Heyneke Meyer and Springbok titbits.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa have prepared harder than ever for a busy international season which includes consecutive home matches against Scotland, Italy and Samoa, coach Heyneke Meyer said on Monday.
The team have completed a two-day training camp in Cape Town and Meyer said he was now much more aware of the challenges ahead for the team than at the same stage last year when he first took over.
"This is the best I have ever prepared a team, we have had coaching camps and I have been all over the world studying teams," he told reporters.
"Over the last three or four months we have looked at everything, we have been through every single breakdown.
"We are in a much better place at this stage than last year. We have never prepared like this, it is now a matter of getting it through to the players.
"We have been sending stuff out to them already and I am excited to see the response from them."


Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has a five-point plan he believes will ensure South Africa obtains the No.1 ranking in the world, with the breakdown top of his list of priorities.

Speaking at the conclusion of day two of his first national training camp of the year, Meyer said this is the best he has ever been prepared for a team.

He has already made a presentation to the board of the South African Rugby Union on how to solve the Boks' breakdown blues.

"We have looked at the stats and South Africa is not the best in the world in any area [of the game] at this stage," Meyer said.

"I know the World Cup is always a 50/50 situation, but I feel if you want to be the best team in the world year in and year out there are at least five areas in which you need to be the best in the world."

Having dispatched his assistant coaches to the various South African Super Rugby franchises, Meyer has already seen a marked improvement on the defensive front.

"The reason the Cheetahs are playing better rugby - they have always been brilliant at attacking - is because suddenly they are winning games by two or three points through defence," Meyer said.

"A lot of the coaches must get credit for that [improved] defensive efforts.

"I have also seen some good attacking play.

"We have worked on some things with the franchises where we want to improve our attack and there has been a few great tries. All the teams, at certain stages, have played great rugby.

"I just believe, and it has been a big focus with the franchises, we need to get our breakdown sorted.

"In the past we were brilliant at the breakdown - we always had big guys, but our technique has gone behind [other countries]. If we can get our breakdown sorted, I really believe our attack will get better. If we get quick ball, we have big players and great backs, we will be destroying teams with our attack.

"We have seen that coming through in certain games."

Five critical areas

He said that "in due course" he will set out his five critical areas for this year.

"We have plans in place for every single area," Meyer told a media scrum, adding: "From that point of view we are much better prepared.

"Last year this time most of my assistants were still coaching in Super Rugby. Now we had three, four months where we went through every single breakdown, every single thing we've done before."

Meyer reiterated that South Africa are "way behind" the rest of the world and there needs to be a huge focus on the breakdown.

"We have looked at every aspect and I believe we have never been this [well] prepared for any team I have coached before.

"It is now a matter of getting that across to the players."

Meyer said they will use the internet to send information to the players.

"Even before this camp we already sent stuff to them," he said, adding: "We are busy with many initiatives to get information to the players that will save us time.

"Last year many of the assistants were mostly at the Bulls and players were hesitant to open up to them. Now the players are also much more open.

"We had one-on-ones with all the players and all the coaches and they are sharing more information with the other [assistant] coaches. We are in a much better place at this sage, but we still have to put it into action and win that first Test - then we can get momentum from there on."

He said there are a few "interesting" things they looked at and want to try.

"I am quite positive that we will play some great rugby this year as well."

Brought back to his plan of action for the addressing the breakdown issue, Meyer said he has already done a presentation to the Saru board and have a few plans of action in place.

"We are going to have a huge drive towards the breakdown and one or two areas later.

"They [the Saru board] haven't made a final decision on that, but I am quite excited that we will fix the breakdown and soon [we] will be the best in the world at the breakdown.

"There is a plan worked out for the breakdown in the franchises with the coaching staff and maybe one or two consultants as well."

So you want to fix your breakdown but you choose yet to be capped ball carriers over Brussow... who looks to be back on form again?

FA this is what irritates the hell out of me, Meyer wants players that don't have the right skillsets to solve his issues.

It comes to selection.

Take Willie le Roux as another example, if you want a more creative backline, then why don't you select the players such as Willie le Roux who will do that for you, you can't change the plan if you don't have the right selections.

lets look at the backrow

Kankowski - No8
Alberts - Blindside/No8
Vermuleun - No8
Spies - No8
Kolisi - Blindside (he may play openside but openside he is not).
Botha - Blindside/No8
Coetzee - Openside

Looks a bit lop sided wouldn't you say? If you want to sort out your breakdown look at guys like Brussow, Daniel and Potgeiter.

