EXsupersport
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer moved to counter claims that he wasn’t casting his net wide enough, and didn’t give enough players opportunities to play during the current Castle Lager Incoming Series.
While there has been general public acknowledgement about some of the players who have used their opportunities, there still are questions why Meyer hasn’t used others during the matches against Scotland, Italy or Samoa, the latter who they face in the final match this weekend at Loftus Versfeld.
But while Meyer initially said he would utilise the games to give those fringe players a chance, he has come under fire for not using his whole squad and sticking mainly to the players he chose for the first test against Italy.
The criticism seems a bit harsh on Meyer, especially as he has given new test caps to the likes of Jan Serfontein, Willie le Roux, Piet van Zyl, Siya Kolisi, Trevor Nyakane, Jano Vermaak and Arno Botha in the process, while others such as JJ Engelbrecht and Coenie Oosthuizen had their second test matches in their careers.
While there is some disappointment that Lappies Labuschagne didn’t get into the match-day 23, Meyer’s rotation seems to be the biggest criticism as some of the bench players may have hoped to start ahead of the seasoned stalwarts.
Yet anyone who knows rugby knows how disruptive it is not to keep continuity in a side with a blend of youth and experience always the best way to go. Meyer said his team were slowly building after having to “start from scratch” after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
“You always have a long term goal as well, a lot of players left South Africa after the previous World Cup when there was a lot of continuity. We had to start right from scratch. There are a lot of guys that are on the fringes who have got a chance in this series, and we wanted to use this series to blood players,” Meyer said.
“I know people talk about other teams with injuries, but we have almost an entire team out at the moment. Guys like JP Pietersen and Frans Steyn you don’t replace overnight. Nor players like Zane (Kirchner) and Jub-Jub (Juan de Jongh).(ooops that is not good!!)
“What I’m really happy with is our so-called second tier players, because now we have another 15 players who can play there. I want to make it clear as well that I’m realistic. I’d love to stand here and be inspirational and say we’re the best team in the world. We have to stay humble, we know it is still a very long road ahead and these guys have to prove themselves in a tough environment against Samoa.”(Yes stay humble and pump those fat samoans - way to go!)
A LONG ROAD AHEAD
The Bok coach reiterated his stance that the team are on the right track, and used the depth created by the new caps as the perfect example of how he has given players a chance. Considering the injured players that are currently out, and those rested this week like Pat Lambie, Juan de Jongh and others, it is easy to see why he is so confident.
“We’re on the right track, but there is still a long road ahead. We said it before Scotland as well and this team will just get better. Especially if you look at the depth we’re building at the moment.
“I probably didn’t express myself in the right manner when talking about spreading the net wide. It was Willie le Roux’s first start where we could have played Zane Kirchner. It was JJ Engelbrecht’s second test match and Jano also came into the mix. Bjorn Basson has never started for me, and Siya Kolisi and Arno Botha had never started a test match before. They got a chance. Trevor Nyakane and Piet van Zyl came in and it was only Coenie Oosthuizen’s second game. And that’s not forgetting Jan Serfontein.
“I felt there was a lot of new guys coming in and because you don’t have time as a national coach, it is very difficult to coach the so-called first team. I get to coach them for three days before a test match and I am not a miracle worker. You have to keep some form of continuity. I know what the other guys can do who play at the end of the year. We now probably have 30 guys who can play at the next level. “
Meyer’s next challenge against the toughest opposition in the Castle Rugby Championship is to blend the youth and experience together so as not to lose that spark, while still gaining momentum while winning. That challenge will be tougher for him as it comes down to hard choices. Youth or experience, loyalty or taking a chance.
The new faces in the team have done well thus far, but they need to kick on, while the older players won’t be surrendering their places that easy either.
It defintely is not as easy balancing all these things and having little time with the team.
