Heyneke Meyer is no Nero, the emperor who fiddled while Rome fizzled, but the Springbok coach has burnt his fingers in the way he has fiddled while choosing what he thinks will be a World Cup-winning team.
Injuries have been a major setback, but he still has not settled on his line-up as the William Webb Ellis showpiece looms.
Part of the problem has been Meyer’s insistence that experience is more important than current form – something that former Springbok pivot and now TV pundit Naas Botha disagrees with.
This is what the Springbok legend had to say earlier this month: “It is said World Cups are won with experience but is that really the answer?
“Do you take talent that is in form or do you opt for experience?” he said. “I think it is quite simple, you take the guy that is in form.”
The midfield combination of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende, he says, is an example of how valuable young talent at the top of their game is to the Springboks.
“If you look at De Allende and Kriel, they have enough experience but on the international stage they are inexperienced,” Botha said. “Have they really looked inexperienced over the last internationals? No. They were quite creative and scored quite good tries.”
So where does that leave the old-timers who are still part of his plan for the World Cup, which is about a month away?
Some of the dozen or so players Meyers dredged up from the 2007 World Cup-winning squad are still around and deserve a place in our starting team, but others are no longer in contention.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis, prop Jannie du Plessis, loose forward Schalk Burger, scrumhalf Fourie du Preez and wing Bryan Habana should all, in my view, make the side – but captain Jean de Villiers would have to go. His performance in the devastating 37-25 defeat by Argentina in Durban was average. Now out injured again, it would be foolish to pick him in a starting line-up.
Some fans, when asked about Victor Matfield, used to say: “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.” I don’t hear them singing that chorus anymore and most don’t believe he should be in the team or even on the bench.
The lock, a noted 39-year-old lineout guru, is clearly beyond his best in general play. He has lost pace, avoids getting involved in rucks, when the going gets down and dirty, and hangs about behind the action as a link with other players.
Younger locks such as Lood de Jager and lately Pieter-Steph du Toit are in better form. And there is no way that Eben Etsebeth should lose his place.
In the time Meyer has been in charge, he has failed to groom younger players, something the All Blacks and the Wallabies have done. Because of this, they have far better depth in their squads.
The All Blacks have five top flyhalves: Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga. We have two, Handre Pollard and Pat Lambie.
Meyer is now faced with having to drop younger players into the cockpit of tension that is Test rugby after giving them scant game time in the past. As good as they are that is a tough ask.
When given a chance, younger Springboks in the backline, Pollard, De Allende and Kriel, had fans cheering and gave them hope for the future.
Then came Meyer’s move to switch Kriel to wing and include De Villiers at centre. Jean deserved a chance, too, to prove his worth, but it didn’t pay off.
I tire of South African fans to continue to bleat about referees. The Pumas simply outplayed us. It was not the ref’s fault. The Argentinians out-scrummed the Boks and their forwards and backs gave as good as they got.
The Springboks too often get caught napping. The All Blacks bamboozled us at Ellis Park and the Pumas did so at Kings Park.
It was embarrassing to get beaten so easily by Argentina, ranked eighth in the world. We finished last in The Championship and our No 2 world ranking looks like slipping.
Meyer is talking up our World Cup chances as he always does. Maybe to should take a hint from Botha and take more of a chance with the younger stars. But if the past repeats itself, this isn’t likely to happen.
My starting team for September, barring injuries, with a mix of experience and players in form, would be:
1: Tendai Mtawarira 2: Bismarck du Plessis 3: Jannie du Plessis 4: Eben Etsebeth 5: Lood de Jager 6: Francois Louw 7: Schalk Burger 8: Duan Vermeulen (captain) 9: Fourie du Preez 10: Handre Pollard 11: Bryan Habana 12: Damian de Allende 13: Jesse Kriel 14: Cornel Hendricks 15: Willie le Roux.
John
Guest
Rugby is a young mans game, the intensity, impact, the fitness required, yes nothing wrong with a few wise old heads, but not too many.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
But how much longer can we wait harry? How much rugby has he played in the last 12 months, not much at all if any. Any games planned for the boks after pumas 2? @ hi etienne, yep its definitely late for a faf or paige but maybe nit too late as they have been in wider training squads for a while so i guess they are familiar with the system in place? I also think that your rwc pool allows you to fine tune things as you won't need to be at your ultimate best to beat your opponents. So grooming a couple of new guys before the qf is feasible. But Meyer can look at things differently and think he still has enough time to bring fdp, vic, alberts and jdv up to speed. Thats a worry. Who he picks on sat will say a lot about whixh direction he's taking.
Carlos the Argie in the USA
Guest
And lets not forget that this time, the Pumas played gallantly and did not use pathetic soccer like behaviors. Once again, I was proud of them instead of being ashamed.