Kankowski - No8
Alberts - Blindside/No8
Vermuleun - No8
Spies - No8
Kolisi - Blindside (he may play openside but openside he is not).
Botha - Blindside/No8
Coetzee - Openside


Well your first challenge is to find a balance amongst them.

Johan Louw and Vermeulen are decent at pilfering, as a pair they combined quite well last year, the only other real pilferer is Brussow, but too small to Meyer's liking.

So when you look at having a balance of power, bulk, pace, work rate, ball carrying etc.

Alberts can do the grunt work, but he isn't out and out the best defender, he does tend to slip off tackles now and then, you would most likely class him as a ball carrier with bulk.

Kankowski has skills, but he is lighweight and not a pilferer, if you pick him you need grunt, as in alberts, but neither of them are specilaist defenders.

Spies is in the same mould as Kankowski, however he doesn't offload, and likes open spaces,

Botha is out of the equation.

Coetzee is a bruiser like Alberts, hard worker in defence, but not effectively a pilferer and no ball skills either.

Vermeulen can pilfer, can drive, can defend and is a decent line out option.

so of all the number 8's provide the most balance.

Between Kolisi and and Coetzee my choice is Kolisi.

For me out of those that are currently in the picture and fit.

6. Kolisi
7. alberts
8. Vermeulen.

That provides the hard graft of kolisi and Vermeulen on defence, the battering ram in Alberts, the skills of Kolisi and line out of Alberts and Vermeulen, with the pilfering combo of Kolisi and Vermeulen.

At least then there is grunt, pace, power and skill amongst our backrow.

fa0019 wrote:So you want to fix your breakdown but you choose yet to be capped ball carriers over Brussow... who looks to be back on form again?

I was about to say the exact same ting FA0019. Brussouw has got to be one of the best breakdown technicians in the world, and his constant omission confuses me. SA seem to be choosing brute backrows as opposed to balanced ones who can compete at the breakdown. Brussouw is a jackal, and I think that is what SA are missing at the moment.

As much as I'm a WP man... I think Kolisi is limited. He's all heart and we love him for that but his skill set is quite poor.

He is a tackling machine don't get me wrong... I think only CJ Stander was a better tackler last year in terms of tackles completed (yep Munster you snatched a good'n) but he's poor going forward and is poor on the floor.

He does have an amazing engine though... he never seems to tire so perhaps his breakdown skills will improve.... but the problem is he gets overpowered a lot.... he's quite small yet not as powerful as a guy like Brussow.

bluestonevedder wrote:

fa0019 wrote:So you want to fix your breakdown but you choose yet to be capped ball carriers over Brussow... who looks to be back on form again?

I was about to say the exact same ting FA0019. Brussouw has got to be one of the best breakdown technicians in the world, and his constant omission confuses me. SA seem to be choosing brute backrows as opposed to balanced ones who can compete at the breakdown. Brussouw is a jackal, and I think that is what SA are missing at the moment.

Meyer told him he was too small last season... he was badly out of form mind at the time. But he's more polished then Kolisi who is in the squad and of similar size (albeit not as strong... which is a big negative for an openside).

"Coetzee is a bruiser like Alberts, hard worker in defence, but not effectively a pilferer and no ball skills either."

Biltong - Isn't Coetzee a fantastic offloader? That was my perception of him.

I thought he looked like an amazing prospect based on what little I have seen of him.

fa0019 wrote:As much as I'm a WP man... I think Kolisi is limited. He's all heart and we love him for that but his skill set is quite poor.

He is a tackling machine don't get me wrong... I think only CJ Stander was a better tackler last year in terms of tackles completed (yep Munster you snatched a good'n) but he's poor going forward and is poor on the floor.

He does have an amazing engine though... he never seems to tire so perhaps his breakdown skills will improve.... but the problem is he gets overpowered a lot.... he's quite small yet not as powerful as a guy like Brussow.

Not as powerful as Brussow?


Geez mate, did you see how he never goes back in contact?

Have you seen his vision and his ability to pass or offload?

Hell I wish we had 6 of him.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:"Coetzee is a bruiser like Alberts, hard worker in defence, but not effectively a pilferer and no ball skills either."

Biltong - Isn't Coetzee a fantastic offloader? That was my perception of him.

I thought he looked like an amazing prospect based on what little I have seen of him.

Rory, the day Coetzee makes an offload (and I am not talking of a pathetic attempt) Is the day I throw a party. This season I have seen 1 decent offload from him, and he has only attempted 3.

1 out of 3 ain't bad....maybe he should just try in more often...

