JdV: Keeps captain's armband
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South Africa captain Jean de Villiers will stay on as Springboks skipper after the team ended 2012 by winning all three matches on their European tour.
"I think he was a great ambassador for his country, especially off-field as well," coach Heyneke Meyer told media in Johannesburg after returning from England.
"I thought he was an awesome captain and there's no reason why he shouldn't be the captain going forward for the next year."
The Springboks beat England 16-15 at Twickenham on Saturday, after victories over Ireland (16-12) and Scotland (21-10).
The team is now ranked world number two after New Zealand following their unbeaten tour.
"We wanted to secure the number two spot in the world and with a lot of luck and a lot of commitment we've secured that," said the satisfied coach.
Meyer had taken a young team to the UK and Ireland when injuries kept more experienced players home. He had hoped the experience would also prepare players for the 2015 World Cup, which England will host.
"It's total different rugby, total different game plans and conditions and I think the players adapted well to that, if you look at more experienced sides losing away from home," he said.
South Africa is in the top four seeds for next week's 2015 World Cup draw. The other teams are New Zealand, Australia and France.
Comments
new_j4a says...
@georgesmith, yes okay, but lets get down to the really important stuff: What do you think of Deans and Sharpe?
Posted 17:28 28th November 2012
Spartacus says...
@kiwilad - rugby_rockstar may have been overstating the case for de Villiers, but Conrad Smith??? A skid mark in a long list of great NZ centres.
No probs with de Villiers being captain, just need an experienced vice captain in forwards (Smith/Burger) to handle the ref in forward matters. Sorely missed with Nigel Owens against England.
Posted 11:10 28th November 2012
Sasquatch says...
@dylbull:
Way out there? Not at all. He's the best 6 we have, he's young and he's captaining Bath. I really believe he's the best option looking forward. De Villiers is way past his prime and de Jongh needs to be there. Bear in mind that Jaque Fourie is planning a return before the next WC. There's no ways De Villiers has enough in the tank to command a place based on form alone. I agree, we cannot slip back into the Smit/ Du plessis mentality. I reckon Flo needs to be given a chance now so he gets a couple of seasons under the belt before the WC.
Posted 10:50 28th November 2012
kiwilad says...
rugby_rockstar, Ahead of Conrad Smith??? Good Drugs???
Posted 23:46 27th November 2012
Sasquatch says...
F**K. And here I was thinking we were ready to move on.
Posted 20:33 27th November 2012
rolf says...
dont worry, folks.
this is Meyers thank you for loyalty and a not convincing, yet succesful end of year tour with a B-team.
JdV is an ambassador more than a leader, he is beyond his prime and i do think, everybody knows, including himself and Meyer. He probably wont play next rugby championsjp.
Posted 20:22 27th November 2012
bokbevok says...
@ SACAnuck. The ref had made up his mind that he didn't like jannie and nothing would of changed that except taking him off which coach did at half time. I think he handled it very well never argued with ref, did smart move and went for line outs. He was talking with ref even at half time in tunnel.
He did a good job and of all the fit players he is definitely best choice, solid in defense, gets over the advantage line and made all the right calls 99.9% of the time. He deserves to be captain, think you should give better reason than should be 1 to 9 and may be have experience at captaining a side would be a start. No substance to your comment.
Posted 20:17 27th November 2012
dylbull says...
I'm not so sure about this.
He has had a good tour but he is not our best number 12
What happens when Frans Steyn is back? Does our best number 12 stay out of the team because once again our captain is there, like what happened with Bizmarck and Smit? I really do think it's time to groom the new, long term, bok captain.
This may be way out there, but I think we should look at Francois Louw as captain.
Posted 18:05 27th November 2012
NHsaints says...
a bok legend but he's past it, steyn and de jongh are the boks first choice midfield.
Posted 17:58 27th November 2012
SACanuck says...
Not a good call. For example during the test againt England when calls were going against SA in the scrum, a good captain would have been working the ref to get the 50/50 calls in his favour and not the oppositions. McCaw and Smit were/are masters of working the ref to get the 50/50 calls in his teams favour. The Captain needs to be in the 1 - 9 area close to the ref most of the time
Posted 13:23 27th November 2012
ben7 says...
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! HES SO BAD! We need 12.Steyn and 13.De Jongh
Posted 10:19 27th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Fantastic player, He owns that 13 shirt. He'd own it in a Earth XV side.
Posted 09:23 27th November 2012
georgesmith says...
A Springboks legend.
Posted 08:17 27th November 2012