Prior to Saturday’s match between South Africa and Wales, Heyneke Meyer suggested that the Springboks are in search of the perfect match. In 2012 Meyer’s aim was to improve a few percentage points every match.
In June 2013 Scotland arrived in South Africa alongside Italy and Samoa for a short Quad Nations tournament.
Their squad included a host of inexperienced player making their way into contention for international colours.
Incidentally similar to Wales this weekend, the Scotland encounter was also played at Nelspruit.
In both these matches South Africa lost most of the contact areas, their inability to adapt to the breakdown on the day meant they struggled to maintain momentum. The Springboks had slow starts and had to come from behind to win.
Scotland and Wales both slowed the game down with trickeries prior to set phases once in front, and this further prevented the Springboks a chance to gain momentum.
Morne Steyn may be Meyer’s first choice fly half, but his inability to break the line, his slowness off the mark even when presented with a gaping hole and his indecision on attack does not provide South Africa with the necessary space or front foot ball to attack out wide.
The Welsh were winning the collisions for much of the game, which should be a huge concern for Meyer.
Richie Grey has been appointed as the breakdown coach until the Rugby World Cup, and after being with South Africa for over a season will be rather disappointed with the performance.
Is it a case of the Springboks simply underestimating Wales after the solid win the previous week, or is it a case of the Springboks still failing to adapt during match day?
Either way, it is alarming to think that when a team decides to front up physically, South African players lose their focus and forget the processes that must surely have been trained into them by now.
When Frans Steyn returned to the Springbok camp after his stint in France he had the habit of tackling the ball, rather than the ball carrier, and Alex Cuthbert ran through three South African defenders all going for the ball rather than the ball carrier.
Their technique failed dismally on the day.
The one positive that can be taken out of the match is the focus, guts and patience shown by the Springboks to ultimately come away with the win, and in all fairness the fact that they won a match while being beaten in most facets is commendable.
However, after watching the Wallabies and All Blacks earlier, there is a lot of work ahead for Heyneke Meyer, plus some tough selection issues.
Steyn is a metronome with the boot, but his attacking play is woefully short at international level. Flip van der Merwe continuously has discipline issues, and was again carded for illegally playing a Welsh player in the air.
Schalk Burger has been a cult hero in South Africa, but sadly he is a beast no more.
Here’s hoping Meyer heeds this wake-up call.
I hope you are right Ettienne, we need someone to replace Morne, and if Pollard is that man, I am all for it, just don't throw away Lambie, I think he will still have a lot of say in the next few years. Pollard should get away from the Bulls, it is playing their style that has not impressed me, we'll see on the weekend. ;)
etienne marais
Guest
Besides, imagine two nasty playmakers like WLR and HP settling into their positions over time. You, of all people, BB, must love that possibility.
etienne marais
Guest
sure, hyping up is one thing...but hyping down is quite another: "I actually don’t rate Pollard that highly, what I have seen from him this season has been uninspiring." http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/06/06/springbok-squad-world-xv/#comments remember? and then you continued explaining why he is Morne Reincarnated (nogal). Anyhow, I am confident he will make the best of the opportunity he is getting on Saturday. Also, I suspect we are talking not just about, prospectively, a regular wearer of the green-and-gold, but also a Bok captain 3-5 years from now. (Now I'm hyping) [smiley]
I just don't believe in hyping a player up ettienne. ;)
etienne marais
Guest
remember, BB does not rate Pollard as much
Hahaha, missed your post, and no I am being serious Can't believe you doubt my sincerity ;)
Digby
Roar Guru
Come on, this was funny! ;)
Rusty
Roar Guru
its a new thing for us and we are still looking for the balance that suits. My feeling is that our balance is more toward our traditional than the ABs style but at the moment we are yo-yo'ing between both
You're quite correct, I am confused, what are fans like me pretending?