Biltong wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:"Coetzee is a bruiser like Alberts, hard worker in defence, but not effectively a pilferer and no ball skills either."

Biltong - Isn't Coetzee a fantastic offloader? That was my perception of him.

I thought he looked like an amazing prospect based on what little I have seen of him.

Rory, the day Coetzee makes an offload (and I am not talking of a pathetic attempt) Is the day I throw a party. This season I have seen 1 decent offload from him, and he has only attempted 3.

Read this. They do say Wikipedia can be edited by anyone!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcell_Coetzee

I guess this is entirely false? I thought he had a good offloading game, though I haven't seen him at all this season.

He durren't want to offload.

He has offloading skills that have been likened to those of Sonny Bill Williams.

And finally




someone is taking the mickey on Wiki.

Maybe Keegan Daniel can teach him a few things then! Who really is an exceptionally skilful player any time I have seen him.

Either that or Biltong throws really good parties and he forgets he ever had them!

................I must have lost time.



What is that movie where the altar boy is in Jail and Richard Gere is his lawyer?

I find targeting the breakdown puzzling from Meyer. Is this just a smokescreen? I think back to the test in Dunedin for example and SA won the breakdown battle that day. For much of the game in Soweto as well.

Where they were let down was their kicking game (as in kicking needlessly possession away) and their defence in their backs particularly in the centre channel.

I don't have too much memory of the games against Oz or Argentina but of all the areas to improve, the breakdown would not be at the top of my list of priorities or warrant powerpoint presentations. As alluded to above though, top of my list would be offloads and drawing the man, straightening the line - basics in attacking play.

What is he on about trying to win the breakdown. He's right to single out the defence of the Cheetahs but only if you think their attack is a given. What worries me is he seems to think that defence and stealing possession are the ways to getting SA back to number one in the rankings rather than varying their attack more and being a bit smarter with their possession.

He's never been so prepared. Me thinks he's never spouted so much dung before is closer to the truth.

When did SA last play a proper openside outside of the 09 ELV crazy test year anyhow?

Well he did mention in another article that he is concerned with the fact that our attack is not improving, can't remember where I read it though.

The problem once again is he doesn't select the right players.

For me SA will be successful if they start thinking about the following.

We need skillful 8, 9, 10, and 12.

For me they are the links between firstly forwards and back, but also from 9 your playmakers.


i was having this discussion with a Bulls supporter (Yeah I know that is hard to believe), about SA Franchises' midfields.

The Sharks have either Meyer Bosman or Frans Steyn at 12, neither of them are really play makers (well Frans can be when he is in form), but they have Paul Jordaan at 13, and is using him as a battering ram when he is in fact the skllful one. He should be at 12 next to Lambie.

The Stormers have Jean de Villiers at 12 and Juan de Jongh at 13, again it should be the other way around.

The Bulls have Englebrecht at 12, and Jan Serfonetin at 13, who is the most skillfull, Serfontein, so he should be at 12.

And then lastly looking at the Cheetahs, they have their most skillful center at 12, Why? because form there he can influence play.

So you want a creative 10, 12 combination with a halfback that cleans rucks quickly. But we don't have that.

fa0019 wrote:When did SA last play a proper openside outside of the 09 ELV crazy test year anyhow?

We played Brussow in the RWC 2011, but he got taken out by Horwill.

Biltong wrote:

fa0019 wrote:When did SA last play a proper openside outside of the 09 ELV crazy test year anyhow?

We played Brussow in the RWC 2011, but he got taken out by Horwill.

PDV was the coach at the time. Someone didn't tell him abot the rules change in 2010. D'oh.

Brussow aside... who was the last regular "genuine" openside?

That's the key for me Biltong. Your 9, 10, 12, 13 axis. The backrow needs proper balance and you need players like Tipuric showed in the 6N who can link up with the players out wide. But the key problem area is that inside channel for the Bok attack in both defence and attack. Selecting the right players but being bold in those selections instead of stop gap measures like De Villiers. I'm going to check if he has an offload like SBW on Wikipedia as well.

well it was Schalk, but as you know, he liked brusing players more than taking their toys away.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:That's the key for me Biltong. Your 9, 10, 12, 13 axis. The backrow needs proper balance and you need players like Tipuric showed in the 6N who can link up with the players out wide. But the key problem area is that inside channel for the Bok attack in both defence and attack. Selecting the right players but being bold in those selections instead of stop gap measures like De Villiers. I'm going to check if he has an offload like SBW on Wikipedia as well.

I suspect the same person that rates Coetzee's offload would liken de Villiers to Horan.

yeah, hardly a openside though, more a genuine crash test dummy.

