Meyer believes bright future ahead
24 Nov 2012
Heyneke Meyer says the value of the narrow wins on their European tour will be evident in the years ahead.
I’ve written extensively about what the potential fruits of this tour for the clutch of young and inexperienced players in particular will be and believe more strongly now that they will be central to the Springboks’ resurgence in 2013.
Better Springboks sides with better individuals have not matched what this scratch team achieved against the backdrop of a injury-ravaged season. Optimism must now take root, and Meyer urged this.
‘To win all three games is most positive. We’ve not used to playing in these conditions. The youngsters have adapted well, what they give up in experience they make up for in excitement. That really helped us,’ he began. ‘The set phases have been much better as was our kicking game. Pat [Lambie] was superb today. Youngsters like Eben [Etzebeth] stood up away from home, as did others. Its easier to win at home than away, and we’ve now won three on the trot, which is very encouraging. I really believe you’ll only see the benefits of a tour like this in the years ahead. That our depth is better and players that would otherwise have been on the fringe have this sort of experience is hugely valuable.’
There will be those who’ll lament the manner of their victories – defence ruling attack. We should, however, never lose sight of the fact that this was a Springboks side robbed of some of its best players, one at the end of the longest season in their careers and few settled combinations. Certainly there needs to be an improvement on attack, this level of defence is unsustainable, but for now Meyer lauded the defence resolve of his team.
‘This is how you win trophies. The World Cup is going to be here so its good that we have the experience of grinding out the wins like we did tonight. This team has come a long way. For me I don’t care how we did it, but we won,’ he said.
Captain Jean de Villiers reinforced Meyer’s view. ‘Its 50 per of the game and we’re up there with the best, if not the best, at it at the moment. The attitude and determination the guys showed in defence you can’t coach. As a captain that makes me very proud.’
Asked to assess the season more broadly, Meyer said: ‘It depends whether you look at glass half full or half empty. There were only three loses and those came against the top countries in the world. There were great [Springboks] sides that have come over here and didn’t win. We brought an inexperienced side, were ranked number four team in the world and now end as number two. I would have taken that if offered, especially with some of my superstars out. The youngsters put their hands up. Other players did as well
and the guys coming back have to play hard for their places next year.’
82 Comments
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25 Nov 2012, 14:44 pm
The Stormers contingent saved HM’s arse this season.When he discarded kuk like spies(admittedly injured),Dean Greyling,Potgieter and JP Engelbrecht things started looking up for him.Getting rid of KD probably the best decision of his first year…..after bringing back Louw.
25 Nov 2012, 17:28 pm
Anybody else think Estebeth (sp) is being unfairly targeted ???? He just has to give a squint glance and BAM! Ref blows and opposition players seem to be wanting to create another Bakkies in him… I think they fear him and the potential they see for the future in the way he plays and are trying to nip it in the bud and creat a dirty player, sorry if I have not explained properly but am a bit knakkered.
25 Nov 2012, 17:36 pm
@Treehugger-52:
Looks like it.
He must tread carefully though, yesterday’s incident a case in point, he started it by kicking the ball out of the scrum halves grasp and then trying to assert himself.
All he should to do now is concentrate on his primary task and stop getting involved in off the ball incidents and trying to be the alpha male
25 Nov 2012, 17:44 pm
@Treehugger-52:
Eben has quite a bit of his uncle Cliffie inside him- and bakkies was a fairy in comparison to Cliffie- so we are going to see fireworks in future, u can bet your house on it.
25 Nov 2012, 17:47 pm
Even the media hacks are now trying to improve HM’s winning percentage.
. Heyneke in buoyant mood
View 48 comments Comment on this story
2012-11-25 13:41
London – Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said his first year in charge of the team had gone as well as he could have expected after they ended 2012 by “grinding out” a 16-15 win over England at Twickenham.
Saturday’s success saw South Africa finish the calendar year with a record of played 12, won eight, lost three and drawn one, with two of those defeats coming against world champions New Zealand and the other by Australia.
However, the win against England saw the Springboks complete an unbeaten tour of Europe following victories over Ireland (16-12) and Scotland (21-10).
Video highlights: England v South Africa
At Twickenham, they scored the only try of the match when blindside flanker Willem Alberts crossed early in the second half for a score converted by flyhalf Patrick Lambie, who also kicked South Africa’s remaining points courtesy of three penalties.
The fact that England opted to go for goal when they were awarded a penalty at 16-12 behind with barely two minutes left, rather than opt for an attacking lineout that could have led to a match-clinching try, was testament to the Springboks’ set-piece superiority and their forceful defence.
“You have to dig deep and grind out the wins,” said Meyer. “I believe that this was one thing this team couldn’t do.
25 Nov 2012, 17:47 pm
@Treehugger-52:
Most enjoyable moment in rugby this year for me was Eben taking out the prima donna Bissy. Bissy will never be the same again, just wach it
25 Nov 2012, 18:04 pm
Hi Rob: when Cliffie was Eben’s age, they (the brothers Etz.b and their “clan”) were “cleaning” every bar in Parow, Vasco, Goodwood et al!
