Boks need a defnsive wall against Oz says Meyer

Ex Supersport

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer said the Springboks will have to put up an impenetrable defensive wall against Australia when they meet in their Rugby Championship match in Perth next week.

"Australia are a dangerous side when they get quick ball, especially their backs, who are unbelievable. If our defence is not 100 per cent, they will punish us," Meyer told reporters in Johannesburg on Saturday.(Agree we all should know how important defence is))

While the Australian public are tearing into their team after two straight losses to New Zealand, including a 22-0 defeat in Auckland last weekend - the first time in 50 years that the Wallabies have not scored a point against the All Blacks - Meyer said Robbie Dean's charges still had the ability to hurt the Springboks.

"Australia are a very good team and we don't have a good record against them. New Zealand are just a way ahead of everyone at the moment and nobody's giving us a chance in Perth next weekend.

"Australia have a very good pack which you cannot underestimate and it should be a very good contest at the breakdowns. We need to be very direct and if we kick aimlessly, they are very good at counter-attacking.

"They will definitely test us on defence because they run different lines and they have a more backline-orientated team. I'm very realistic and I know how tough it's going to be against the Wallabies," Meyer said.

South Africa's new coach is not expected to make radical changes to either the Springbok game plan or personnel despite the disappointing 16-16 draw against Argentina in Mendoza last weekend.

SMALL TWEAKS

"You change the game plan week-by-week depending on the opposition, but they're just small tweaks and you still play to your strengths. This whole thing about game plans is totally romanticised and unrealistic. (the oaks do get confused on tis issue)

"Eighty per cent of the game plan is the same for every team in the world and there's no such things as Plans B, C or D, and you can't get to Point E on the field if you still haven't covered Point A. (Exactly so but oaks dont know their rugby abc!)

"The game plan is the same one that wins World Cups and it's a game plan that suits the Springboks. But the base is not even in place yet and the only time a team really learns is when they're playing away.(Meyer I do apologise that some here dont understand that you are busy with a process)

"I'm a guy who backs the players, will give them continuity and once we've played away from home then I'll look at the combinations and be ruthless."

While Australians are bemoaning their run of 14 defeats in 17 matches against the All Blacks, the current Wallabies can make history against the Springboks in Perth. If they win, it will be their fifth successive triumph against South Africa, improving on the four straight victories achieved by the world champion 1999/2000 side.

Meyer said he was expecting a much more fluid game in Perth after the forward-dominated arm-wrestle in Mendoza, which saw the Springboks struggle to obtain any front-foot ball.

"I think we'll get much quicker ball against Australia and the game will be more like we're used to in the southern hemisphere," he said.

Australia have scored just one try in their two matches against the All Blacks this year, while South Africa managed four in their games against Argentina, but Meyer said New Zealand and the Wallabies have greater vision than his side. (As I have said for a long time  we survive on raw talent and individual brilliance)

"Most tries come from broken field possession or turnovers and it's not about the game plan, it's about reading the situation," he said.(Exactly so these oaks want automatums switching from plan A to plan B to plan C to plan D at the flick of a button rather than thinking players who can read a situation)

"The more experienced players read the situation better and Australia and New Zealand are better at it than us because of the way they are brought up as rugby players." (quite right Meyer its precisely these dummies obsession with plans that is the problem. Glad you want players who can read the game. I will take some time to change mindsets)

Meyer making some good points for the oaks to consider

Some more comments by Meyer to enlighten the oaks:

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has come out in defence of the criticism of the way the national team are playing at the moment, reiterating that he believes the team are on the right track.

Meyer said it was necessary to explain as there was a perception he was playing a “Bulls game plan” but that was nonsense. Instead the Bok mentor explained that currently players were struggling with “reading the situation” but that he “knows we are on the right track”.

Meyer said shortly before his side’s departure to Perth ahead of next Saturday’s Castle Rugby Championship showdown with Australia that there was misunderstanding of the game plan that the Boks are currently employing. “There is a total and philosophical misunderstanding about gameplans. I’ve studied every single game plan from every single team in the world, and 80 percent of the gameplans are the same. If you look at most game plans, the most tries come from broken field or turnovers. You need to create that,” Meyer explained. “Secondly, it’s not about the game plan, it’s about reading the situation. Obviously if the defence is up tight, you have to play wider and if the defence is wide, you have to take it up the middle. That’s not the game plan, that’s reading the situation. 

You need to teach the players how to read these situations. That’s why I always say Australia and New Zealand are a long way ahead of us because they teach these things from day one. They can create space.