RobC
Roar Guru
This is v different to Durban: - By 30', Pumas led by 15. - By 41' led by 21 points. Four tries to one It was not about fitness, at the end. Its about discipline and alertness at the start, including being alert with medics
RobC
Roar Guru
Salta: - SB lead at the end of 1H, by 3 points. Pumas scrum too good - 2H: Pumas score two quick tries, one from a power scrum - SB finishers swiftly countered with their own tries, overcoming the Pumas
Bakkies
Guest
'Indeed SA were ambushed last year, due to superior Pumas scrum and lion hearted rucking in the wet.' and in the dry in Salta where they racked up a huge lead.
mactheblack
Guest
I find it a bit galling that many people do not give Argentina credit for outplaying the Boks They have been knocking on the door of victory for a while now. The media - and fans alike - make too much of certain SA players. And that too is a problem. Handre Pollard is only 80% finished article for test rugby. He cannot handle pressure but plays well around a pack that dominates. Jean De Villiers is the most over-rated (and selfish) player - now he just needs to walk into the sunset. Victor Matfield as the article points out gives the pack no intensity. He certainly looks old when he hobbles off the field each time. Ruan Pienaar is the most over-rated scrumhalf? Can we even compare him to the likes of Aaron Smith and White of Australia? Jannie is a good scrummager - that's where it begins and ends. Poor Jesse Kriel and Damian Allende with all their talent are reduced to mere passengers because of an outdated game-plan. Boks suffer from a complete lack of inventiveness, a game plan that is devoid of any progress. It showed against the Pumas. There is enough talent in the country to give the team a complete overhaul. The only way Springboks will go forward is to sign up an overseas coach. These coaches here are stuck in a time warp! Jesse Kriel on the wing? Did Meyer not watch the previous two tests and see what he and Allende were capable of? Can understand Springbok fans' frustration? The setup is bedeviled with incorrect choices from just about every level.
Fan
Guest
Just keep doing what you are doing Springboks, your doing just fine. Bring back that positive discrimination also.
RobC
Roar Guru
Indeed SA were ambushed last year, due to superior Pumas scrum and lion hearted rucking in the wet. Which thankfully, WBs ABs had time to study before their ANZ tour. Last weekend was totally new. It was a clinical and disciplined attack regime against a team lulled by dire Pumas performances in NZ and Mendoza in previous weeks. 1'. Pumas spliced open the Bok D like a butchered beast with a fresh, new, hot blade. - An inside pass against an unwitting flanker, lock to the form Puma winger. - They misread the present danger of the Pumas. The same for the 22': - Pumas moved the Bok D around left and right. - Until the toughest guy in the park, was blown off the park. Coetzee Lood and Eben are no defensive slouches. The 30' scrum base try wasnt a ambush: - It looks like Koch was rolled out with rib issues. Was surprised how well Bull man Marcell did though, when he first arrived. - The poor thing was the sloppy pass by Kriel, and the lazy KO / catch attempt by Marcell. Leading to the scrum 41' medic try. That was ambush 2.0
JT
Guest
Heyneke Meyer needs to trim all the dead wood from the squad if we are to have any chance. Get rid of Schalk Burger, Ruan Pienaar, Victor Matfield, Jean De Villiers. They are old and ineffective. There are much younger, hungrier and more able players such as Jaco Kriel, Psdt, Faf De Klerk, Jesse Kriel And even Jacque Potgieter who should be getting game time in the correct positions and going to the World Cup instead.
superba
Guest
But half or more of this Pumas team did not play in the first two RC matches .Hardly seems a settled side on this basis .
superba
Guest
Jean Div = John Smit reincarnated for 2015 RWC .
etienne marais
Guest
In which Sevens tournament are playing ? :-)
etienne marais
Guest
"Heyneke’s is a good coach, but hamstrung by the SA public." Not so. A good coach, when successful, speaks through the score board.
etienne marais
Guest
....although it is probably too late to bring in Faf de Klerk, or Rudy Paige now. (Reinach is NOT the answer, just too inconsistent)
etienne marais
Guest
NOS, on the money on all five points. (Whereas, a month ago I would have only agreed reluctantly on Matfield, there is now very little doubt).
Harry Jones
Expert
JdV's work to get back to test rugby was incredible, and no one can take that away from him. But he should step aside. Sad.
etienne marais
Guest
No, we have just witnessed the failure of placing too much hope in the "miracle ingredient". Let's just let it go, so that we can get rid of that distractive "will-he-won't-he" energy that must have been prevailing in the squad for the past several months. The messiah must go. If JdV has the best interests of Springbok rugby at heart, he will announce his retirement from international rugby within the next 48 hours. (Like he should have...9 months ago)
Harry Jones
Expert
NoS, I agree except for FdP (gotta wait and see on that) Burger fought like a wounded lion
Harry Jones
Expert
Great point, nobrain! I noticed that too.