I believe I am singing a similar tune to that of most SA Rugby supporters when I write this opinion – what is Heyneke Meyer up to? It all started nicely. He was saying the right things to the right people all at the right time, he’s started preparing the SA public for a while now that his time is limited with “his” team. I personally think this squad, to a large extent, was just weird based on some standout omissions. Then within this self-defined weird squad he does some strange things – well, for me, only one strange thing.
Firstly, I have to say that even though I share this opinion with you I have had enough experience as a rugby coach to know that your team is your team – as a coach you pick players that you absolutely believe will do the job you have in mind for them and for the team on the field. So, again, although I express some concern I still have to say that right now none of us are with the Bok team, none of us know what Meyer has in his mind to the full extent, and none of us really appreciate what is being discussed and worked on in the various strategy rooms of their residence ahead of the first test.
But I have to say.. again… that I find his selection of Pierre Spies quite strange. The man is the perennial under-performer for SA and has shown nothing in Super rugby to assure SA that he is hands down the best 8th man in the land. He isn’t. How it is that Siyanda Kolisi missed out on a Bok selection after the coach said time and time again that he is picking on form is beyond me. Ryan Kankowski battled to get a start at the Sharks… so in the 8th man position we have two very out of form players. I don’t care what anyone says about Brussouw and penalties: the shape of the breakdown right now has not been altered to the extent that we should be playing a test without him. It’s made worse by the fact that an off-form Willem Alberts and a new cap for Marcelle Coetzee are what we as the SA Rugby supporting public need to vest our trust in to combat a far more stable loose trio for England. The tight five, I believe, is pretty much the best the coach can do for now.
Looking at the backs, I only have issue with Kirchener at 15 – how does Lambie miss out? I am also puzzled how Aplon and De Jongh missed out on squad selections….. different opinions on form I suppose. Due to the fact that Pieter de Villers was so inept in his time as Bok coach that no real talent at this level was properly developed, we now sit with too many new caps and not the strongest leader to be called a Springbok captain. My heart is green and gold for sure; I love the Springboks through thick and thin and I truly detest seeing them lose, but I believe that we will struggle this Saturday and so we should prepare ourselves for a “learning loss”.
The coach has regularly emphasised that losing home tests in really not an option; I suppose time will tell.We will need to give some new boys a chance to learn the ropes. Against England is not ideal but with the World Cup happening in 2015, perhaps we should ask ourselves: can we sacrifice some test matches to make sure we go to the rugby showpiece as the best team in the world? I am prepared for that. Let the chorus of confusion reign for now; the scoreboard will be our truth come 19:00 on Saturday June 9 2012 in Durban.
Go Bokke! Good luck to all.
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