Meyers opinion on Fullback and Flyhalf contenders!

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer insists he faces a “tough decision” to choose his flyhalf ahead of the international season which begins against Italy in Durban next week.

Both Morne Steyn and Patrick Lambie were hard at work alongside most of the 39-man group summoned for their second national training camp of the year in Durban on Monday.

Bulls veteran Steyn had been resurgent in 2013 after a slightly off-colour past season during which he copped plenty of criticism.

Young Sharks star Lambie, meanwhile, had been slightly out-of-form this year, and had not been helped by the struggles of his franchise in the Super Rugby campaign.

“I always knew Morne was mentally tough and every player goes through a bad patch,” Meyer said in Durban North where the squad were training.

“I don't think he played badly last year, it was just his kicking that let him down and, unfortunately for a number 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 Morne, I think we have two established 10s and I'm very happy with the two.”

One solution for Meyer would be to move Lambie to fullback, where he played during the early part of his tenure. It would also solve the problem of a replacement for regular starter Zane Kirchner, who had an injured finger.

The Bulls number 15 was at the camp, but sat in the stands watching on as he continued his recovery.

The Springbok boss admitted he was really worried about who would be playing as fullback against the Italians next Saturday at Kings Park.

“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," Meyer 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."

Meyer said two other possibilities he was considering were Gio Aplon and Willie le Roux.

South Africa would also play Scotland during the June internationals and a third test against the team that fares best between Italy, Scotland and Samoa in the four-team competition.

 I wish Meyer would forget about Zane!

A key phrase that got me thinking was '"so there's going to be a new back three against ITALY". 

Shezza

Meyer is a real problem for SA Rugby.   He speaks without realizing the implications of what he says.   He still wants Zane Kirchner - the flop of the year in Super 15 - but dare not play him without any game time and the Bulls playing him against the Cheetahs would give them another advantage over the Bulls. Fact is I hope they do - since I want the Cheetahs to win that game

Now lets try and see what the new 3 statement means.  Does he intend to drop Habana altogether?   Does he intend to revert to previous Springboks like Mvovo,  Basson and Aplon?   Hopefully not the latter 2.  Does he intends to move Lambie to full back?  Does not sound like the latter as he only mentioned him and Steyn at flyhalf. 

 I would be extremely surprised if he intends to select Willie le Roux at full back.   Meyer does not like innovative back line play and it is regarded as unaccpetable by him.   

The question remains - has any of the players he fancies showed any form in Super 15 this year and what is he going to come up with?   I would indeed be surprised if he select any form players - he apparently likes colours like Blue better than good performances on Super 15 level.

A key question that is not in the above article - what is he going to do insofar as the center situation is concerned.   Is Serfontein available or is the JWC regarded as a top priority tournament - in other words not to be released.   De Villiers is to my mind a certainty - but what is going to happen at 13?   Also the question of  the scrummies - is he going to stick with the rather average to poor Bulls scrummies?

One would get a clearer picture once the team has been announced - but I suspect the standard Meyer selection disaster will not go away.

..   

 Mike the article said that "Meyer said two other possibilities he was considering Gio Aplon and Willie Le Roux" Ease your mind at all? 

It's a bit unfair to say that Meyer is against innovative backline play when I can clearly remember all those fantastic tries the Bulls scored eg. Habana! 

I believe JJ will start, he's familiar to Meyer having came off the bench in England. 

JJ's only Bok appearance was 10 minutes off the bench against the Bargies. Apparently Meyer wasn't impressed.

 Well he's the most deserved of the 13 jersey unlike De Jong! 

Mozart

You are correct there - he was send back to the Bulls to play CC games for them and was a complete disaster in the games he played in.   However, as is normal with his squad election he has painted himself into a corner in this case and chanccs arehe will have to select either Ebersohn or JJ Engelbrecht at 13.  My guess would be Ebersohn - since despite what Saffex says - he was more immpressive at center in the Super 15 than Engelbrecht.  However Ebersohn is at a disadvantage - because of the Bulls contract scenario.

"Deserved" is the old reporters catch word, I have been reading that for decades. It means zippo. It's all about who will compliment the team and the game plan.

The following quote from Meyers statement is a wonderful description of what according to him the functions of a flyhalf are:-

 “I don't think he played badly last year, it was just his kicking that let him down and, unfortunately for a number 10, kicking is your main thing and you have to do it well."

The emphasis is on" main thing" and Meyer must be starkers.  That is exactly why I said - Meyer is against innovative play.  Kicking first and crashballing if the ball ever gets past the flyhalf.   19th century stuff this one. 

 I believe Meyer would feel that JJ would compliment the gameplan more as he actually contributes unlike De Jong/Houdini. 

I can't really argue against the kick chase gameplan negative factor because he used that last year, I've already gave a reason to why I dismiss it (Stuck to what he knew to survive as he was only reintroduced back into rugby from a 3 year absence), so I'm going to wait until after this set of tests until I judge Meyer. 

Morne's kicking at poles was the main concern, was that what Meyer was referring to? "Kicking is your main thing"