Meyer also turned his attention to the criticism about South Africa’s kicking game, even though stats showed that in the 16-all draw in Mendoza, Argentina kicked more than the Boks and the main target for all the criticism – flyhalf Morne Steyn – kicked only nine times – or 27 percent of the ball he received. “Then about the kicking game. The Stormers were top of the log and they kicked the most in the Super Rugby competition. The All Blacks kicked a lot on their way to win the World Cup. Its not about kicking or not kicking. If you get quick ball and are on the front foot, obviously you never kick that, you attack the space out wide,” Meyer said. “People always ask if there is a plan B. It is not about a plan B,C, D or E, most teams use the same game plan, they just read the situations better.

The difference is that New Zealand have a Sonny Bill who breaks the line, and players who do little offloads among the forwards. But that takes time, we’re still trying to get the lineouts right. “The same game plan scored three tries against Argentina and should have scored probably another three in Cape Town. It was the same game plan. In Mendoza, the players felt the pressure of playing away, suddenly they were behind and didn’t get quick ball up front. In those situations the only question is – can you handle the pressure? “It’s always the team that handles the pressure the best.

We’re not good at the moment at reading the situation. We aren’t good at finishing our chances at the moment and our defence will be tested this coming week.”

With this in mind, the Bok coach said there was nothing wrong with the current Bok game plan and it would return results if the Boks could implement it properly. “I believe we have the right game plan, that’s the game plan that won world cups and super rugby. That’s the game plan that New Zealand won the World Cup with as well. Some teams are more forward orientated, and some – like Australia – are more backs orientated. A team like New Zealand has both forwards and backs that they can mix it up. “Obviously we change from week to week and you target your attack accordingly, but these are small tweaks. You attack the weak shoulders, and attack the weak defenders. If they have a weak point out wide, or under the high ball, you attack that. That is where we need to improve in reading these situations. “Argentina kicked 10-15 times more than us, but everybody praised them.

I know there are a lot of perceptions out there, but I know we’re on the right track. I’ve been criticised like this before at Currie Cup and Super Rugby and we’ve won titles. This is not the Bulls game plan, we’re on the right track.” Meyer has been fighting his critics since his appointment, but the draw in Mendoza has turned up the volume of criticism, with former Bok coaches Nick Mallett and Jake White publicly criticizing the way the Boks are playing. Still, unless the Boks show a good improvement in Perth, the Bok coach may find himself under severe pressure just six games into his tenure with an expectant public that are impatient for results.

How refreshing to hear such sound common sense and rugby acumen.

I can only hope the carping criticism which so obviouslyu has no real depth of understanding quietens down as I think in time the mike munched radtag and saSUE brigade will have very red faces. Hahahahahahahahahha - hope they find all this informative and begin to realise the error of their ways!!!!!

 Beeno is rightt again

Beeno 10 what you say is right of course but no need to mention it. I expect mike munched ragtad and saSUE to make some sort of lame response but they are at sea on these matters.

Beeno

Never in my life would I apologize what I said about Meyer abnd the so-called game plan.   Someboidy must have advised him that the public is restive about the performnances of his team and his earlier comments about kciking, etc - which created the general impression that he hasa one-tracked high kick and charge plan at best.    The reading of the game issue is the first time I have heard a really scientific and sound evaluation of the situation.   There is nothing wrong in Meyer's analysis - as a matter of fact it is really brilliant.

However, there is one problem in the application of the concept of reading of the game - and that is the practical implementation and evaluation of playing based on such reading.  In old terms they used to call what Meryer said - ball sense.   There are players in the Bok team like Morne Steyn and even Hougaard - that has very little ball sense and after years in the Springbok team - has no idea how to read the game,

What I mean is that this is in fact the first real positive indication of what Meyer has in mind - the second one should be that he be harsh and deal with those players that have no ball sense and ball-handling ability .  He says he will, but the proof of the pudding lies in the eating.   If he means what he says and is going to do - at least half of the backline players will be out of the next squad.   Lets wait and see what happens, 

The reading of the game issue is the first time I have heard a really scientific and sound evaluation of the situation.   There is nothing wrong in Meyer's analysis - as a matter of fact it is really brilliant.

What I mean is that thi is in fact the first real positive indication of what Meyer has in mind ,

Mike given how early it is in Meyers reign how could anybody know all he has in mind. That is my point really.

But you say lets wait and see - yes lets do that. Realistically this will be a difficult year but there are solid grounds for optimism in the longer term.

