Heyneke Meyer: Wants improved discipline
Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer has defended his conservative selections ahead of Saturday's Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin.
Meyer has made just two changes to his side - one of them enforced as Flip van der Merwe comes in for the suspended Eben Etzebeth.
The other change sees Francois Louw replacing Marcell Coetzee at flank, an effort which Meyer said was to negate the role of Richie McCaw.
"I've got the biggest respect for a guy like Richie McCaw," he told the New Zealand Herald.
"I think he's probably the best player to have ever played rugby. And he's a leader from the front.
"Every game has its own personality and I always feel that there are one or two big moments that can change a game.
"I must firstly say that there's a huge difference in playing the All Blacks in South Africa than playing them here.
"We don't have a good record against them in New Zealand. If you want to win then you have to be tactically astute, your defence has to be impeccable and there needs to be no soft moments in your discipline."
Meyer also tried to justify his decision to persevere with Morne Steyn at fly-half ahead of the exciting Johan Goosen and did not accept that Steyn needed to change his style of play.
"I'm a big believer that a guy should stick to his strengths," he explained.
"I think Morne is a great player in his own right and he is a guy who doesn't make a lot of mistakes.
"I don't think he should change the way he plays, I think it's more the outside backs who must use their opportunities.
"It's great to have two slightly different types of 10s because then you can play different types of games.
"Morne has done well for the Boks and I can't see why he must change.
"I believe you shouldn't push a guy like Goosen too early. Coming off the bench against Australia [on debut] I think he did well.
"But against New Zealand... he hasn't even played a test match in South Africa. We have four U20 players in our team now.
"I've always believed in bringing in youngsters but you need to bring them in slowly. I think we're on the right track with Johan and Morne there."
Comments
porridge_time says...
Richard Hill was one of the unsung heroes of the quality English side that won the 2003 World Cup. Very class operator in both the six and seven jersey, but the best player ever I don't think so.
Richie McCaw has been a consistently good performer for over a decade and if he is not the best rugby player to date then I'm not sure who actually is... because I cannot think of a Test Player who has been as consistently as good as McCaw for so long.
Posted 07:12 15th September 2012
sandal says...
@right14wing
There is a lot of give and take below the line on this website. A lot of fun, a lot of laughs, a lot of jibes. Smart comments, stupid comments.
But your "hou jou bek" takes the cake. If you can't raise the bar then don't bother coming back.
Posted 05:29 15th September 2012
Nahpoowee says...
Lol @ Martin Johnson
Posted 22:51 14th September 2012
ABlack says...
Heyneke Meyer reminds me of the one dimensional clones i have to work with who are immigrants from SA. Take them out of their comfort zone and challenge them to think and act outside the square and they come unstuck. Wont take responsibility and always blame someone else when they are the owner of the problem.
Im told by a SA colleague of mine that the Africaans people are indoctrinated with a ethos that if they fail then it brings shame to them, their family and their ancestors. So when ownership and responsibility are required to get a problem solved they refuse to accept, so problem festers and grows out out of control.
Sound familar??!!
Posted 22:28 14th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Richard Hill was certainly a great flanker but it did take a few years for him to make his mark. McCaw made his mark from test 1 man of match performance vs Ireland and has never looked back, winning about 90% of all tests played in including captaincy. As Meyer has said, "best player", not just best flanker. If not the best, he' definitely one of...
Posted 21:59 14th September 2012
Dingbat32 says...
Guys, you miss the point - I was just trying to wind up McCaw in jovial fashion. I dont give a monkeys who is better out of Hill and McCaw, but those of you showing lack of respect to Hill know NOTHING about rugby. One of the greatest players ever, and he was the best player in Englands WC winning team. And that is from someone who is not a big fan of England rugby. And by the way, like great flankers Hills number was irrelevant to his role.
Posted 14:56 14th September 2012
craigsman says...
@Kiwilad - Best player ever? Obvious - Martin Johnson ;-)
Posted 14:12 14th September 2012
celticspirit says...
@Willem: Nothing personal, but I will have to laugh at you till kick-off time tomorrow. Ok, McCaw may not be the best player ever (though well he might, too), but he would certainly have made any Springbok team in the history of the game, surely...
Posted 13:26 14th September 2012
KiwiLad says...
MartinMariais, If McCaw is not the best player of all time then who?? Meads? Carter? Eales? Farr Jones? Who???
Posted 12:37 14th September 2012
Willem says...