Biltong wrote:................I must have lost time.



What is that movie where the altar boy is in Jail and Richard Gere is his lawyer?

Primal Fear! Cracker.

bluestonevedder wrote:

Biltong wrote:................I must have lost time.



What is that movie where the altar boy is in Jail and Richard Gere is his lawyer?

Primal Fear! Cracker.

that's it, excellent movie, good actor that guy, can't remember his name though.

Biltong wrote:Well he did mention in another article that he is concerned with the fact that our attack is not improving, can't remember where I read it though.

The problem once again is he doesn't select the right players.

For me SA will be successful if they start thinking about the following.

We need skillful 8, 9, 10, and 12.

For me they are the links between firstly forwards and back, but also from 9 your playmakers.


i was having this discussion with a Bulls supporter (Yeah I know that is hard to believe), about SA Franchises' midfields.

The Sharks have either Meyer Bosman or Frans Steyn at 12, neither of them are really play makers (well Frans can be when he is in form), but they have Paul Jordaan at 13, and is using him as a battering ram when he is in fact the skllful one. He should be at 12 next to Lambie.

The Stormers have Jean de Villiers at 12 and Juan de Jongh at 13, again it should be the other way around.

The Bulls have Englebrecht at 12, and Jan Serfonetin at 13, who is the most skillfull, Serfontein, so he should be at 12.

And then lastly looking at the Cheetahs, they have their most skillful center at 12, Why? because form there he can influence play.

So you want a creative 10, 12 combination with a halfback that cleans rucks quickly. But we don't have that.

Ebersohn has been fantastic since moving inside to 12. Sadly I think there is more chance of hell freezing over than Meyer selecting him there.

Yeah, Meyer has already said De Villiers is his captain, however he did include Ebesohn in his training squad which was held over the last three days, he has also included Jan Serfontein, but as you say, unlikely to get capped ahead of de Villiers

Goosen, Ebersohn, Serfontein.... now thats a 10-12-13 combo if I ever saw one.... Perhaps on the light side mind. Very un-south african thats for sure.

Biltong wrote:

bluestonevedder wrote:

Biltong wrote:................I must have lost time.



What is that movie where the altar boy is in Jail and Richard Gere is his lawyer?

Primal Fear! Cracker.

that's it, excellent movie, good actor that guy, can't remember his name though.

Ed Norton is the lad, brilliant actor. Think maybe it launched his career to be honest. Oscar worthy performance, but missed out to Cuba Gooding Jr for Jerry Macquire can you believe it?!

BB - do you think the Kings could have got 1 or 2 players in the squad?? I don't think they've done that bad considering... they have talent there.

I think they may just do it also and stay up.... all this battle hardened victories is going to be difficult for the lions to re-create. Shame on the lions but if PE can continue to bring in the crowds and pack their stadium then from a financial perspective they will be seen as a viable longterm option.

FA, I think the Kings backrow should get a look at and also Catrakilis.

I wouldn't mindthose frontwoers to have lookin either.

Catrakilis looks a very decent player. Very calm head, decent distributor (remember De Jongh's try in the CC final last year) and a kicking percentage of >80%.

And then Meyer picks Jantjies.

Biltong wrote:Yeah, Meyer has already said De Villiers is his captain, however he did include Ebesohn in his training squad which was held over the last three days, he has also included Jan Serfontein, but as you say, unlikely to get capped ahead of de Villiers

If JP Pietersen is back from injury why doesn't Meyer make him captain and put DeV out to pasture? Seems like he doesn't want inexperience through the 10, 12, 13 axis but sometimes these makeshift captains in the name of experience hurt your side a lot more. No way you can tell me he warrants selection if you take the captaincy out of the equation.

JP is not captain material. He's a great player though.

I'd throw it to Bismarck myself... or Strauss until Bismarck is back.

I beg to differ. Look at what he did for the Sharks last year. He leads by example. He's more of an inspiration than JDV that's for sure. Burger is an even better option if he's fully fit.

But I think a player like Bismarck who will be around for a while is a good call.

Kia, problem with JP is he isn't the brightest plug in the enjin block.

He can't even remember the names of the opponents he plays. Besides I would rather have him inspir by his play than trying to Gee up players

My ideal captain is Adriaan Strauss who is playing amazing rugby and has been for a while. Best hooker in the world currently.

This risks leaving Bismark on the bench which he might not accept again.

I'd also be happy if Muller was recalled from Ulster as we are thin on locks and he makes the team on merrit and is a great captain. Unfortunately he has had injury issues of late and I question whether he will be around come 2015.

