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The South African perspective on Englands summer tour
by Biltong
For Heyneke Meyer this may not be the easiest way to start his tenure as Springbok coach.
He has but a week to prepare his team and has already divided opinion on first impression when he surrounded himself with the Bulls assistant coaches on the whole and his squad selection has a decidedly blue tinge to it.
Suprisingly there were only 3 players from the leading Franchise in Super rugby (The Stormers) in his squad, with the Bulls (predictably) and the Sharks with the majority of players making up his squad.
Due to injuries to Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Duane Vermeulen and Jean Deysel, Meyer will lose a lot in terms of physicality in the forward pack and apart from having his first choice front row available, the rest of the pack will be decidedly inexperienced.
What will he want to achieve with this tour? Well simply put a loss a won’t do, the South African rugby public is not very forgiving and the first criticism he will face if he loses a test match will be that his team is too blue.
But having only a week to prepare his squad does mean he will have to make some very important decisions.
He has but a week to prepare his team and has already divided opinion on first impression when he surrounded himself with the Bulls assistant coaches on the whole and his squad selection has a decidedly blue tinge to it.
Suprisingly there were only 3 players from the leading Franchise in Super rugby (The Stormers) in his squad, with the Bulls (predictably) and the Sharks with the majority of players making up his squad.
Due to injuries to Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Duane Vermeulen and Jean Deysel, Meyer will lose a lot in terms of physicality in the forward pack and apart from having his first choice front row available, the rest of the pack will be decidedly inexperienced.
What will he want to achieve with this tour? Well simply put a loss a won’t do, the South African rugby public is not very forgiving and the first criticism he will face if he loses a test match will be that his team is too blue.
But having only a week to prepare his squad does mean he will have to make some very important decisions.
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The South African team:
Coaching panel: Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer Assistant coach: Rassie Erasmus Forward coach: Johan van Graan Backs coach: Ricardo Loubscher Defence coach: John McFarland Kicking coach: Louis Koen Scrum coach: Pieter de Villiers |
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Props: Tendai Mtiwarira (Sharks), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Jannie du Plessis (Sharks), Werner Kruger (Bulls)
Hookers: Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Chiliboy Ralapelle (Bulls)
Locks: Franco v d Merwe (Lions), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Juandre Kruger (Bulls), Flip v d Merwe (Bulls)
Loose Forwards: Keegan Daniel (Sharks), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)
Half Backs: Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Jano Vermaak (Bulls)
Fly-Halfs: Morne Steyn (Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Centres: JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
Wingers: Bryan Habana (Stormers), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Bulls)
Full Backs: Zane Kirchner (Bulls)
Utility backs: Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Frans Steyn (Sharks), Patrick Lambie (Sharks).
The big question is how will Heyneke Meyer employ his utility backs, they have never played for him before, so there is no way of knowing his intentions with them.
His game plan is clear, control with the forwards, control the game from the boot and play territory, take the points on offer and when relentless pressure provides an opportunity to score a try without too much risk involved, they’ll take it. Problem with this theory though is execution. It doesn’t seem that Meyer is too concerned with what the English will bring to the party, he expects his team to execute his plan to perfection.
So what will his team look like? You need to think conservative, you need to think as many experienced players as possible, with perhaps a tinge of experience where necessary.
Hookers: Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Chiliboy Ralapelle (Bulls)
Locks: Franco v d Merwe (Lions), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Juandre Kruger (Bulls), Flip v d Merwe (Bulls)
Loose Forwards: Keegan Daniel (Sharks), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), Pierre Spies (Bulls), Jacques Potgieter (Bulls), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)
Half Backs: Francois Hougaard (Bulls), Jano Vermaak (Bulls)
Fly-Halfs: Morne Steyn (Bulls), Elton Jantjies (Lions)
Centres: JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls), Jean de Villiers (Stormers), Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
Wingers: Bryan Habana (Stormers), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Bjorn Basson (Bulls)
Full Backs: Zane Kirchner (Bulls)
Utility backs: Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Frans Steyn (Sharks), Patrick Lambie (Sharks).
The big question is how will Heyneke Meyer employ his utility backs, they have never played for him before, so there is no way of knowing his intentions with them.
His game plan is clear, control with the forwards, control the game from the boot and play territory, take the points on offer and when relentless pressure provides an opportunity to score a try without too much risk involved, they’ll take it. Problem with this theory though is execution. It doesn’t seem that Meyer is too concerned with what the English will bring to the party, he expects his team to execute his plan to perfection.
So what will his team look like? You need to think conservative, you need to think as many experienced players as possible, with perhaps a tinge of experience where necessary.
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Likely starting 22 for the first test.
Beast Mtwarira Bismarck du Plessis Jannie du Plessis (although I wouldn’t be surprised if Werner Kruger gets the nod) Flip v d Merwe Juandre Kruger Marcel Coetzee Willem Alberts Pierre Spies Francois Hougaard Morne steyn Bryan Habana Jean de Villiers Frans Steyn JP Pietersen Patrick Lambie Bench Chilliboy Ralapelle Coenie Oosthuizen Werner Kruger Eben Etzebeth Keegan Daniel Ruan Pienaar Zane Kirchner |
Key Players
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The Key indviduals for execution of his plan will undoubtedly be Morne Steyn with his tactical kicking and accuracy at the goal posts, Habana and Pietersen in chasing the high ball and Jean de Villiers to organise the defences. Up front it will be the Beast and Bismarck who will make life difficult for the English.
It is unclear at this stage who his captain will be, but don’t look much further than Jean de Villiers. As for the youngsters, expect to see Marcell Coetzee running the ball into the traffic and around the forward pack at every opportunity, expect Juandre Kruger to establish himself as a prime candidate to lead the SA line out for the next four years. The English will have their hands full with young Eben Etzebeth, but most importantly, the individual moments of brilliance will come from Frans Steyn, Francois Hougaard and Patrick Lambie. This series result will depend on how quickly Heyneke Meyer can get a relatively inexperienced pack of forwards to dominate play, and how well the Back line executes his plan. It should get easier as the series progresses, in my view, a likely 2-1 series win for South Africa. To discuss this further with our members, please visit the 606v2 forum here (c) Copyright 606v2 2012. Please do not reproduce without permission |