Maybe it would be better to listen to HM himself, rather than trying to analyse his so-called prferences for Bulls players. I get the idea that even if there were not a single Bulls player in the Bok team, it would still have been 15 too many.
Be that as it may. Gavin Rich from Supersport is not know as one who likes to hold back on his punches when it comesto Heyneke Meyer. In typical reporter and anti-Meyer style writing he chose a heading that said the exact opposite of what he reports Meyer to actually have said. This becomes clear when you read the rest of the article. This is what he wrote:
Meyer still worried about No 5 lock
by Gavin Rich 25 November 2013, 07:32
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer ended the tour of Wales, Scotland and
France happy with the depth he has in most positions building up to the
World Cup in England in 2015, but he says he is still worried about what
is available at No 5 lock. (When you read further down, you will see that this is not what Meyer said.)
Flip van der Merwe has adjusted to the role brilliantly in the past few
months, and many critics believed that Meyer erred in not selecting
Sharks youngster Pieter-Steph du Toit as a starter in one of the tests
on this tour.
However, Meyer’s reluctance to throw the youngster in at the deep end
may have been vindicated when he lost some crucial lineouts against the
throw in the closing stages of the 19-10 win over France at Stade de
France at the weekend. (And then Mr Rich actually contradicts himself in saying that Meyer could have been correct. LOL)
Not that Du Toit’s ability to do the job is what Meyer is concerned
about and preventing him from selecting the recent age-group star into
the starting team now.
“The No 5 lock runs the lineout and I don’t think people who are not
involved realise what that entails and what a huge challenge it would be
for a youngster like Pieter-Steph,” said Meyer during the tour wash-up
with South African journalists in Paris on Sunday.
“I will give you an example that I hope you can carry across to your
readers in a positive way. In the build-up to one of the games on this
tour, Bakkies (Botha) and Pieter-Steph were training together in the
same lineout formation, and because he was the middle of the lineout
jumpers, Pieter-Steph was leading the lineout.
“On one occasion Bakkies wasn’t the right spacing, and I saw
Pieter-Steph go up to him and ask him very politely and respectfully if
he would move. Because he is so much younger and less experienced than
Bakkies, Pieter-Steph has a natural respect and even awe of someone like
Bakkies. But what we need from the guy running the lineout is someone
who will be forceful and take charge.”
Meyer is confident that Du Toit will be up to speed this time next year though.
“I have always said I have a plan with Pieter-Steph and you will see it
come through next year. He will be bled into the system. By this time
next year hopefully he will have several tests under his belt and he
will be ready for the role I envisage for him.
"This time last year Eben Etzebeth had hardly played any tests, and look at him now. He is regarded as experienced and is up for the IRB Player of the Year award.”
Meyer says he rates Du Toit but believes that the Boks will need back-up in the most important position in the lineout.
Juandre Kruger is out of favour while Andries Bekker, though probably
available again in the World Cup year, is ruled out of playing
international rugby for the time being by Japanese club commitments.
MATFIELD RETURN?
(Another stab at cheap journalism. This is Rich's own effort at reading something that HM has never even hinted at. It was a figment of his buddy Stephen Nel's imagination)
Meyer’s headache may be eased slightly if the Bulls play Van der Merwe
at No 5 in next year’s Super Rugby, but there will be those who will see
his words as an indication that he still might be looking for a way to
pave the way for a Victor Matfield return.
Whatever the reality, he doesn’t have many problems in most other areas,
and he has professed himself particularly happy with the way a
potential weakness at tighthead has resolved itself on this tour.
“I was worried when Jannie du Plessis wasn’t available to tour because I
wasn’t sure we had the back-up. But Frans Malherbe was thrown in at the
deep end and as a youngster, I was really pleased with the way he
played. I really think he is a big player for the future.
"And Coenie Oosthuizen was given his chance against France, and he took
it with both hands. I was happy with his performance,” said Meyer.
“So suddenly we have three good players at tighthead. I am satisfied now that we are well covered there,” he added.
Patrick Lambie played well against Scotland when he got his chance at
flyhalf against Scotland, and with Johan Goosen due to play again next
year, the Boks look well covered in the all-important pivot position
too, while Lambie looks set to continue to also cover fullback, where
Willie le Roux has now established himself as the No 1.
“I don’t think people realise how much we have had to work with Pat. He
was lining up way too deep when he first came to us, and we have had to
get him to play closer to the gainline. He is starting to do that now
and I have been really happy with his progress.
"Johan (Goosen) wasn’t able to play on this tour but I want to have him
ready for the incoming tours next year and what he has picked up on this
trip will hold him in good stead for that.
“As for Willie, I have already said that I have been astounded at how
well he has responded to the coaching he has been given. When he first
came to us he had no kicking game. But he worked on it and has now
become a great tactical kicker and a good tactical fullback. I have a
lot of faith in him now.
“We played him on the right wing in the home leg of the Rugby
Championship, but fullback is his position. He struggles with his
defensive game on the wing and missed three key tackles that may have
cost us the game against the All Blacks. I am happier with him at
fullback.”
Meyer never made mention of it, but that does leave a potential problem
at wing, where JP Pietersen’s strong showing since his rusty return in
Cardiff has seen him re-establish himself as the only real option at No
14, with Bryan Habana also having no challengers at left wing.
Gio Aplon travelled on this tour ostensibly as a wing back-up more than a
fullback reserve, but was never used because there were no injuries,
and with the exception of perhaps Lwazi Mvovo, there aren’t many strong
candidates back home.
Fourie du Preez’s return to the fold has partially solved the scrumhalf
problem, but Meyer is also concerned about that position.
“I need a strong locally based scrumhalf to come through to add to the
depth there but so far that isn’t really happening. I will be monitoring
the progress of the youngsters closely during the coming Super Rugby
season,” said the coach.
If we look at where we have come from since 27 Jan 2012, when Meyer was appointed, I do not think that it is really fair to comment on his "tendency to stick to what he knows". The team now is vastly different from the one that tackled England in their first test in 2012 and it is vey much in line with what he said was going to happen back then. He said that he was not going to kick off with wholesale changes and new ideas. He was going to concentrate ate the best possible way of getting through the England tests unscathed and would from there on slowly evolve the team/squad on the way forward. I think he is on the right track. It is no secret that I do like HM and if I honestly though that he was way off the mark, I would have said so. Earlier this year I thought that JJ Engelbrecht was the best thing since sliced bread. I do not think so anymore.