Once again, what a shame Juan Smith had to call it a day.

Yes, Juan Smit would have been an inspirational leader, and I agree with Max, Strauss would be a good choice.

Ok fair enough. Hope he plays as well as Burger and Bisnarck as they are some of my favourite players for SA. As you can tell JDV is not!

The thing that worries me the most is that every coach that gets a tenure of 4 years has roughly 50 tests to make his mark.

Last year Meyer worked on his forwards which was to be expected as we have lost our entire back row and locks, this year should be the year where he works on his backline. If he doesn't do it this year, then he will not have enough time to build a squad for 2015.

The reality s we don't have a settled half back because he stuck with Ruan Pienaar last year.

There are a plethora of youngsters who are candidates, Sarel Pretorius, Chad Mcleod, Frnacois Hougaard, Reinach, Piet v Zyl etc.

Flyhalf is a bit of a conuncdrum because Goosen is injured and Morne is (thankfully) moving to Japan. This leaves Lambie and Jantjies with Catrakilis making waves as well.

Inside center he has guys like Jan Serfontein, Paul Jordaan and Robert Ebersohn who are all begging to be taken notice of.

There is also Johan Sadie and JJ Engelbrecht who promise some thing.

At wing we have Raymond Rhule, Willie le Roux and a few others making waves.

Of the old guard the only ones I see are going to be around in two years is Frans Steyn and JP Pietersen.

Meyer needs to build his backline now, so that these youngsters will have at least 25 tests experience come RWC 2015.

The way it is going now, we won't have any talented "new age" players with experience and no RWC to boot.

Bismarck when fit just brushes Strauss aside. He is the ultimate dog of war....a pro era Brian Moore on steroids (not that I'm suggesting Bismarck of anything).

Strauss does lead very well though.

If Burger can get back though he would be the ideal choice... a lot of players look up to him.... but I think his time is up internationally. First a year long injury, then another injury just before the season starts and then meningitis... its the beginning of the slippery slope of a test players 30s.

I don't think we will have Burger back for any length of time again FA.

The man is broken from all his Kamikaze moves.

This will get me in trouble with a few people bu I have never been he biggest Burger fan. He gives away 6 points a match in penalties and would always take contact rather than pass or run at the gap oftn isolating himself and getting turned over (Australias try in the last RWC against SA in the quarters comes to mind). He is the typical too much brawn not enough brains Bok player that I am tired of watching. Even during the 07 RWC I would have preferred Wikus van Heerden starting ahead of Schalk.

Now after injuries etc I wan him in the team even less

how about this for a RWC15 side?

Kitsoff
Du Plessis
Oosthuizen
Etzebeth
Du Toit
Alberts
Burger
Vermeulen
van Zyl
Goosen
Petersen
Steyn
Serfontein
Pietersen
Taute

Perhaps the backrow looks a little out of balance. Maybe Botha or Coetzee to come in somewhere or even Frans Louw.

Petersen may be small but he's quick... probably has the gas on Habana in his hayday... Petersen ran 10.5 when he was 16.... he would be close to medalling at the junior worlds with those times.. and his times are ratified by the IAAF rather then many players who are just stopwatched by a coach at their club. Not everything I know but he's already decent and only 18.

MMaaxx wrote:This will get me in trouble with a few people bu I have never been he biggest Burger fan. He gives away 6 points a match in penalties and would always take contact rather than pass or run at the gap oftn isolating himself and getting turned over (Australias try in the last RWC against SA in the quarters comes to mind). He is the typical too much brawn not enough brains Bok player that I am tired of watching. Even during the 07 RWC I would have preferred Wikus van Heerden starting ahead of Schalk.

Now after injuries etc I wan him in the team even less

Wikus van Heerdan.... you're right, you're not a Schalk fan!!!!

fa0019 wrote:how about this for a RWC15 side?

Kitsoff
Du Plessis
Oosthuizen
Etzebeth
Du Toit
Alberts
Burger
Vermeulen
van Zyl
Goosen
Petersen
Steyn
Serfontein
Pietersen
Taute

Perhaps the backrow looks a little out of balance. Maybe Botha or Coetzee to come in somewhere or even Frans Louw.

Petersen may be small but he's quick... probably has the gas on Habana in his hayday... Petersen ran 10.5 when he was 16.... he would be close to medalling at the junior worlds with those times.. and his times are ratified by the IAAF rather then many players who are just stopwatched by a coach at their club. Not everything I know but he's already decent and only 18.

Steyn at 15 and Jordaan in at 12, and Rhule at 11.