Boks won’t be brainless bullies
27 Jan 2012
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer says he won’t adhere to one specific style of play.
Meyer’s early Bulls sides gained a reputation for being one-dimensional, too reliant on hulking forwards and a kicking flyhalf. They rarely wowed and were rendered impotent if matched physically.
He evolved as a coach thereafter, adding subtle dimensions to their play. The recruitment of Australian attack coach Todd Louden in 2007 refined their ball-in-hand play to the point where only the Crusaders were superior in this regard. The Bulls’ Super Rugby championship-winning sides of 2009 and 2010 continued to lean on Meyer’s teachings well after he had left in late 2007. Certainly Meyer’s Springboks will exhibit more pragmatism than panache, but to box him as a conservative is flawed.
In 2008, Meyer’s predecessor Peter de Villiers made sweeping statements about the expansive style he would play. The Springboks were duly beaten in the four of six Tri-Nations Tests. De Villiers, recognising that he was technically out of his depth, ceded tactical decision making to his senior players, who implemented an approach that revolved around an accurate kick and solid chase.
Asked about his proposed style of play, Meyer said: ‘I believe there are two types of rugby – winning rugby and losing rugby. I prefer the first. The way we play will differ from week to week. I won’t have a fixed playing pattern. I’ll look at our strengths and the weaknesses of the opponents and formulate a game plan accordingly. There will be criticism at times [for perceived conservatism] but winning is what is most important.’
The players who were central to the Springboks’ success in 2009 – most notably scrumhalf Fourie du Preez – have either retired or sought fresh challenges abroad. There are also others plying their trade overseas who could add great value to a Springboks side. The issue of picking foreign-based players became a contentious one under De Villiers’ watch, but Meyer gave the impression that he was open to the idea.
‘I haven’t discussed it with the board, but I’ll do anything in my power to pick the best team,’ he said.
Meyer, however, stressed that there is an abundance of talent at his disposal in South Africa. ‘There’s still a lot of unbelievable talent available. I’ve also been actively involved in recruiting young talent. I’ve been to every school and provincial tournament for many years now. I know every player coming through the system. We have a wealth of talent,’ he said.
‘We have to put the right structures in place to nurture that talent. If you get that process right, within a few years we can be the strongest nation in the world. Without being arrogant, that’s where we belong.’
An extended Super Rugby season means Meyer will effectively have a week to prepare the Springboks for the first of three Tests against England in June. It is self evident that this will compromise their chances, and Meyer stressed that they would have to be innovative to circumvent that challenge.
‘Obviously it isn’t the ideal situation. Every franchise needs to work together. We can’t start coaching on the field a week before the England series. It has to start well before then, four or five months before,’ he said.
‘I’ve been a Super Rugby coach so I know their frustrations and challenges. But I’m confident we can have a healthy working relationship.’
By Ryan Vrede
37 Comments
27 Jan 2012, 15:10 pm
If he sticks by what he’s saying… permanently stashes away the Pale Blue goggles… then what he is saying actually sounds very good.
Bring on 2012! Good luck Heyneke. Make us all proud.
27 Jan 2012, 15:17 pm
Well we all bloody hope so Heyneke. We need a combination of the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers forwards, Stormers Defence, Cheetahs Attack and the Lions Balanced Brilliance.
27 Jan 2012, 15:21 pm
How refreshinbgly awesome to read the comments made by an articulate coach.
27 Jan 2012, 15:21 pm
b
27 Jan 2012, 15:42 pm
@puff-3: It’s been quite some time since we could actually nod and agree with what our coach says!
27 Jan 2012, 15:47 pm
At least he cant be mis qouted …….
In other words the boks will not be the blue bulls . Good start already.
27 Jan 2012, 16:31 pm
Div said the same thing, lost a few matches and then went back to defensedefensedefense.
27 Jan 2012, 17:02 pm
Would have loved to have seen Mitchell coaching the Boks. Saru would never select a foreign coach.
Congrats to Heyneke. Our best South African Coach we have in South Africa right now. Go make us the best rugby nation in the world. Want to see us beating ABs in NZ regularly and not a once off. Need to beat Oz more often in Oz as well.
Still a bit worried Heyneke may select Bull Players over more talented players from other franchises. Just hope as a Bok Coach he can select the best as he suggests above.
