Missed opportunity, I’d say so…
Heading into a World Cup, no coach could ever satisfy a
whole nation with every single selection made. Selections are usually based on
form, potential, versatility, experience and leadership skills.
Obviously Heyneke Meyer disappointed some fanatics with the
absence of Brussow, Kriel, Serfontein, Jantjies, Reinach and Mapoe just to name
a few, but generally he got it spot on. The squad only makes provision for 31
players and the mere fact that some guys ought to count themselves unlucky to
miss out, is an exclamation of the depth South African Rugby has. However, what
bamboozles me is Heyneke Meyer’s player and squad management…
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| Heyneke Meyer, Coach of the Springboks |
I’m not too fond of fishing, but whenever I get the opportunity
to go out with the lads and have a couple of cold ones next to the fishing
waters I jump at it. The wife probably thinks I’m the worst fisherman ever but
what she doesn’t know is that I’m not in any way interested in the fish, but
rather I keep myself busy with the “tjopping” and “dopping”, the braaing and
the laughing. If there is meat on the grill and a cold one in my hand I’m in
heaven. The best part is whenever I get home I receive some TLC from the Mrs as
she would like compensate the poor fisherman for his lack in success. As a man,
opportunity well and truly taken, which brings me to my dilemma concerning the Springboks’
starting 15 against Japan…
No team or opposition is to be underestimated, especially in
a World Cup, but there is some flaws in other teams that one has to use as an
advantage. It takes no Einstein to figure out that Japan is in no way as
physical as Samoa, and that Japan offers you a great opportunity to play
attacking rugby from set pieces that ought not to be under such immense pressure.
Playing Japan in the first round also generates the opportunity to settle in tournament
winning combinations which should have been done by now. The Springboks lack a proper
9/10 combo, and with our leader of the pack out with injury, he might be a
disruption to the centre field combination when making his return. Damien de
Allende and Jessie Kriel seemed to gel quite well in the midfield and brings
forth some promise for the future, and a combination I would have liked to keep
intact.
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| Hitoshi Ono, one of Japan's more physical forwards. |
When referring to poor player management, our props could be
used as a prime example. Jannie and Beast is seriously overplayed and I would
have reckoned that the game against the Japanese would be ideal to play the
lads better rested. Rather introduce your players coming off injury like Duane
Vermeulen and Fourie du Preez back into action against a less physical side,
and not against the Samoans who we all know loves the rough stuff. Schalk
Burger is another player who had to perform duty for 80 minutes in all 3 of the
Rugby Championship games, along with the last test against Argentina. Schalk is
one of the older players in the squad and one we ought to manage a lot better,
considering that he covers all three positions in the loose trio. Schalk could
make a significant contribution from the bench in the second 40, when the Boks
should be in a comfortable lead. Avoiding unnecessary injury is unfortunately a
necessity and Wales could surely testify.
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| Hardman, Schalk Burger |
Handre Pollard certainly had his off day during the Rugby Championship,
but so did our whole pack of forwards, not to mention Ruan Pienaar. Continuity in
Pollard would have had him growing in confidence and playing with the master on
his inside supporting him, who knows…
No one really knows in what form Fourie du Preez is, but for
Meyer to stick with him we could only assume that Fourie still has the goods
and I can’t wait to see what a inform Fourie du Preez does for the performance
of a young talented Handre Pollard. Personally I can only see Pollard flourishing
in that combination.
Zane Kirtchner proved against Argentina that Heyneke Meyer has reason to have faith in his abilities, and
ultimately justifies his inclusion, but once again I would have preferred a quicker,
more running, less kicking fullback such as Willie le Roux or Patrick Lambie to
face Japan. Zane will be perfectly suited for the Samoan game, but they bring different
challenges to the table. Willie is in my opinion a much better rugby player
than he is a fullback, and in saying so, I imply that against opposition with a
well structured kicking game, Willie would be better off playing on the wing, entering
the flyhalve channel as often as possible without the rest of the team
dependant on him to cover the back. All that said, and with all due respect to
Mr. Eddie Jones, I doubt that the Japanese consist of a kicking game capable of
bringing the Bokke’s dreams and aspirations to an halt, and therefore I would
have not gone with Kirchner for our round one opener.
My final question towards Heyneke Meyer’s starting 15 is
Jean de Villiers’ starting position. De Villiers is a capable player and a phenomenal
leader, and I don’t question his inclusion, but would have loved to see the
midfield combination of De Allende and Kriel to continue. Though Jean has lost
a heck load of speed, he has played on the wing for South Africa more times
than I can care to remember and I believe he has the experience not to let the
team down. It’s easier to compensate speed on the wing and this will also give
Jean a head start on regaining some lost form and confidence.
The World Cup has become a marathon and is in no way a
sprint. Our preparation prior to the WC
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| Japan's national Rugby Coach, Eddie Jones |
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