After making a series of defective statements that made a bad impact from a PR point of view - and could and had shown a bad perspective. Meyer finally must have been convinced that correction of that image must be made and he gave a very good account on the issue of the game plan and reading of the game coupled to implementation in an article posted elsewhere by Beeno. I have been relieved to see that they have learnt something about PR and cleared the air substantially in the relevant article and a further one attributed to De Villiers about taking of responsibiity. All good stuff - but the key is implementation and player selection.
When it comes to ball sense I looked at the present players in the squad and have to comment as follows:-
Kirchner - has been around for a while now and he has NO ball sense. Positional play poor, bad under high balls when under pressure and defective defence. Not a very sound selection this one.
JP Pietersen - Very good selection and as a wing he has very good ball sense. Strong runner with the ball and he is probably the best wing at present in world rugby. Pity about his injury. 100% selecion.
Habana - Can read games very well and is a good exponent of that component of the game. He is gettibng on in years and will have to be replaced within the next year to 18 months.
Mvovo and Engelbrecht - young and inexperienced, Showed very little when they were on the field of play thus far. Can develop further,
De Jongh - Has been around for years and is probably the most over-rated player ever in a Springbok jersey. Definitely a poor selection - he was largely the reason for the lack of tries scored by the Stormers in Super 15 - has no attacking skills - but is a good defender. Ball sense near to zero.
De Villiers - Was always a very good center and one of the better exponents of the concept of ball sense. Realize he has to show in implmentation that he can perform - but he is getting very near to his "sell-by" date - some would even say he is past that one - and will have to be replaced within the next 18 months. Lately he tended to run accross the field and not forward - thus eliminating the backline play potential.
Francois Steyn - started off extremely well and showed real skills initially - had all the physical attributes to be a top class center. However, after moving to play in France in the last four tests he played in - he showed zero ball sense and he was pedestrian, slow and unimaginative. Unless he speeds up considerably and started to play a positive and expansive game - there are serious question marks of whether he still has it to be in the team. May yet make the grade though.
Lambie - the player with real ball sense - that is why he was selected initially and that still makes him one of the best selections made by Meyer. Pity he is not used properly - he should be in the starting line-op.
Morne Steyn - has been around for years and if there is one thing that is abundantly clear by now is that he has extremely little to offer when it comes to ball sense. Never had an abundance and he has shown repeatedly that he is pedestrian and a very poor selection. Cannot remain in the team and bring about any form of comprehensive attacking back line play. No chance of success with him.
Hougaard - a very good exponent of reading of the game - whilst playing on the wing - a rather poor exponent of the same vision at scrummie. Tend to lose sight of the need for effective service to the backline is a key to scrummie play. However, He is young and can develop.
Pienaar - can read games very well and is a very good scrummie. However, he is also one of the players that is getting near to his "sell-by" date and will have to be replaced quite soon.
SUMMARY ON BACK LINE PLAYERS
Looking at the above the situation can be categorised as follows:-
Meeting all requirements - 2 players (Pietersen and Lambie)
Essentially meets requirments but having to be replaced due to the age factor - 3 players (De Villiers, Habana and Pienaar)
The jury is out : Ftancois Steyn - will have to sharpen up considerably.
Young and with potential - but not necessarily the best players around - Hougaard, Eneglbrecht and Mvovo.
Players with zero ball sense and very little implementation performance - Kirchner, De Jongh and Morne Steyn.
The above in summary means that only two players is unquetionable selections, Three are acceptable - but have the age factor against them. Three platyers are young and have potebntial for further development. Three have NO BALL SENSE and should be dropped. The jury is out on one player.
The consolation is that we do have youngsters with massive potential coming through.
Forwards
I am not going to do a similar analysis of the forwards - since the criteria are completely different.
