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, 17:28 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-250: there was no trial.I really don’t want to embarrass you like this,but you need to get your facts straight,bud.I thought that we dealt with this issue last time?
8 Nov 2012, 17:29 pm
@shooter-235:
Lately? I take you’ve tracking my comments? When have I not been open minded?
8 Nov 2012, 17:30 pm
@Heavens Game-237: still hurting that I schooled you on the other thread?Shame.
8 Nov 2012, 17:31 pm
@Transformation-239:
One can only shake your head.
One thing became clear to me this last two days: Certain people are not “suppose” to criticize the coach.
Just compare the reaction that we’ve seen to that when HG had his “anti-Soutie” conspiracy theory a few weeks ago.
Crazy man, crazy.
@shooter-240:
No probs, Shooter.
It’s up to HM now to make things right. He must do all he can to keep the politicians out of the game. I’m not asking him to weaken the team, just that he must do the right thing.
8 Nov 2012, 17:31 pm
@willievz-241: a different angle. possibly a very valid point.
8 Nov 2012, 17:33 pm
@wnbb-253: Listen here, you little undereducated punk, you school me in your Mummy’s dreams… Now beat it… Before I beat her for inflicting you on this world
8 Nov 2012, 17:33 pm
@Finfan-216: good post
8 Nov 2012, 17:35 pm
@nama1-254: i still wanted to get to that. HG and Skop with their anti-Afrikaner bulldung. Some very nasty things was and is said about the afrikaans people.
en is JDJ nie ook afrikaans nie?
8 Nov 2012, 17:35 pm
This week,Heyneke has invited the politicians into the rugby family.It could have been different for him if he just followed common sense.He played his cards and left himself open to accusations.
8 Nov 2012, 17:35 pm
@shooter-255:
Well, look at his midfielders.
F.Steyn, JDV, Taute, Kirchner (who has ran practice sessions there), JJ and JPP have all played on the wing or fullback (or both) before.
I am convinced this is part of the puzzle.
The midfielders are not centres, they are chasers.
8 Nov 2012, 17:38 pm
@willievz-260: I afree, think you are onto something.
HM international man of mystery.
8 Nov 2012, 17:40 pm
Off course,, i mean agree./
8 Nov 2012, 17:41 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-248:
What testimony? There was never evidence led or any cross examination. There was just a statement which was obviously drawn up by his lawyers.
“According to state witnesses, I proceeded to assault the deceased where he was prone on the ground by hitting him with clenched fists … I was screaming and yelling at bystanders to call the police and … at a stage when the deceased had evidently lost consciousness, I proceeded to plead with him to wake up so that he would ‘pull through’.
This part of his statement, I find very interesting.
8 Nov 2012, 17:42 pm
@wnbb-259: and you are very happy?
8 Nov 2012, 17:45 pm
No Currie Cup, S15 or Vodacom Cup means we now resort to politicians commenting on Rugby
8 Nov 2012, 17:45 pm
Jantjies should play for Kaizer Chiefs in the 7′s
8 Nov 2012, 17:47 pm
SAPS lost 1,335 firearms in 2010/2011 – Nathi Mthethwa
very absent minded these guys.
But anyway. thats all folks. later >
8 Nov 2012, 17:47 pm
@shooter-258:
JdJ is so Afrikaans soos kan kom. Het nog elke keer Afrikaans gepraat as daar ‘n onderhoud met hom gevoer word na ‘n wedstryd.
Aplon is ook Afrikaans, maar hy kan darem ‘n bietjie Engels praat.
@wnbb-259:
True.
It could’ve so easily been avoided.
8 Nov 2012, 17:49 pm
Lambie will fail at 10 because Kircher is at 15 !!
8 Nov 2012, 17:53 pm
@willievz-241:
Interestingly Taute was listed as a utility back, which generally implies he’s just a backup for a number of backline positions, not anything specific. Even Lambie was a 10/15. I wonder whether there was some disagreement with the other selectors that HM wished to avoid, as he’s shown that Taute is currently his first choice 13.
8 Nov 2012, 17:58 pm
@David-270:
I think Taute is currently HM’s first choice 13 and 15, hence the label of “utility”.
8 Nov 2012, 17:59 pm
@Heavens Game-256: You are just like Heyneke,Hg.You have brought this situation all on yourself.In trying to be clever on Romney’s auto bailout debacle you also left yourself open to ridicule.You basically exposed yourself as nothing but a twat on this forum.You have done that all by yourself,mate,without help from anybody on here.
8 Nov 2012, 18:01 pm
@skopdiekan-9:
Regardless of the actual content of your post, you have some nerve calling anyone a coward, since you are constantly abusing people behind the safety of your keyboard.