Anyhow all the best to Heyneke. This has to be the most presurised job in the world. Not a going to be easy. Needs to get the best assistants as well.
27 Jan 2012, 17:04 pm
@Puma-8: meant pressurised
27 Jan 2012, 18:34 pm
@Puma-8: this pretty much sums up my views too. i’m going to be behind him and the Boks, just as i was with PdV.
27 Jan 2012, 20:06 pm
England beware. Your Carling has nothing on our Heineken.
27 Jan 2012, 20:58 pm
@Puma-8:
“Still a bit worried Heyneke may select Bull Players over more talented players from other franchises.”
So, you are already questioning his integrity, even before he got to name a single possible candidate.
27 Jan 2012, 23:35 pm
@Puma-8: most presurised job in the world?
You have not yet worked as a youth leader…
27 Jan 2012, 23:39 pm
@Jinx2-11: bud watch out for the Americans, they are getting weiser by the day.
27 Jan 2012, 23:52 pm
Jeez I actually feel excited again about the Springboks.
I like the attitude of HM- that he will try to select the best team possible and will try to win every game, not just a WC.
I like like the way he handels the media, and that he is not running his mouth off about playing an “expansive game” aka Divvy before even stepping on the park with the Boks. First select a group, then a captain and then you plan a gameplan to suit those specific players.
28 Jan 2012, 00:17 am
@crowbar-13: hahahaha. No never have experienced working as a youth leader in South Africa. Imagine it must be one of the toughest jobs ever. Here I am thinking of our sports though. Think being the Springbok Coach has one of the toughest positions ever in sports in this country. Pressure has to be unbelievable. In rugby we think or probably think we are the best in world rugby. We should be with our talent. No other country has the amount of talent we have coming through. Why we don’t beat ABs in NZ on a regular basis has to be of a concern. We should be beating our main rivals more often on their turf and ours more often than not. Something Meyer will have to address. Too much talent in SA not do be doing so.
28 Jan 2012, 00:25 am
@touchjudge-12:Well yes, am a bit worried he may select Bull Players ahead of any other players that are best their position. I think it is natural to be a bit worried at this stage. Whether it is a real worry have no idea until the England tests and 4 Nation tests. Just voicing my opinion at this stage.
28 Jan 2012, 03:26 am
I believe the concerns expressed by some here that Meyer will view the rugby world and make selections through light-blue tinted glasses are unfounded. Meyer’s a winner, and winners know you cannot be blinkered in your thinking. You must seek out and appoint the best, without fear or favour.
He’ll be a breath of fresh air after the stifling staleness of PdV. And a winner, too. I’m delighted at his appointment, only sorry it didn’t happen four years ago when the clowns at SARU played the race card.
Hey, perhaps PdV can join the Stormers, as Rassie’s replacement. A marriage made in heaven (for fans of all the other franchises, that is!!).
28 Jan 2012, 04:40 am
Can HM undo Snor’s mess in his first season?
I don’t see them beating Aus and NZ once… but he’s the best there is…
28 Jan 2012, 05:28 am
Heineken was getting nowhere until he got the right support staff…in any rugby team it is paramount to have the right assistant coaches.
with Todd Louden Heineken got the Bulls doing wonders. who is HM , His Majesty, going to pick????
It would seem ‘His Majesty’ is all ready the South African saviour!!!
28 Jan 2012, 06:31 am
Ag vok, brailess bullies **** again from another of the dwarflings
The Bulls under Meyer was turned into one of the most complete rugby sides in the world. When they clicked there is not many Bok teams from the past that could have withstood their style of rugby.
Just think back to some of their games especially the years they won the S14 and that particular 74-1(was it 10)/12 game againts that wonderful rugby team from the Cape.
If only the Boks can emulate the Bullies
28 Jan 2012, 16:51 pm
Bulls were bully boys with Baakies, Victor etc etc I just can’t see the leopard changing its spots. Boks have always been bullies and always will be. If Meyer tries to turn them into an intelligent team they’ll be all at sea.
