Ex supersport
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will go into the second test against England a far more comfortable man than last week in Durban after his team’s 22-17 win.
After a nervous week where the Boks only had five days to prepare, and after being the target of an inordinate amount of vitriol for his team selections, Meyer walked out of Kings Park on Saturday night not only a relieved man, but also a confident one heading towards Johannesburg.
There is a general feeling that England will need to alter their tactics this week. A head-on physical battle which they lost against the Springbok pack will do little for them on the Highveld, normally a Bok vanguard against any touring side.
And while the Boks were generally poor in the first half, the switch to a more direct running style, smashing it up with their big forwards in the second half certainly put some dents in the English team.
There was enough for the tourists to cling to, a last-minute try giving some respectability to the scoreline but, in reality, had this Bok team been a lot more settled, the scoreline could have been a lot uglier for England.
This week there will be a more settled effect, and the Boks will start their preparations in earnest knowing they now know exactly what their enemy can throw at them, and how to dismantle them as well.
And while England will be hell-bent on revenge this week, Meyer’s chilling warning after the game will have them thinking twice about their task at Coca-Cola Park.
Having won and expressed relief for the week being over, Meyer quickly moved into overdrive, warning that this performance was not good enough.
“We set ourselves higher standards” was his mantra throughout the press conference. The last-minute try to England was inexcusable, he offered, and the Boks would be reminded of it.
For all the flack Meyer has faced for his selections this past week, it was clear that one part of it was working. His theory of winning the collisions came to fruition as soon as the Boks got better ball in the second half.(Yes the Beeno theory adopted by Rassie and Meyer is vital and extends to the backline as Moz doesn't yet quite grasp!! But we soldier on re that one! -some oaks of course yearn for Daniels and Brussouw as loosies and miss the good old days of wee matfield. How can aplon, joe and de Jong not be all playing they bleat in horror no tunderatanding the dynamics of the gme at all - be assured aless physical Bok pack and we would have lost the test.! Also a less physical backline an dditto. You need to hav estopping power.)
The bench, filled with “cattle” -- as England forwards coach Graham Rowntree put it -- were running just as hard and fast. It was a stampede that England struggled to hold out against, and one which set the tone for the series.
Meyer isn’t likely to tinker too much with selection. Zane Kirchner’s knee injury is likely to bring young Pat Lambie into the team this week, but other than that the bumps and bruises will heal.
What the Boks will look to do is to perfect the rampage a bit better, make sure the telling probes up the middle count more and ensure they don’t leave as many points on the table as they did on Saturday.
It is also a good reminder that in the swirling wind at Kings Park, which played havoc with Morne Steyn’s boot, the altitude of Coca-Cola Park will not only suit him better, but also bring the long-range missiles of Frans Steyn more into the picture. ( I was calling for him to take a few long distance shots but he never had one go!)
The Boks survived their first test and came out smiling, Meyer will be reminding them of their own standards this coming week in preparations.
Meyer will expect a bigger, better and more ruthless performance from his Boks this coming week. He will expect them to meet their own high standards, and take another significant step up in pace and intensity.
Whether England can do the same is the big question.
Yes big question indeed.
I am warming to Meyer. He left out some Stormers players but at least he understands what it takes to win. This looks to be the beginning of great things.
Will be good to see Lambie starting.
