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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8 Nov 2012, 16:52 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-185: “does not mean he did not do something to that girl.
something she did not want done to her.”
do you know the details of the case or you are speculating?
think carefully if you should respond to this one
8 Nov 2012, 16:53 pm
@Heavens Game-191:
hehehe
he’a sticky wicket, old transie.
@wnbb-193:
wow! i hope you will go away from this reflecting deeply on what you have said there. you need to look deep inside yourself, my man.
was she as silly to wear a kanga and ‘invite’ intercourse, forced or otherwise, as zuma’s ‘alleged’ rape victim was..?..
8 Nov 2012, 16:54 pm
@Transformation-199: Wow, you mean there are people who choose teams like that?
@wnbb-187: hahahaha, so sad
8 Nov 2012, 16:54 pm
@Heavens Game-200: oh fokkof, should you be jailed because you break all the promises you made while on the poon of the tannies you are sha.gging in Pretoria?
fokkof
8 Nov 2012, 16:55 pm
@Transformation-201: Fact is, Megatron, Ntini was convicted for rape…
Yes, there was a successful appeal…
But was there ever a verdict of “not guilty”?
Farken showerhead…
8 Nov 2012, 16:55 pm
Bakkies is a real joker on this forum.He even tried to second-guess the details contained in the Bees Roux plea-bargaining agreement,an agreement that was never made public.
8 Nov 2012, 16:56 pm
I seem to remember that when the squad was announced there were 3 nominated centres, JdV, JdJ and Mapoe, with JPP bracketed as wing/centre. Other than JdV we have nobody who could cover 12 except JdJ, so perhaps he was only selected as a 12.
8 Nov 2012, 16:56 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-185: “you have to admit he has a point.”
what point is that?
8 Nov 2012, 16:56 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-186:
You mean, he was acquitted. In other words: not guilty of the crime.
Bees on the other hand: guilty of the crime. Bees could’ve gone to court and fight if he wanted to. He chose not to.
@shooter-188:
Remember when HM began his reign? I think it was after the 2nd test against Arg that Tacitus asked the question: “Is the magic number 4?”
How is that different from what I’m saying when I say that the magic number is a MAXIMUM of three.
You guys can try and pretend all you want. I won’t.
8 Nov 2012, 16:56 pm
@Transformation-195:
no, of course not.
but i do feel there’s some validity to brumbie’s criticism that he very likely got off because he was black.
8 Nov 2012, 16:58 pm
I met Makhaya few few times and I honestly don’t think he raped that girl.
8 Nov 2012, 16:59 pm
@Heavens Game-205: how is ntini out if he was guilty?
farken rhodesian t.wat seeing things
8 Nov 2012, 17:00 pm
@Jeraldjay-211: he boned her, took her to spar to buy the bread she was sent to purchase and took her home.
8 Nov 2012, 17:00 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-210: Bees got off because he was white and could pay-off the victim’s family.Why pay if he believed that he was innocent?Answer that old china.
8 Nov 2012, 17:01 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-210: you are talking s.hit!
8 Nov 2012, 17:01 pm
@wnbb-206: You’re the joke on this forum. Bakkies at least comments on rugby related issues and not only politics and race.
What do you call a person who is capable of spending hours and hours, day after day, talking about race and racism?
A racist.
8 Nov 2012, 17:01 pm
@Transformation-208:
as stated in post #210 of course i believe he does have the right to voice opinions on cricket, irrespective of being acquitted of rape, on appeal.
his was makhaya got off because he was black and that possibly a white guy would have found it much harder to navigate… which goes back to the easy use of the race card in our society.
8 Nov 2012, 17:02 pm
@Transformation-204: Tannies? You mean Mummies, surely…
They laaik it when you speak foreign with them… English spoken with “th” not sounding like “f” as in “wif” or “e” not sounding like “uh” works a charm… Strues.
Also, some pretty arbitrary manners – like opening doors or pulling out chairs farken causes nymphomanic effects…
But its of their own free will… No showerheads in sight
8 Nov 2012, 17:04 pm
@Transformation-212: He was sentenced… That indicates a fair amount of guilt… ?
Was he fully exonerated?
(Balekha msunu balekha…
)
8 Nov 2012, 17:04 pm
@Finfan-216: Don’t be so hard on yourself finman.
8 Nov 2012, 17:05 pm
@Finfan-216: No… a poodlemolester…
8 Nov 2012, 17:05 pm
@nama1-209:
@wnbb-214:
we all the answer to why bees roux had to plead guilty to murdering a corrupt police officer who was in the act of highjacking him with intent to rob him of money, possibly his car, and quite possibly kill him too.
why ask/pose rhetorical statements/points.
8 Nov 2012, 17:05 pm
@Heavens Game-218: yeah “freewill” that’s what deon helberg thought!
you’ll get a mal one and it will be tickets for you!
8 Nov 2012, 17:06 pm
@Heavens Game-219: why is he out of jail?
buya msunu buya!
8 Nov 2012, 17:08 pm
@nama1-189:
Not really racist Nama, just a case of pleasing the masses and thus hanging on to his job. Do you think he would’ve left KD behind if he was black?
What concerns me though is his contradictory statements he makes, re: player selection, that open themselves to all sorts of intepretation…
8 Nov 2012, 17:08 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-222: your answer is not very well constructed.please try again.