I have said it before that Eben has obviously an abundance of the Etzebeths’ aggression in him but he has a “softer side” as well – I think it is his mother’s good influence. His father Harry is not the perfect role model. Whenever Eben is interviewed, nothing is mentoned about Harry! I have heard some pretty bad things about Harry!
Back to yesterday’s test: have a look at that “incident” again. While Eben was on the ground / knees, Ashton gave him a slap on the head but retreated immediately, as if thinking “what the hell did I do now?”
Eben is going to get a lot of chirps and “attention” from his opponents in the future but I think he is much stronger mentally than a lot of folks think. If AC & co don’t play him into the ground like Bekker he can become one of the best Boks ever !!
25 Nov 2012, 18:04 pm
All this analysis of HM Win loss ratio and comparing it to that of the previous coaches in order to convince us that his been successful is fundamentally flawed because the Argies have now joined the southern hemisphere tournament they’re still a developing nation in terms of rugby and the Boks really should beat them easily every time and we didn’t even manage that this year. The likes White, Mallet, PDV etc did not have the benefit of easy game like that 2/3 times per season to boost their win loss ratio
25 Nov 2012, 18:24 pm
@Redox(Original)-58:
Agree 100%
HM has yet to proof himself against the might of Fiji, Samoa , Tonga, Italy ect?
25 Nov 2012, 18:25 pm
I actually thought he was provoked and handled himself ok, he cant very well just shrink away he has to stand up for himself a bit.
As for the Bissie moment
I quite enjoyed it myself, am not crazy about him.
25 Nov 2012, 18:34 pm
@nama1-23: Hi pal.You have always been consistent re:ZK.Not joining line?Has anybody noticed how when
ball kicked to Dagg he has 2 to 3 supporters falling back.?
In other words,line joins him.Thought SK great.
25 Nov 2012, 18:35 pm
SK = ZK
25 Nov 2012, 18:36 pm
@Treehugger-60:
Now how many poms would have slapped their handbags at BAKKIES?
25 Nov 2012, 18:42 pm
@Robzim-56: Blind sided him.Watch it again.
25 Nov 2012, 18:47 pm
@wnbb-51: Come on pal.It was a Springbok(Not Stormers )team.Kirschner brilliant I.M.O. JP very good Alberts very good Lambie OK
De jong invisible Jdv invisible.But I still rate them.Don,t stir embers of
provincialism here.Can only divide us.Agree with your assesment of Stormer players.
25 Nov 2012, 18:52 pm
@ryecatcher-61:
Hi Rye.
Yes, my argument was always that our players don’t fall back when the ball is kicked on our FB and he therefor becomes isolated leaving him no other choice than to kick for touch or kick an up and under. Yesterday, on the occasion where he knocked on, you only saw one player (Hougaard, I think) behind him.
All Black players on the other hand will fall back and you’ll have a line of 3/4 players behind the ball catcher to mount a counter attack. Not only that, they also immediately move the ball to the far end of the field, away from the traffic, to where there is much more space. We saw it again last night how they move the ball to the opposite side off the field from where it was caught with just two long passes. Attacking the space when counter attacking should be the aim.
We rely on individual skills from our players, jinxing their way through the opposing players, to put the rest on side when they catch the ball at the back.
ZK was very good yesterday, especially with his catching from the air. Really shut the mouths of a few people with his performance.
PS: remember how people were adamant that he is poor in the air after dropping a high ball against Wales in 2010 from which they scored.
25 Nov 2012, 19:03 pm
@nama1-66: Hi pal.I usually just sit back
and read.But this Anti ZK thing has been getting on my t its big time.
I played fullback.Was lomp and slow. Recognise a good player when
I see one,
25 Nov 2012, 19:08 pm
@nama1-66: You make me feel like a kenner LOL
25 Nov 2012, 19:27 pm
@ryecatcher-68:
Oh, but you are, Rye.
Everybody on this site is one in his/her own little way. That’s what make it so interesting.
25 Nov 2012, 20:07 pm
@nama1-66:
They’ve been doing that to us for a while now. They read the crash up and clearance and pull players back while the balls still in the ruck. They effectively give us an overlap because they know we won’t run.
25 Nov 2012, 20:36 pm
Often wonder what a ‘Kenner’ actaully is?
25 Nov 2012, 20:37 pm
actually even!
25 Nov 2012, 20:51 pm
@carol-71:
kenner – somebody who knows his stuff
25 Nov 2012, 20:51 pm
@ Carol kenner equals knower
25 Nov 2012, 21:05 pm
@carol-71:
Kenner is an accolade given to someone who agrees with you.
25 Nov 2012, 21:08 pm
@Gunther
25 Nov 2012, 21:21 pm
A kenner is someone with a grotesquely protruding chin. Tobie Cronje is a kenner.
25 Nov 2012, 21:26 pm
@katman-77: Prefer savant
25 Nov 2012, 21:27 pm
@ryecatcher-78: Savant blanc
25 Nov 2012, 21:36 pm
Goodnight all
26 Nov 2012, 00:01 am
Kenner – Thank you all
Another Saffa word for my long list!
26 Nov 2012, 05:00 am
coulda shoulda woulda……………………what a load of BS. A win is a win and a loss is a loss, get over it skopdoos!
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