M Steyn's departure shows you can't resist public opinion.

When the rugby public really gets down on a player, the coach can probably resist things for a few games. But the pressure builds, and I have yet to see a player survive this collective anger.

Monty had to go off to Pomerania to rediscover his game. But he did, and became a big factor in our RWC win. Jacobs cracked after a fine TN in 2008, when the public wanted Fury. Skinstad was never a settled Bok captain, because three quarters of the country hated him. But as he showed in 2007, all those intervening years, were lost opportunities for the Boks.

Poor Morne has been on the slippery slope all year, because his kicking boot left him. Each kick became a life or death matter. It was painful to watch, and I for one am glad it's over. Morne has been a match winner for us, Meyer owed him some loyalty, and he made the decision to let him go at the right time.

Not sure I agree with you Moz, I don't think it is public opinion that drives things like this. Because for every player that failed due to "public pressure" there is one who played through the rough spell and regained form.

As for Morne, I agree with you 100 %, Meyer gave him a fair amount of time to find his form, he wasn't able to do so, and has been dropped as a result.

Yes I think Meyer gave him every opportunity to regain his kicking form. I think really that Meyer wanted to ease  Goosen in over a period of time. Now however he has had to move that all forward at a greater speed than he may have wanted. He simply could not risk another goal kicking implosion.

Its funny really if Morne had had his kicking boots on we would have won the ab test and been only 1 point behind nz with two home tests to end off with. Morne may have saved his Bok career fo a while longer. However if Goosen is as good as we think he would not have lasted too much longer certainly not beyond 2013.

bluebok and Beeno

I do believe it is very dangerous to ignore public opinion completely in dealing with sport and sport selection.   I think though that informed members of the public can see and understand what is going wrong in team play and that remais a problem for the coach.   If he totally ignores it - he upsets the public and consequently also the sponsors.

I am not saying that Meyer is bowing to public pressure - he is merely implementing measures that could not be delayed without damaging the team and his own reputation as a coacjh.

Beeno

Where is the Cat or is he so upset about the selection that he shies away from writing contributions on this site.   He is the 

 source of half of my laughter and I am missing him - what a disaster.