The following from a statement by Meyer:-
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Morne Steyn's return to form and a lack of options at 15 could see Pat Lambie turn out at full-back for the Springboks.
Lambie wrestled the number 10 jersey away from Steyn last year as the Bulls pivot struggled through a dip in form, as even his seemingly ever-reliable goal-kicking deserted him.
However, the Bulls pivot is playing some of his best rugby this season and with Lambie not at full force in a struggling Sharks team, it could be Steyn who turns out at fly-half when the Springboks play their first Test of the year against Italy.
"I always knew Morné was mentally tough and every player goes through a bad patch," Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer said following a Springbok training camp in Durban.
"I don't think he played badly last year, it was just his kicking that let him down and, unfortunately for a No.10, kicking is your main thing and you have to do it well.
"I still have a lot of confidence in Pat as well. He played really well during the end-of-year tour. Between him and Morné, I think we have two established 10s and I'm very happy with the two."
An injury to full-back Zane Kirchner and no obvious replacements at the back mean that Lambie could switch to full-back, a position he has played at for the national team on a number of occasions.
Meyer remains hopeful that Kirchner, who is still recovering from finger surgery, will be fit but admits he will have to look at other options.
"Most of the top contenders are injured, so there's probably going to be a new back three against Italy, which is a quality side when it comes to kicking," he said.
"At this stage, there's a slight chance Zane can be ready, but it depends how it goes in the next week. You just don't want to throw a guy in that hasn't played, so we'll see how it goes."
COMMENTS
Meyer wants Kirchner at full back and that shows two things once again:-
* Form in Super 15 is meaningless - Kirchner was by some distance the worst full back in Super 15 - but that means nothing;
* Kirchner has the inside track - because of his Bulls contract - there cannot be any other reason for that abomination.
Acording to Meyer - there is only one aspect insofar as backline play is concerned and that is KICKING - nothing else. The flyhalf must be able to kick - the full back be able to catch kicked balls. There is no need for anyone to show attacking skills - kicking will solve all the problems in rugby.
Meyer is dead set against innovative play - that is a definite no-no in respect of backline players. Each player bar the half backs and the no 12 center have one role to play - namely to defend aganst opposition attacks. The three mentioned players has a dual role - they must be able to kick the ball away in the case of the half backs - in the case of the no 12 center he must be able to crashball. The second role is that the three must also defend against opposition attacks.
The role of the forwards is also equally uncomplicated. The number 8 must be able to play a role in the line-outs to recover the balls kicked away by the backline players that went out of touch - he can fail in everything else like Spies did in Super 15 - but Spies has missed only circa 15% of all attempted tackles by him and lost circa 20% of all balls thrown for him to catch in line-outs. One would assume that would be unaccpetable - but his Blue Bulls contract is enough to off-set those minor deficiencies.
The locks must try their utmost to recover lost possession resulting from KICKING. For the rest they must be able to defend and take a lead in the occassional rolling maulS. And o-yes - the number fivew lock must be able to make line-out calls. The latter is the one reason for the inclusion of the weakish Kruger in the team - and for sure - Kruger has a Blue Bulls contract.
ACCORDING TO MEYER RUGBY IS NOT A COMPLICATED GAME AT ALL AND PEOPLE WHO SAY OTHERWISE ARE IDIOTS. KICKING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME - EVERYTHING ELSE IS MEANINGLESS. PROBLEM IS - THIS 19TH CENTURY CONCEPT NURTURED BY MEYER IS SO OUT-DATED IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
ANOTHER YEAR OF UNDER=PAR PERFORMANCES ARE AHEAD OF US AND ONE WONDERS WHETHER THERE WOULD BE AN IMRPOVEMENT ON LAST YEAR. THE CHANCES FOR THAT IMPROVEMENT SEEM TO BE ZERO.
A REPEAT OF MEYER'S PERFORMANCE OF 2012 IS INEVITABLE IN 2013 AND IF THAT IS THE CASE HE SHOULD BE FIRED.