8 Nov 2012, 18:03 pm
@Heavens Game-244:
Lambie is currently the only English speaking Sharkie in the team, no?
Can’t wait for your break down when he gets dropped and replaced by Morne for the test against Scotland.
Tik…tok…tik…tok…
8 Nov 2012, 18:05 pm
@willievz-271:
If that is true, I would like to know on what grounds?
He is not 1st choice 13 or 15 for his franchise.
8 Nov 2012, 18:06 pm
@Stawm-273: Lots of people are doing that on here,mate.What about Gunther,Katman,Hg etc etc who turn nasty when things don’t go their way .Katman calling people browncocks didn’t solicit any response from you if memory serves me right.Hypocrites are frowned upon here on keo,bud.
8 Nov 2012, 18:13 pm
@nama1-275: Certainly.
I personally don’t think Taute is of international standard just yet.
8 Nov 2012, 18:23 pm
@willievz-277: I question his super rugby quality also,which still upsets me that the Stormers signed him for a year.
8 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm
He is not better than Joe P. and certainly not better than JdJ at 13.If he expects to walk into the Stormers team he can just pack his bags now and fck back to Gauteng.
8 Nov 2012, 18:34 pm
@willievz-277:
My personal belief is that HM is trying to bring in too many youngsters too quickly. I realise that injuries are a problem, but it also leads to the discarding of players too early if his intention is to build a core for the future.
Instead of nominating our u/20 side as our 2nd side to avoid player poaching for foreign countries, SARU should have nominated an Emerging Springbok/u23 team. This would allow us to develop players at an international level to feed the Boks. Let’s face it, our losses to other nations has been relatively low and not that significant anyway.
8 Nov 2012, 18:35 pm
**** I can only laugh!
When you go back fans of Jake White, Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer had to ‘defend’ their favourite coach against bias, racism and/or stupidity!
Funny thing is, all those coaches had to fight the same battles, and those for or against them at any stage has repeated the same **** over and over again.
I have actually come to the conclusion that some dark forces in the media has ensured SARU continues to stay a ****-up so they can continue to sell papers!
8 Nov 2012, 18:50 pm
@PissAnt-281:
C’mon PA, SARU doesn’t need any help from the media!
8 Nov 2012, 18:55 pm
@David-282:
As true as that is, I am forced to look towards conspiracy theories because no organisation can be that retarded for that long!
8 Nov 2012, 18:56 pm
@David-282:
I am actually thinking of applying for a job at Keo to disprove this!
At least I will be the only writer not mentored by the dwarf!
8 Nov 2012, 19:18 pm
@PissAnt-284: You’d be the only writer with decorum, a sense of argument and a grasp of grammar.
8 Nov 2012, 19:18 pm
Is Keo hiring
8 Nov 2012, 19:22 pm
@willievz-260: If that is the case then he might as well pick big tall fast loose forwards in the centres if his not looking for any creativity.
I’m not a huge fan of the up and under. Basically its a 50/50 chance of you getting the ball back (if the chase is good) and if there is no chase…well you basically giving possession away. You hardly see the AB using the up and unders for that exact reason……why give possession away when you can that 20m (sometimes less) with a minor break or an offload in the tackle and gained momentum with support play. And then the possession is still yours….not 50/50 as with the case of an up and under.
8 Nov 2012, 19:22 pm
@nama1-136:
Agreed.
The deterioration in AB’s batting is obvious.
Besides Thami is a hand batsman.
He’d probably average what Rudolph does.
8 Nov 2012, 19:24 pm
@Dawn-286:
Probably, but you might find the “position” a bit uncomfortable.
8 Nov 2012, 19:26 pm
Oh my!With Pietman back things going to get real interesting on here.
8 Nov 2012, 19:26 pm
@mikeybrass-285:
Haha, thank you Mike.
8 Nov 2012, 19:30 pm
This site is just mislik
8 Nov 2012, 19:31 pm
Where’s pietman
Jigga?
8 Nov 2012, 19:31 pm
I agree that it makes no sense to have Morne in the match 22. much less in the touring squad at all.
He needed a break.
Elton deserves to be there.
8 Nov 2012, 19:32 pm
Even after all their injuries (which are very crucial), Ireland still have a better backline than us.
Both their half backs are better than ours.
Centers – on par. We’re bigger but theyre faster.
Wings – they edge it with Bowe on par with Pieterson and Trimble better than Hougaard.
Fullback – Zebo better than Kirchner.
8 Nov 2012, 19:32 pm
@Mustard-287:
They aren’t really just up and unders. It’s a way of countering the kicking directly into touch law as the kick is generally directed towards the touchline in the hope that the receiver will either be caught or hurried into a difficult clearance by the chasers..
8 Nov 2012, 19:35 pm
@Dawn-293: Horings
8 Nov 2012, 19:37 pm
Let the games begin !!