Beeno

Allow me to continue dsealing with the issue "reading of the game" - in other words ball sense - in a clearer perspective.   Meyer's latest comments clashes directly with his player seletion.   How come - as I have pointed out in another thread elsewhere   especially the back line is riddled with players without or only limited ball sense capacity.   How can you justify selections such as Kirshner, De Jongh and even Morne Steyn - who has been deficient in that respect for years - for inclusion in the Springbok squad?  Explain that one please

 @Mike&beeno-

I agree with both of your points. Meyers analysis and understanding of Rugby seem to be at the highest order. This is why we are, or all were so optimistic when he took the reigns. 

Ex-coaches have run down the game plan (Mallett and JakeWhite)- who both happen to have produced the best results on the field post 1995 world cup. (debate over how and why- but these winning stats are facts).

What has been most frustrating to me- is exactly what Mike has emphasized. Why is Meyer chosing crappy players that are for the most part Bulls.

Meyer is now saying that the option taking from South African players is not good. Ok we all realise that our play making ability to create space is not as good as AUS or NZ. Our passing is not great in the backs.

Meyer is saying that under pressure our players are taking the wrong options. (the correct options- e.g. take it wide on front foot ball where the defenence is out numbered, and kick it on back foot ball. This is fundamentally sound.)

 However why choose players who are not the best in their positions- and therefore more likely to take the wrong options. 

-Kirchner is poor and their are many better options. 

-Morne is not a long term opton for the Wolrd. Meyer talks about kicking away the ball aimlesly agaist AUS- Is Morne not the master of this. Fourie Dupreez was the tactical kicker not Morne.

- WP Kruger , Donkey Potgieter etc.

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Meyer has recently stated that he is loyal to players, but if they prove that they cant take the pressure and choose the correct options(ball players ala Mike)- they are not long term options.  Why then choose players who clearly have proved that they cant take the best options. Kirchner is not an international player.

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I still have faith in Meyer- my only problem with him is Player selection. I agree with his premsise that the players need to take the initative on the field by taking the correct options, however I disagree with many of the players he chooses to do this. 

Morne, Kirchener and Potgieter are the three players I do not believe should be in the team. Also Ruan Pienaar is a much better 9. 

I think and believe that Meyer will get the team right. hopefully as time goes on he will have less blue tinted glasses and start chosing the best players who can choose the best options(ball players)

'I’ve studied every single game plan from every single team in the world'  yeah right meyer obviously he has not, if so we wouldn't draw against a pretty average team 16 - 16. Well from what i've seen recently in the CC teams tend to bind too many players in the ruck area, thats when the defence seems to be more easier to break. If the boks don't do that they should have more defenders. Kirchner is very plain, he needs to go immediately. It should be interesting to see who will get selected this week, meyer has some tough decisions to make.



 

it seems like the likes of beeno and co once again like to screw the pooch (as he does his blow up doll) on every post..

in meyers defence its his first proper obejective few statements in the public showing he has some idea of what he wants. but then he says we are not taking the right decision in the right area of the game but he contradicts himself and chooses robotic players that have not been on form nor can compete skill wise with there wallies and AB counterparts. on the one hand he says there is a problem but yet he does not pick the right players to counteract or to solve the problem. playing the situation is something that takes time to master and implement. that being said the likes of morne steyn zane joe peterson and grant to a lesser extent have been so over coached that they are unsaveable in regards to playing the situation as meyer describes. we all saw nothing of the so called playing the situation in the past few international tests yet we are being fed this polony that he has studied all the playing styles yet we saw pretty much the stock standard meyer style of play (bulls and leicster tigers) that he coaches. so in a very cute that in a way he says his playing style is the best in the world or he just does not have the skill set to coach any other way (i feel the later might be more true). he talks about decision making yet the playing pattern only allows one type of decision to be made so what do you expect then ?????

its all about the mindset of how one goes about the game. that is the biggest hurdle to overcome and the pure obsession with size power and brawn is a fundamental flawed view. its very important and is a weapon for us all down the the years but if we can open ourselves up to other playing styles. making comments again that we need a defensive wall and no mention of the blatant lack of attacking penetration just shows that dogged view is still very much ingrained in the meyer state of mind.

the indoctrinated lemming's like beeno will still sing and praise and try to obove else try and defend there point of view even making serious rubbish claims like the pumas are better at home and have a decent chance of beating the AB's (absolute joke but old beeno has no credablity)

its very early days still and meyer is already making some excuses that we have not beaten the aussies in ages so he is already making the public ready for a potention loss it seems. the aussie pack is very street smart so i dont expect a forward game. the aussies will try to whip up the tempo and then we will be found wanting.