8 Nov 2012, 17:08 pm
@Transformation-215:
oh transie, lets at least be civil in our discourse of disagreement
8 Nov 2012, 17:08 pm
@nama1-209: whatever Nama. continue your obsession.
I answered you questions, straight forward. there is no entitlement. well, there should be none.
What of the other 22 spots up for grabs.
and what Tacitus said, or what that guy said, what anybody said… i responded to you here: @shooter-196:
and right on cue….. at 209 you prove me right.
8 Nov 2012, 17:09 pm
Reas posts above, so happy, you’ve obviously all realised you are not qualified to comment on rugby
8 Nov 2012, 17:09 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-217: it goes back to nothing, BrumbiesBoy is as pathetic as anyone who uses race to defend their incompetence, he is no different from Mac Maharaj
8 Nov 2012, 17:10 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-227: just being forthright…deal with it.
8 Nov 2012, 17:10 pm
@shooter-196:
Don’t worry. I know that that is just the view of mxhosa and Tac.
No need to get in unnecessary jibes just because you are fully intelligent, or are you?
@Jeraldjay-198:
Not really.
Gilly helped out at 6 for a while but was mighty relieved when he went back to his normal position of 7.
8 Nov 2012, 17:10 pm
@Transformation-223: Naah… Helberg is a laaitie in over his head…
However HG is a well versed navigator…
Dodge Welsh women… and Pretoria women are tame by comparison…
8 Nov 2012, 17:11 pm
@Heavens Game-221: White or black poodles??
8 Nov 2012, 17:12 pm
@mxhosa-225: You have been very sane and sensible (i think lately
). All for questioning, but open minded.
8 Nov 2012, 17:13 pm
@wnbb-226:
we all the answer (should read) = we all know the answer as to why bees roux pleaded guilty to murdering a corrupt police officer who was in the act of highjacking him with intent to rob him of money, his car and quite possibly kill him too.
8 Nov 2012, 17:14 pm
@Finfan-234: Capo is a full spectrum rainbow nation poodle n.aaier…
8 Nov 2012, 17:15 pm
@Transformation-223:
8 Nov 2012, 17:15 pm
@nama1-232: isn’t it amazing that some here started criticising meyer’s convoluted selections before it was about race? back then it was the stormers fans’ fault
to think some of those who defended him are now latter-day critics.
402.ufo:
4 Jun 2012, 11:14 am
I don’t think this criticism of Heyneke is unfair…
many bloggers here from all provinces question some of his selections… and many question the same selections/omissions… so this is hardly an exclusively stormers fan thing…those suggesting it is are diverting attention away from themselves for being so loud mouthed last week…and since when is it a crime to question the bok coach… those complaining about us questioning heyneke had no such reservations about criticizing Divvy…and of course we’ll support the boks… that goes without saying… get a grip of yourselves…
8 Nov 2012, 17:17 pm
@nama1-232: ja well. i was actually trying to distinguish between the totally mo-ron bloggers and the others. ’twas sort of a compliment… smiley.
8 Nov 2012, 17:18 pm
@David-207: Another thing we should be mindful of is the following:
Midfielders in the HM gameplan are there to chase and contest the aerial boms.
If a midfielder has played on the wing or fullback, and has a height advantage, it will complement the game plan.
Hence the selection of the likes of JJ and Taute in the midfield.
And, as you pointed out, Meyer picks more wingers in his overall squad than other coaches do.
8 Nov 2012, 17:18 pm
@Transformation-230:
Mac has a way with words indeed. some of gareth cliff’s jokes about the two them (mac and zuma) are a larf.
8 Nov 2012, 17:20 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-236:
That was just Bees’ word. The other party is dead, remember?
The two of them were alone in the car. Maybe the cop did intend taking Bees home. Maybe Bees dosed off for just a little while, woke up, saw this black guy driving his car and sommer started to moer him in the drunken stage that he was in.
How do we know that is not what really happened?
8 Nov 2012, 17:20 pm
@nama1-232: How’s that plank in your eye, umfanawami?
You gonna take it out before picking up splinters from others who don’t quite have the same woe is me black is right lens that you have…?
8 Nov 2012, 17:21 pm
The ones who call racism all the time are in fact racist themselves.
Are you telling me, if a player is good enough in a coaches mind, he will not select him on the basis of colour? Please, that’s such an ignorant view.
A coach wants to win.
We may not all agree on HM’s selections, but saying they are racially influenced is just pathetic, ignorant and racist in itself. Shame on you.
8 Nov 2012, 17:21 pm
@Transformation-223:
@Heavens Game-233:
helberg found out the hard way what happens when you loading with live ammo. daai fokkenn tannie se moer was behoorlik gestrip
8 Nov 2012, 17:22 pm
@Mustard-160: Damn right sir.Does
his main job W/K brilliantly Very good batsman
8 Nov 2012, 17:24 pm
@nama1-243:
because he gave his testimony, remember.
also, evidence suggesting this as quite possible emerged when the the other cops who were with him were interrogated. remember, they were in fact going in a direction which was not near to any known cop stations. there was more.
8 Nov 2012, 17:24 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-246: LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
8 Nov 2012, 17:24 pm
@nama1-243:
because he gave his testimony, remember.
also, evidence suggesting this as quite possible emerged when the the other cops who were with him were interrogated. remember, they were in fact going in a direction which was not near to any known cop stations.
there was more.
i have to go,
will check back later
cheers
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