28 Jan 2012, 18:24 pm
Its amazing the racist attitude that all the staff at keo.co.za are. Its really incredible. Meyer is a great coach and there is no disputing that. What did PDV do wrong before his appointment that Jake White had notdone. God, he won with the u21s just like Jake. I can only presume that because he is black, with the same achievement, hemust havebeen then inferior. We did nothhear the same issueswhen Jake White was hired. Why is it that when PDV was hired, he was out of his depth? Why Ryan why? Is it because he isblack? This racist attitude perpetuates the racism that exists. I eill beat this mantra until u and some of ur colleagues and some of the bloggers understand it.
Another great example of how people are judged differently is a classic case of making incorrect comparisons of Elton Janjies and patrick lambie. Writers of this blog and bloggers suggested that janjies is an inferior player who neded time and faikedto highlight the full picture that lambie was playing behind a dominant pack full of boksandany player would flourish under such a system. Elton demonstated in the curie cup that he is as good ifnotbetter than his highly rated (and rightly so i might add) counterpart.
Anything black is presumed inferior andmust prove itself greater than its white counterpart to be rated to be on parity and acceptable to whites. Chilliboy was groomed for leadership for many years and then is pipped at the post by Pierre Spies. Nothing taken away from Spies, but my point is that there is no genuine commitment to transformation. I await your critique. If i am talikng ****, please point factually how i am fundamentally incorrect.
28 Jan 2012, 18:28 pm
There is clearly too much to point out to you so too much precious time will be wastefully consumed.
28 Jan 2012, 18:28 pm
Oh excuse the spelling, the samsung galaxy and the combination of big fingers didnt help. I hope you get the gist of my point
28 Jan 2012, 18:32 pm
Never heard of that galaxy in our universe yet. You must have a superb telescope then?
28 Jan 2012, 18:33 pm
Oh well done to Heneke Meyer. He deserves his chance. I just hate the PDV bashing. When we win, it was the senior players and when we lost, all of a sudden it was PDV’s incompetence. That is the racism i am talking about. We wonthe trinations and against the british and irish lions and it was the senior players and jakes team. When we lost, Pdv is an idiot, out of his depth and a transformation(BLACK INCOMPETENT POLITICAL USELESS) appointment.
28 Jan 2012, 18:34 pm
“Samsung” and “Big Fingers” ? Must be a stunning universal wonder.
Do enjoy!
28 Jan 2012, 18:36 pm
@lubsa03-27:
Transformation, aka Transie (for short) will clearly not like that.
Be sure he is coming to get you.
28 Jan 2012, 20:44 pm
Transormation, sorry man. U know what i meant.
Oh yes, i am from another galaxy~known as Samsung galaxy where big fingered dudes get the wrong spelling
28 Jan 2012, 20:59 pm
@lubsa03-30: i appreciate your passion bud but pdv was incompetent because he was incompetent, not because he is bleck.
he simply didnt perform win wise did he?
i personally have a soft spot for divvy and will never run the guy down but this whole leck white thing is two ways bud, you are the other side of the same coin imo.
28 Jan 2012, 23:50 pm
the bloody super rugby season is damn too long.
29 Jan 2012, 00:20 am
@lubsa03-30: Do yourself a favour and read Victor’s and John’s books. Most of the senior players liked PdV because he thought he manages them well, but actually they managed him very well. They respected him for his humanity and kindness but unfortunately his coaching skills was deploited by several occasions. Can you honestly say that you would like PdV to be the coach of “your team”. For me, as a 50 year old white Afrikaans speaking rugby surporter, the colour of skin of a player / coach / manager doesn’t excist. I believe I can say that on behalf of 80% of rugby surporters.
Bryan Habana became a Springbok on merit – no colour issues. After he lost form in 2010, nobody blamed the colour of his skin. Reality is that he was on top of his game for 5-6 years and he lost form in recent time. There are new “kids on the block” like Mvovu, Mapoe, Sithole, Engelbrecht and Kilian and eventually one will push him out. I will still play a motivated Bryan because of his working rate. The same with the Ndungane brothers, unlike Van den Heever and Bjorn Basson who only want to score tries.
The Beast and Gurthro were our top loosehead props – one black, one coloured. Nobody complained. When Allistar “fired” Ricky January and prefered Dewaldt, was it about colour? No.
Jantjes played very well in the CC last year, though he has to prove himself this year in the S15. Even if he and Goosen can both make the step-up, Morne is still the proved and tested no 10 and you need his experience. Morne knows that he has to work hard on his attacking and defense skills if he wants to stay on top. Heyneke will not throw any youngsters for the wolves and surely knows that, if managed well, Jantjes and Goosen can be his WC flyhalves in 2015.