Australia’s captain Michael Clarke today denied that he had deliberately leaked a secret dossier itemising the strengths and weaknesses of the Proteas’ team.
The dossier was published in the local newspaper, The Courier Mail, this morning, 24 hours before the key first Test begins at the Gabba.
Among other things, the dossier details plans to engage Hashim Amla in a sledging war and submit him, Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy to a bouncer barrage.
Clarke, who seemed amused rather than concerned about the leaking of the dossier, said most of the information was “common knowledge” while the rest made for “interesting reading”.
“We always have information about any opposition we play against and it’s no different against South Africa,” the Australian captain said after his team had completed their final net session at the Gabba yesterday.
Asked whether he had been involved in leaking the information as part of an Australian psychological assault on the Proteas, Clarke replied: “No. Not from my point of view. I didn’t know anything was coming out.”
The dossier revealed the entire Australian game plan for each South African player, detailing their strengths and possible vulnerabilities. South Africa captain Graeme Smith seemed equally amused and philosophical about the leak.
“It was nothing we didn’t expect. I haven’t read much of it, just the odd line here and there. Look, we’ve played enough times against Australia to know what it takes to be victorious.
“I’ve said before that our focus has been solely on our preparation and I think we’ve completed that really well. “It’s been good, clinical and intelligent, and now we can’t wait to get going.”
The Proteas skipper said his experienced, settled team were used to the “cut and thrust” of series against Australia, on and off the field.
The dossier as well as statements made by former Proteas coach Mickey Arthur (claiming that Dale Steyn didn’t bowl well against left-handers), would simply be used to increase the motivation of his players.
“The series will be all about the pressure moments, and our Test side has shown in recent years that it can respond well to those.
“It will be all about small margins and if we can be clinical and not too emotional around them over the next five days then I’ll be happy.”
In relation to Amla, the dossier said: “We should look to get into his head and play a bit of a psychological war. We should also look to attack him with short-pitched bowling, let’s really go after him with some short-pitched stuff.”
Another player in the dossier limelight was AB de Villiers, who was described in glowing terms in the dossier. His Achilles heel, according to the dossier, was the fact that his keeping wicket was causing his batting to “deteriorate”.
Another major focus fell on leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who is described as an “attacking spinner” who has taken many wickets but also conceded a lot of runs.
“We should really ramp up the pressure on him,” the dossier concluded. “Unlike Paul Harris, Tahir cannot hold up a game. He can be very impatient with his bowling and it leads to him being expensive.”
Clarke said the real issue relating to the information was that it wasn’t ultimately a case of what was said, but about the Australians executing their game plans.
“The most important thing for me is not about what you say, it’s about what you do. Enough’s been said already, there’s been plenty of talk in the media, the series has been built up beautifully; now it’s about what we do.”
The Gabba pitch was looking greener today, and Clarke said this had caused him and coach Mickey Arthur to delay naming their final XI until the morning of the match.
“It’s about whether we go in with three fast bowlers and a spinner (Nathan Lyon), or whether we go for the four quicks,” the Aussie captain said.
Smith said his management would decide on their final XI tonight, but he hinted strongly that South Africa would go in with a spinner (Tahir), three specialist pace bowlers (Steyn, Morné Morkel and Vernon Philander) and back-up paceman Kallis.
The Gabba Test will feature a battle between the two top pace attacks in world cricket.
Steyn and Philander are ranked one and two in the world, while Morkel is in the top 10. Their success in recent years is a mark not only of their pace, but the variety of complementary skills they bring to the party.
Steyn is fast and skiddy with late outswing, Philander nags away at the batsmen, moving the ball each way off the seam, while Morkel is fast and his back-of-a-length bowling forces the batsmen to fend off sharply rising deliveries.
The Australian pace foursome represents a mixture of youth and experience, with the hard-working and aggressive Peter Siddle and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus the hardened performers.
8 Nov 2012, 19:38 pm
We needs a coach who will help us unite the country – not divide it. merit, yes, for sure. But don’t insult us with k@k selections. it hurts.
8 Nov 2012, 19:43 pm
Got to admit that I felt Elton was a shoe-in at 10. And not even make it into 23. He was the incumbent FH after the Soccer City test and deserved another chance. I find this seriously baffling with HM suddenly deciding that Lambie is now a flyhalf and not a fullback after all.
And when Taute says that his favoured position is fullback, Heyneke continues to pick him at 13. After a lacklustre 2 tests there.
What more does JDJ have to do?
These thoughts have already been posted here,I know. It is just my two cents worth.
Heyneke Meyer is now under serious pressure to win 3 out of 3 on this tour.
The ratings agencies would by now be placing Heymeke Meyer under ‘negative watch.’
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