maxxlord
Roar Rookie
Biltong, the answer is right there in your article. The boks are just muscle with no brains. if they can't bash through they don't have a clue. sadly, bok fans like yourself pretend otherwise, hence you are permanently confused.
s.t.rine
Guest
As first half progressed I wondered if teams had swapped jerseys before kick-off? Wales played like SA - hit the line, ran hard, dominated breakdown - SA played like Wales normally do. - missed tackles, missed passes, looked fairly clueless. But jerseys notwithstanding the host woke up as Wales took foot off their throat S T
SkinnyKid
Roar Rookie
Bakkies - few deep breaths, maybe go get a shot away and think things through mate. The Irish have beat Australia about 10% of the time since 1980. Are they better than that? Yes. Why? They like most NH teams have a mental thin when playing SH teams. Again, the fact they played for a draw in 2009 when they could have pushed for a win proves it. Wales have beaten Australia 4 times since 1980. But hey, lets not lets facts get in the way off you odd rage.
Androidangler
Guest
Agree Gavin and BB- I'm personally not a big HM fan, but towards the end of last year and when he dropped Morne for Lambie and Goosen I thought finally he has seen the light. But this year he went back to players mostly ex Bulls and current Bulls (no wonder people say he selects his players through a pair of blue glasses). We dont blood enough young players, why cant Meyer see that the WC is in less than a year FGS. Im starting to believe in that dubious pics that you suggest Pienaar and Morne has.
Hi Brendan, firstly from Meyer's perspective. I doubt he will look at an uncapped player from overseas. THen he already has his eye on Pollard, Goosen, Lambie and his alltime personal favourite Morne Steyn, so Ebersohn is at best number 5 on his list, but considering you still have Marnitz Boshoff, Elton Jantjies and Demitri Katrakilis, there is no hope of him being called up. Plus my personal opinion is that Meyer wants a metronome boot which Ebersohn does not fit.
Brendan
Guest
Hi BB, Tell me, why does Sias Ebersohn not get a mention as a possible 10? He's had a great season with the Force in this years S15. He has the ability to get his back line going very efficiently while he isn't afraid to run at opposing back lines. his strike rate for penalties and conversions is good as is his tactical kicking? Hence a well rounded 10, in my opinion?
Harry Jones
Guest
I'd go w these guys vs Scotland: Willie-Hemdricks-Mvovo Serfontein-Sithole (JPP) Pollard-FdP (Reinach)(I know it'll be Hougaard) Coetzee-Kolisi-Burger (Oupa) Lood-Victor (Lewies) Beast-Strauss-Malherbe
Not sure Meyer will go for a too inexperienced backrow, remember it was Scotland last year tat dominated Coetzee.
Harry Jones
Guest
Interesting! Yes, I think JPP will slot back into the wing (good back three, really). Not sure about JJ--maybe Meyer has moved on? Love to see Serfontein-Sithole; that's a combo in the making. So, you see Trevor N is back in Meyer's good graces? An all-Cheetah front row. Does Nyakane have tight-head skills? We need Strauss back; Bissie has been best 2 in the world in 2014, but just hit a "wall" with too much rugby. And, Lood should have played vs. Wales; Flip was a drag. I agree that Meyer will let Burger continue to play his way back to top Test level (he hasn't been back very long, and I thought he was key to the comeback with his much higher work rate than Alberts, and his accuracy and passing skills). Not sure about Oupa vs. Coetzee. I think we'll see Coetzee. At 8, it's terrible to play Duane into the ground. Maybe Burger at 8 and Coetzee and Oupa (with Kolisi on the bench)? Pollard won't get a better stage: Fourie du Preez with his long pinpoint passes and good box kicks; and maybe some front foot ball.
Not my pick, I am guessing this is what Meyer will do, the only spots I am not sure about is whether he would want more experience in the front row and Who he will move to wing in place of Habana
Harry Jones
Guest
We will never see that but it would be very fun to see a Flo-Brussow-Vermeuelen back trio.