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Many years ago when I first joined the ranks of Management my regional Manager gave me one piece of advice I have made part and parcel of my life philosophy, attitude always trumps aptitude.
The smarter you believe you are the less you are inclined to listen to advice or constructive criticism, it is however not that simple. You cannot just break it down by putting a person in either of those boxes because attitude usually runs alongside aptitude, the question is whether the attitude is positive or self-destructive.
The same attitude runs alongside talent when it comes to a rugby player. Whether you are talking about a player that has an attitude of being a team player, willing to learn, adapt or taking advice from others.
We have seen a number of examples, most recently in the Wallaby squad where attitude showed to be disruptive to the team environment and severely affected the team structure.
It should therefore be a simple decision for any coach to remove any player, no matter how talented – for rugby still remains a team sport and any disruptive elements or poor attitudes should be eliminated from a team environment.
However from what we have seen, it isn’t as black and white as we would hope. In fact, based on the evidence available there is a grey area, and I am going to refer to this grey area as hope, something we as the human race hold onto for dear life and it is this hope that we base our dreams and aspirations on.
Frans Steyn is a talented rugby player, has been his whole life, the youngest winner of a Rugby World Cup medal, he had the world at his feet as a 20 year old when he signed his first overseas contract with Racing Metro.
After a three year stint in France he came to South Africa in 2011 overweight and out of form. He almost didn’t play for South Africa during the 2011 Rugby World Cup as negotiations between him and Pieter de Villiers went on until the last moment before they eventually sat down and committed to each other.
Heyneke Meyer had to hear just prior to the June test series in 2014 that Frans Steyn is unavailable for Test rugby as his ongoing battle with South African Rugby Union in regard to unfulfilled financial promises that were made has reached boiling point.
None of this should have come as a surprise as the on-field performances weren’t there, Frans Steyn seemed uninterested and unhappy, you never saw him smile, it never looked like he was enjoying himself.
Jacque Fourie left South Africa after the 2011 Rugby World Cup for a rather lucrative offer to play professional rugby in Japan, he immediately made himself unavailable for Test rugby and settled into a new life in Japan.
But, in 2013 Heyneke Meyer convinced him to play for South Africa and truth be told, his performances were flat, uninspiring and mediocre. He looked out of form, slow, and his work rate was unsatisfactory.
At this point Heyneke Meyer had decided Jean de Villiers and Jacque Fourie would be his first choice midfield for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Unfortunately the situation in rugby can change in a moment.
Prior to the final Test of the tour, Jean de Villiers picked up a career threatening injury, Jacque Fourie has retired from international rugby, having re-signed with his club in Japan for a further two years.
Fourie du Preez left for Japan after the 2011 Rugby World Cup, signing with club Santori in Japan, ready to experience a new lifestyle and a less arduous rugby schedule. He made himself unavailable for Springbok duty.
In an interview a while back Fourie du Preez was candid about the reasons he left South Africa, much of it had to do with the pressures of the Southern Hemisphere schedule, too much travel, too much pressure and not enough time with his family.
What Fourie du Preez did not consider was the relentless pursuit Heyneke Meyer had for his services, and eventually du Preez’ resolve cracked and he became available for Springbok duty in 2013.
However, Fourie du Preez’ return has been marred by injury and contractual issues with his Japanese club.
Victor Matfield retired from all rugby after the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He left the game at the peak of his powers and a cult hero. Had Victor remained in retirement his legacy would be untouched, unmarred and chances are Steve Hofmeyer would eventually write and Ode to Victor, topping the charts in Pretoria for years.
We all know that is not how it went down, Victor is back, likely to captain the Springboks if Jean de Villiers doesn’t recover and Meyer will have his wish list.
Even though Jacque Fourie is still retired from international rugby, rumours are abound that Meyer has been meeting with him to convince him about being available for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Frans Steyn is apparently 10kg lighter, enjoying his rugby again and has expressed interest in going to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Fourie du Preez is on recovery and still eyeing the Rugby World Cup, and Victor Matfield is waiting with bated breath to see whether he will be merely a vice captain or whether he will run the show in 2015.
Heyneke Meyer rates experience highly, in fact he is prepared to stake his reputation and his dreams on the fact that these players will win him a World Cup.
Meyer has been in charge for 37 Tests since 2012, of those Fourie du Preez has only played eight tests, Jacque Fourie three, Victor Matfield eleven and Frans Steyn six.
Heyneke Meyer is putting an incredible amount of hope into players who can be questioned in a number of areas, commitment, attitude, form, skills, continuity and the most important question that should be asked, is he pinning his hopes mostly on their reputations and experience?
Frans Steyn strikes me as a player who constantly needs affirmation as to his brilliance, how important he is to the team, that he is a game breaker, a game winner and in my personal view, he seems to be too much of a high maintenance player.
Jacque Fourie has expressed his wishes not to be available for South Africa, was then convinced to make a return in which he didn’t inspire confidence, then expressed his wishes to retire from international rugby.
What more must the man do to show he is no longer committed to the Springbok cause? How is it that Heyneke Meyer cannot take a hint, well, it isn’t really a hint, is it?
Is he really that desperate that he is prepared to include a player that has now quit the Springboks twice?
Fourie du Preez has not been the same player since his shoulder injury in 2009, he has moved on with is life, but Meyer has been using his personal relationship with Fourie du Preez as the bargaining chip for his inclusion.
Matfield is nearing 40 years of age, does Meyer rate Victor so highly that his hopes will be pinned on this 38 year old retired Springbok to win him a Rugby World Cup? The same player who proved during last year that his ability to read a match situation and making the right decisions is still eluding him?
We all know Heyneke Meyer is a conservative man, his coaching philosophies will never be hailed as risky or adventurous, but in this conservative mind set Meyer should be lauded (or scorned depending on your point of view) for his risk taking, as I believe Heyneke Meyer is taking a huge risk pinning his hopes on these players.
After all, Peter de Villiers held onto these same players in his failed attempt to win the World Cup in 2011.
Now four years older, they have all moved on with their careers and their lives, have other priorities in life, only to be called back to the big stage for a final swan song.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.