 2012, 15:50 pm
I was so encouraged when HM was selected as coach but my goodness, I am hoping we lose all three games to get rid of him. (Can’t believe I would EVER say that I would wish the Boks to lose!!!). Give me PdV anyday! HM can hide behind injuries, but its not injuries that we lost the Championship, it has been poor selection and poor captaincy. We have the talent, no doubt! We had the AB’s on the rack in Dunedin 9and the Assie’s in Perth – that’s proof enough!
MK’s article is 100% but way to long. Its simple. Steyn doesn’t deserve to be on Tour, let alone in the match day 23! Finish and Klaar. It has nothing to do with colour. Jantjies, right now, is better than Steyn. What more is there to be said!
9 Nov 2012, 16:41 pm
Let’s put keow’s agenda’s to one side for a moment. He isn’t called the Poison Dwarf for nothing.
Focus on Meyer (and his coaching team) for a moment. I don’t care who he picks; it’s the results that count for me and him (lol). So far he is not doing well. A better coach would either have dropped or fixed MS when he got the yips (a reliable place kicker is imperative in Test rugby). A better coach would have a well drilled team that can keep a defensive pattern and doesn’t give up turnover ball easily, lose lineouts and give away scrum penalties. A better coach would have depth and flexibility in an extended Bok squad where very player knew his place and the team’s tactics. A better coach would improve any player that came into the Bok squad but wouldn’t boast or crow over this (Lambie was no better yet HM claimed success?).
Heineken gonna havta improve.
9 Nov 2012, 17:19 pm
@Bouts-355: The fact that Rhule is a Cheetah has nothing to do with your opinion ?
9 Nov 2012, 18:24 pm
Heyneke is very naive i’ll say. How can JdJ not get a place in the starting. He is on current form our best 13. Hougaard is selected as a scrum half, what message is he sending out to the wings in the squad!
9 Nov 2012, 22:45 pm
Jantjies is not the shocker – he’s average
the shocker is de Jong who is bladdy good. It’s actually completely wrong – tge guy has consistently been outstanding.
these okes are actually their own worst enemies – he’s now going to cone under increasing pressure from the politicians – and in this case rightfully so , it’s complete bullshit.
9 Nov 2012, 23:06 pm
Meyer is as thick as pig sh1te. Simple as that.
10 Nov 2012, 04:07 am
@Beast-352:
“You can only be recist towards someone with a racial identity. clearly this is not the case with the English. ”
I’m sure you can explain this.
What is your definition of a “racist”
10 Nov 2012, 13:17 pm
Wish Keo would stop pulling the race card – get over it
Showing faith in players who have performed well in the past at least shows a little loyalty, something the “disadvantaged” Keohane knows f…all about
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