Chilliboy had a lot of injuries which didn’t helped his career, but played well in 2011. Obviously he has a strong and likeble personality to be flagged as a future Springbok captain. Personally, I would played him last year before Smit, but then, Bismarck is my first choice. Is Chilliboy better than Bismarck or Strauss? This is the year for him to prove he belongs there on merit and I hope he succeeds with flying colours.
To make a long story short, please stop this “colour” bullshit. We don’t need it. Enjoy the rugby season. As a Bulls surporter, the seasoned winger John Mametsa was one of my favourites. He came through the ranks and eventually played 100+ games for the Bulls.
29 Jan 2012, 08:59 am
@lubsa03-27: Actually, when we did have a very brief period of success in 2009, it was because of Plumtree. Peter achieved nothing on his own. 2011 was salvaged by Nienaber! So again, no credit can be given to Peter. Peter took hold of a very well rounded side and regressed EVERY aspect of play. Our defence? What defence!? He completely disintegrated our game. When we won, yes it was because of the players for the vast majority of that time. The Boks have predominantly been getting by on natural ability alone the last four years. That is fact. Peter is simply a bum picked from obscurity and will be dumped there. He humiliated our country, destroyed our team and still has the cheek to believe that Meyer owes him something because of the rubble he left behind. Your post only highlights that you are a racist. Where were you when Straeuli was being bashed by the media? More than likely joining in, because he was white. Well, Straeuli’s Boks were a damn sight better than Peter’s!
Peter was a coach that lacked any real technical understanding of the game. He had exceptionally poor man management skills. A very poor attitude whereby he blamed EVERYONE but himself. He was and still is a very arrogant self-loving lunatic. Not only is he a bad coach, but emphatically he showed that he is not much of a person either. If you consider this thing to be a great or adequate coach, then that’s by your own exceptionally low standards. Being black has nothing to do with it, it simply comes down to Peter being a hopeless fool. Here’s an insight for you as well. White South Africans have higher expectations than Black South Africans. That’s why they loath those that fail to deliver the goods. That’s why the Boks are successful, even in spite of political interference, and Bafana are failures. Expectations, pride, dignity, passion and hunger are what drives them.
29 Jan 2012, 17:52 pm
#33 Tjokker
I appreciate your comments and i believe you really missed the point. Allow me to address the issue rather than take the predicable defensive approach whites take whe accused of racism
Firstly, Habana was the best winger inthe world period.my point is that a black player needs to bethe best forhim to be recognised as making the cut and acceptable for bok colours. Jorrie Muller played **** for many years but it was fine, but as son as Ndungane or Chilli is selected, its affirmative action. Point is when an average white player is selected (maybe for your convenience let me include more white average players except for Jorrie-Pedie wannenburg, Geo and Jacque Cronje, Braam van Straaten, Andre Pretorius, etc and i can count a few) its fine, but when average black players are selected, its affirmative action and quotas and theym dont belong there. U cant tell me of The Beast, and Guthro, they also fall under the same Habana category and will in most probability be the best loosies in the game. We must judge ALL players the same
In relation to Chilli, i know Bismark is a better player. Again, i was referring to the Bulls captaincy where Pierre Spies was made the captain whereas Chilli was captain in all age groups. What happened to that? Chilli played awesome rugga last year. I suppose the best reward would be to demote him.
29 Jan 2012, 18:11 pm
@lubsa03-35: shame man, your victim mentality probably holds you back a bit.
you seem comfortable tarring all white people and specifically all white south african rugby supporters with the same brush.
but i am sure you would be the first to squeal if i said all black rugby supporters are only interested in pushing their racial agenda all day long.
heads or tails?
29 Jan 2012, 18:17 pm
@lubsa03-35: just a quick question though lubs, how many of those “average white players” were selected ahead of more deserving black players (examples and stats to back up your views please)?
because if it is simply a case of there being no one better available at the time then thats what it is right?
its all pointless anyway, there are plenty of talented young blackplayers coming through and they ould proably be horrified to be viewed in any way as “currently advantaged”.
i just have found it too amusing to witness the angst with which some black posters have viewed heyneke meyers appointment?
is the oke really that bad?
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