Heyneke Meyer needs to put his thinking cap on

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer could take a tip or two from Socrates, who died about 400 years BC and was around long before William Webb Ellis picked up a ball and ran with it.

The early Greek philosopher, who earned his colours in battle during the Peloponnesian war, encouraged the troops to also “think” when confronted by the enemy. And he insisted that might is not always the right game plan. He would never have gone for a “skop and donder” (kick and bludgeon) battle plan.

No one would suggest that Meyer swallow poison, which Socrates took to end his life when facing his critics, but our coach should ponder taking a more insightful reaction after another gut-wrenching defeat by the canny All Blacks at Ellis Park.

Meyer is right when he says the match could have gone either way and should be encouraged by the positives from a much better performance by the Springboks.

Centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende had inspirational games as did ‘loosie’ Heinrich Brussow, who for so long has not been included in Meyer’s plans.

Lood de Jager, too, played well at lock and almost scored a try that might have paved the way to a Springbok victory. And don’t blame the TMO. Only visually impaired fans thought the ball had touched the line.

Afterwards, Meyer bemoaned the injuries in the squad, the close call on what he thought may have been a try and that uncontested scrums had be to be used. All true. The Springboks out-scrummed and outplayed the All Blacks in the first half and the 10-10 scoreline at the break flattered the visitors.

However, it should be noted that our golden greenhorns got their chances only because of injuries to members of the old brigade, who have hung onto their places under Meyer’s insistence that experience is almost everything.

In Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana, we have experienced old-timers who have defied Old Man Time, but with the younger Handre Pollard, de Allende, Kriel and Cornal Hendricks, we now have a backline that can match the All Blacks and Wallabies.

Whether Jean de Villiers, who is suffering from a knee injury, can make a late comeback is a big question. De Villiers is Meyer’s first-choice captain if fit for the World Cup, but he will have his work cut our dislodging either de Allende or Kriel.

It’s a pity that for so long Meyer has hung on to the ageing players in the hope that experience will win the World Cup. Because of this, South Africa has been dropping younger stars into the cauldron and tension of Test rugby too late. Meyer should have been doing this long before the World Cup in September. You need game time, and they have been given too little of it in the past two years.

Injuries have been a problem, but older players are more susceptible to injury and the Springbok coach is now paying the price for hanging on to many of them.

One of the problems is the Springboks lack depth in most positions. It should be noted that Lima Sopoaga, who had an excellent game, is the New Zealanders’ number five flyhalf after Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett. Generally, the All Blacks have a better bench than the Springboks.

Meyer talks about the Springboks’ mental strength. But too often, we have let slip matches that we could have won. A positive approach is one thing, but we have to play smarter and that takes thinking by the players on the pitch and not following orders barked into a walkie-talkie from a box high in the sky.

The try that sealed our defeat came from a Richie McCaw move at the lineout that bamboozled the Springboks. It was described by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen as an “old song” and probably would not have fooled our wise old fox Victor Matfield.

Two tries killed off our hopes: the one on the stroke of half-time and McCaw’s late strike, both of which caught the Springboks napping.

The Springboks have a way to go before the battle for the Webb Ellis Trophy begins. It is vital that Meyer settles on a set of Test ‘probables’ as soon as possible. There is little time left and it appears that the Springboks line-up is far from sorted out.

There is time to assess our game plans and fine-tune our handling skills. We tend to run into a tackle, drop to the ground and recycle the ball. What about off-loading the ball in the tackle?

When the match ended, fans at the club where I watched it were stunned by the outcome. They had cheered the Springboks throughout the match and had often hollered for the ref to send off All Blacks for tackles that they deemed dangerous.

They trooped out of the club, carrying some positives about the Springboks’ improved display, but nevertheless disappointed by yet another defeat. Even the club dog’s tail, which had been wagging furiously at times, slipped between his legs.

Meyer’s beer must have tasted bitter after the defeat. Hemlock, the poison that Socrates drank, is of course no serious option. The Springbok coach remains confident of success. Why not? It’s the only way to go. But a touch more time under his thinking cap might be a good idea.

Here’s how New Zealand rugby writer Chris Rattue rated the Springboks:

“Willie le Roux 7: constant threat, fine try and heavily involved although not a great tackle effort on Coles.
Cornal Hendricks 5: late replacement showed little to suggest he is in original selection JP Pietersen’s league.
Jesse Kriel 8: maybe some defensive questions but made and created tries in superb Test. The Boks have found a centre pairing with big future.
Damian de Allende 8: power game and loads of defence … making the most of Jean de Villiers’ absence.
Bryan Habana 6: a few good touches but certainly not the Habana of old.
Handre Pollard 7: ran to the line, gorgeous work for Kriel try. The Boks faded again though and so did he.
Ruan Pienaar 7: has all the skills but another Springboks fade is a worry.
Schalk Burger 9: matched Read and McCaw and clever ball work. Late life captaincy and No 8 jersey suits.
Francois Louw 5: injury troubled perhaps and not a big influence.
Heinrich Brussow 7: punched above his weight, but the Boks still might have needed more punch from their loosies.
Lood de Jager 8: big game from Victor Matfield stand-in, from lineouts to crunching the ball up. Millimetres away from crucial try.
Eben Etzebeth 7: good tough game from the senior lock, at 23.
Jannie du Plessis 5: strong start but injured on half hour and departed early.
Bismarck du Plessis 7: this is the real Beast, but mighty showing hurt by three costly lineout misfires.
Tendai Mtawarira 6: good solid performance without living up to the imposing Beast name.

Reserves
Adriaan Strauss (Mtawarira, 69m) 3: called upon in strange uncontested scrum bizzo but offered no attack.
Trevor Nyakane (Koch, 61m) 3: his fault? Bizarre… his lack of tighthead ability cost the Boks via Golden Oldies scrum rule.
Vincent Koch (J du Plessis, 41m) 4: some decent work but butchered two try chances.
Flip van der Merwe (de Jager, 59m) 4: close to anonymous.
Warren Whiteley (Louw, 42m) 4: disappointing.
Cobus Reinach (Pienaar, 74m): a forward pass his only contribution.
Pat Lambie (le Roux, 62m) 3: no match-winning heroics or anything much else this time.
Lionel Mapoe (Kriel, 77m): token gesture.”