Meyer says Richie is the best but he would not have made the Bok side if he was a South African because Meyer believes in NOT picking the best players.
Posted 11:05 14th September 2012
right14wing says...
@Melkiwi , you forgetting a Lions tour ...... @ Sandal hou jou bek?
Posted 10:46 14th September 2012
Sharkies says...
Is this not the first game to be played after the RWC, so if not for the Bryce Lawrence debarcle this could be the semi's that never was, so manne go out there and set the record straight (fingers crossed). Just remember the game plan against England in '99 with de Beer is also an option stuff what the world thinks. Meyer is not on the field when the whistle blows, JDV you are the captain take charge and don't hold back on questioning the ref, sort yourselves out as a team and know your team mate is right behind you to take the ball and team mate you be there to back him up. Best of luck Boys
Posted 09:30 14th September 2012
Melkiwi says...
@right14wing.......since the pro era 1995 SA have won 2 world cups, 3 tri nations, 3 super titles, 1 7's world series, 4 Jnr world titles, 0 womens titles and a 63% winning record overall.
NZ 1 world cup, 10 tri nations, 11 super titles, 10 7's titles, 8 Jnr titles, 4 womens titles and a 75% winning rate overall.
So SA is still the most decorated rugby nation?
Posted 09:06 14th September 2012
melkdave says...
Well it definatly sounds like an excuse to me ,and the match hasnt been played yet.Also as some have posted its a time of transistion(susposdly)for the bokke ,so time is needed for players to gel and exacute well ect.As ive posted earlier the biggest problem for the bokke is the gameplan,as it is its ok for a basic foundation only.For it to be a wining gameplan it needs quick ball ,better running lines with offloads by all players,and to win the breakdown.Just as all the other countries are developing None of that is happening ,and being tried at all. with the boke,and NOWS the time they should be trying stuff ,in the transition phase,to find the players to exacute it Also the players that maybe able to add those facets to the gameplan ,arnt even being picked or used if picked.Im afaraid HM looks out of his depth concerning international rugby.Leicester imo had a very lucky escape when he left otherwise i can see them also being a once great club now ,if HM had continued.Instead of a still great club.
Posted 07:33 14th September 2012
sandal says...
@right14wing
You say: "" ... you may have recalled after the 95 WC that the Bokke went 18 undefeated then fell to pieces"".
What I recall is that after the 95 WC the Boks lost their next four matches against NZ, all in 96, before Derek "Rolex" Bevan got the whistle and broke the run.
As for your ""we are not the greatest decorated Rugby nation to have won all titles back to back for no reason"", I cannot imagine what fairytales you were told as a child, but I never heard that one before.
Posted 07:02 14th September 2012
kappelange says...
if McCaw isn't the best then who is?
Gareth Edwards lol no ways, ive seen some old videos of him playing and he's delivery was very poor...overrated
McCaw has had an impact on every game he has played, his been doing it for over 10 years and not even the mighty All Blacks can cope without him, he has won every trophy he has contested for and has 3 IRB player of the year awards, by far the best player to have ever played the game
Remember he dominated the game in professional era not the amateurs.
Posted 06:42 14th September 2012
tha_mai says...
Dingbat32 - no doubting Hill's abilities - but comparing a (mainly) blindside with an openside? note one has played 33 more tests, and won the IRB Player of the year 3 times, captained an RWC-winning side, one has not.
Really a pointless comparison, as is any 'best' very subjective, just as it is Meyer's opinion here he cannot state fact, no one can - akin to the Wilkinson v Carter stuff, different players doing their best in different team styles.
Match by match, see who wins on the day.
Posted 05:08 14th September 2012
Mace says...
@Dingbat32
Sorry to burst your bubble. But who the hell is Richard Hill? Cant of been that good if he hasnt won the IRB Player Of The Year 3 times!!!! And has this so called Richard Hill led his team to World Cup Glory on his home soil when the world wrote them off? Get your facts right mate other than Dan Carter i dont think anyone in the whole world will EVER compare to these 2!!! Mind you what do you expect from a clown with a user name like Dingbat hahaha...
Posted 00:39 14th September 2012
StunTheMullet says...
Hey Dingbat (number 1 rather than 32) - Richard Hill was primarily a number 6....and as the England vs. All Blacks win/loss ratio would suggest, not a particularly good one.
Posted 00:33 14th September 2012
Chubbylugs says...
Apologies, the beast played in the lions series
Posted 21:08 13th September 2012