Heyneke Meyer has made 36 men into Springboks. Put that another way, and 4.15 per cent of all the Springboks who have ever played for South Africa were first selected by Meyer.
Some of his picks have cemented places, others have washed out, while a few are just mysteries yet to be solved.
Popeye-armed Marcell Coetzee was a young yahoo, and Meyer has refined his game over three seasons so that he can play over the ball or just crash the ruck. At times, he contemplates the concept of the passed ball. He will play at the World Cup.
Juandré Kruger was a washout after 17 caps. He was a one-trick pony – lineouts – who never liked to get his hands dirty. We already have one of those in Victor Matfield – who is a lot better at lineouts – so Kruger was redundant, after his limp-wristed display at Ellis Park.
Ironman Eben Etzebeth, from a family of wrestlers, enforcers, bill collectors, and scary men, made his debut on June 9, 2012 and now has more than 30 caps. He is usually mentioned when ‘best locks in the world’ are discussed. The interesting thing about Etzebeth is that he is still so young. It seems Meyer likes his locks very young or very old.
Meyer capped Jacques Potgieter, too, but the long-haired bully only won three caps with his fiery style. Perhaps it is because he tended to tackle his own teammates. Australians seem to love this, but he is far down the Bok pecking order.
Prop Pat Cilliers won six caps under Meyer, but never made enough of an impact to stick. The curious case of JJ Engelbrecht, who scored five tries in his time as a Bok, has yet to be solved. He was Meyer’s blue eyed boy, and was then banished for one weak display.
Hard-running hooker Craig Burden was never going to leapfrog the best rakes in South Africa, but does get to say to his grandkids he was a Bok. Jano Vermaak has three Meyer caps but appears to be behind Cobus Reinach and Francois Hougaard in the contest to try and supplant Fourie du Preez and Ruan Pienaar as field general.
The luckless Johan Goosen has six caps, and it could have been 30. After years of futility, Duane Vermeulen – who now seems like an automatic pick for anyone – was chosen by Meyer, and will soon have his 30th cap and maybe the captaincy.
Injury-prone Frans Malherbe – who should and must replace Jannie du Plessis for the World Cup – was capped on a Northern Hemisphere tour and was one of the best props in Super Rugby, but is recovering from an ankle injury.
Meyer spoke as if his selection Jaco Taute would be the answer, but he has been mediocre. Arno Botha might in fact be the answer, but he was hurt in his second game. He has a chance to play for the Boks in England this year.
Speedsters Lionel Mapoe and Raymond Rhule have carried bags but are still waiting for their chances to be the next Bryan Habana. And one of my personal favourites, Franco van der Merwe, who could in my opinion perform the role that Matfield plays now, was picked but never enjoyed Meyer’s real trust.
JC Janse van Rensburg was one of a long list of props Meyer has dabbled with. Meyer defied stereotypes by giving Willie le Roux 25 caps, and now asks him to ignite many an attack. He also trusts young Jan Serfontein to front any team.
Trevor Nyakane, after he learned to follow Meyer’s rules, has won 13 Meyer-selected caps. Tearaway Stormer Siya Kolisi impressed in his 10 caps, and is still in the picture, but may have been surpassed by Coetzee and Nizaam Carr.
Piet van Zyl has two caps as a Bok scrumhalf, but his passing was abysmal. Lourens Adriaanse is a Meyer prop selection, but he did not get a real hold of the jersey.
Meyer speaks of two-cap Pieter-Steph du Toit as the future star and we will see and hope. Cornal Hendricks was one of Meyer’s least obvious picks – he has scored five tries in 11 Tests, some of them unbelievably skilful. But he defends like a noodle.
One of gangliest Test players ever, Lood de Jager, seized the chance to win nine caps in Du Toit’s absence. One of the gutsiest calls of Meyer’s tenure was to start Handré Pollard in Wellington, and he seems to have a great career ahead of him.
Marcel van der Merwe looks to have Test quality. Oupa Mohojé does not, but Meyer picked him for political reasons. Stephan Lewies has one cap, and should have more. Marnitz Boshoff was picked as a Morne Steyn clone, but he won’t get much of a look.
Damian de Allende was a bold pick, and he has three caps and a little less cockiness. Warren Whiteley is not a Bull-type player, but he might see the World Cup from the field. Meyer has gushed over him.
Cobus Reinach and Nizaam Carr both had dream debuts, while Julian Redelinghuys has two caps.
So, Meyer has been a bit more adventurous than some claim. Can he find the centre combinations he needs? Will he unearth the new Habana? Will he go with the young props, or drive Du Plessis into the ground?
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