Ex Supersport
With Super Rugby enjoying a brief hiatus to accommodate the inbound series, the focus for local supporters only now shifts to the Springboks.
However, much work has gone on behind the scenes by Heyneke Meyer and his coaching staff prior to this point, as I will endeavour to outline below.
The first step in the process is selection, which I believe is the most important aspect for any coach. While a coach can strategise for hours on end, the playing personnel ultimately colour his canvas.
In my view, Meyer has selected a group of players whom he trusts, and equally, who can execute the game strategy he has in place. While the Boks will aim to evolve in 2014 after an excellent 2013 season, by and large, they will stick to playing a field position-orientated, forward-dominated game.
In terms of selection, Meyer never over-complicates matters. He deserves credit for staying true to his convictions and backing his players and systems to the hilt.
While the public may suggest Victor Matfield is over the hill or Heinrich Brüssow is being short-changed owing to his continued omission, the question I would pose is: Can South African supporters be objective in their assessments without infusing provincial bias into their arguments?
With injuries have shorn the Boks of the talents of Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, in terms of a lock pairing, are there any more experienced than Matfield and Bakkies Botha in world rugby? (Bakkies yet but wee matfiled!!!!)
At the same time, Meyer has covered his bases by introducing excellent young lock Lodewyk de Jager to the Springbok culture, with an eye on the future.(Blood him now!!! Also what about Willemse. No need for wee victor 106 kg)
As far as Brüssow’s non-selection is concerned, while he remains a wonderful rugby player, Meyer continues to reward Francois Louw who hasn’t been good for South Africa but rather fantastic.
In engendering loyalty and trust within a group, it’s essential that players feel valued by said coach.
The second step pertains to preparation. In this regard, Meyer has left no stone unturned.
I can reveal that while Super Rugby was in full swing, Meyer and his coaching triumvirate of Johann van Graan, Ricardo Laubscher and John McFarland experimented with various attack, defence, kick and set-piece strategies through the assistance of a number of under-19 rugby teams around the country.
The public perception may be that the Bok technical team sit idle during Super Rugby but nothing could be further from the truth. Meyer is a meticulous planner and along with the aforementioned practical application of said strategies, he would have picked apart the opposition that lay in wait.
Thirdly, the fourth member of Meyer’s backroom staff, Chean Roux, would have busied himself with examining the referees who will officiate the Springbok matches during the inbound series this June.
By now, Roux would have built up a weighty portfolio of video footage and relevant statistical data pertaining to the particular match officials in question.
As I have explained previously, there are a number of variables in the oval game. However, by being vigilant and highly efficient in one’s preparation, much of the guess work can be eliminated.
However, a new variable, which has entered the equation over the last few months and which reached a head during the Aviva Premiership final between Saracens and Northampton Saints this past Saturday, is that of the TMO.
While the TMO has a place in the game, it is unacceptable if he determines the outcome of a match by going against protocol. One wouldn’t want a similar disaster to hit the Springboks this series.
Therefore, Roux and performance analysts alike will now have to factor in the referee and the TMO into their pre-game analysis. Never before has this been part of one’s preparation.
Brendon we have had some very bad TMO call from down under. So yes but how do you combat bad decisions
