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Heyneke taking “ugly” too far?

November 25, 2012 in International, Rugby, Springboks

Tags: all blacks, argentina, australia, england, heyneke meyer, ireland, patrick lambie, rugby championship, scotland

It was a tough year for the Springboks. Something that the results of 7 wins from 12 can confirm. The 7 wins include 3 wins over England, 1 win over Australia, 1 win over Argentina and a win against each of Ireland and Scotland.

Having drawn the third test against an injury depleted England side in June, flying over now with our own spate of injuries and unsatisfactory Rugby Championship results, I’ll admit, I didn’t think we’d win even 1 match on tour. But the Springboks pulled it through and comes home with a clean slate on the tour of the UK. I’d guess congratulations is in order.

But none of the wins, save for the win against Australia at Loftus, was really something to get excited about. Uninspiring backline play with a lack of oomph! and creative skills was an earmark of this year’s campaign.

But a win is a win, be that by 1 point or by 20. In fact, the win results this year averages on a scoreline of 24-14. What Heyneke Meyer said earlier this year is that he’d rather take an ugly win over a pretty loss.

Considering the way the Springboks were playing this season though, focussing on forward dominance with the forwards hogging more than half the ball between them and the scrumhalf, is Heyneke not perhaps taking this “ugly win” thing a bit too far?

by Met uysh

Springbok’s forward approach smothering the game?

November 20, 2012 in International, Rugby, Springboks

35 Comments »

Tags: all blacks, australia, currie cup, Dan Carter, duane vermeulen, heyneke meyer, ireland, kurtley beale, morne steyn, new zealand, northern hemisphere, patrick lambie, pierre spies, piri weepu, rugby, rugby championship, scotland, sports, springboks, statistics

20 more phases then Ruan will pass the ball to us….

Heyneke Meyer has done very little this year to confirm the belief the Springbok supporters had in him, when he was announced to take over from Peter de Villiers as Springbok coach.

The record shows that to date, the Springboks won 6 matches from the 11 tests to date, a success rate of 54.5%. It seems quite average, in fact, poor, for someone who stated publicly that he believes in only one kind of Rugby: Winning Rugby. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

SARU at centre of Bok inexperience

November 12, 2012 in International, Rugby, Rugby Championship, Springboks

21 Comments »

Tags: 2012, all blacks, australia, championship, Dan Carter, england, experience, fatigue, heyneke meyer, ireland, jean de villiers, Johan goosen, john smit, june tests, morne steyn, patrick lambie, peter de viliiers, richie mccaw, rugby, scotland, springboks, super rugby, victor matfield, world cup, world cup 2011

The Springboks are still being haunted by SARU’s inability to create stability and consistency within the Springbok Management ranks.

This is what one can conclude when looking at the current lack of depth available in the Springbok squad as compared to arch rivals, New Zealand.

Lack of experience was the major excuse ringing in our ears like a broken record when Meyer’s troops failed to deliver during the Rugby Championship, and New Zealand who seemed to have lost lots of experience too in some key positions stormed to an undefeated victory of the Rugby Championship, winning all their matches. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Why should Mujati get a passport?

November 9, 2012 in International, Rugby, Rugby Championship, Springboks

15 Comments »

Tags: beast, brian mujati, eligibility, england, government, heyneke meyer, irb, ireland, lions, mtwarirra, mujati, northampton saints, passport, south africa, springboks, stormers, tour

Guys, wanna catch a Mujati Beer?

I haven’t blogged for a while. Been quite busy (yes, I actually DO have a job!) and nothing really inspired me to write something…until now.

I will say from the onset that I have always been pro-Mujati coming back to SA for the Springboks. He is a great talent and it was a wry pity that he left and the circumstances under which he left was just as pitiful. Read the rest of this entry →

by Met uysh

Pressure mounting on Heyneke

October 21, 2012 in Currie Cup, Rugby, Rugby Championship, Springboks

8 Comments »

Tags: bulls, currie cup, elton jantjies, england, heyneke meyer, ireland, Johan goosen, lions, morne steyn, northern hemisphere, patrick lambie, rugby championship, sharks, springboks, tour

With Johan Goosen out for the season, and based on his Rugby Championship selections, Meyer has only two options left at flyhalf for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere tour: Elton Jantjies and Morne Steyn.

After his form left alot to be desired during the RC, Morne was left to rest and refocus, while Goosen and Jantjies took up the reigns at flyhalf. Last week Morne showed some good form, but last night again, his team’s lack of ability to dominate left him with very little chance to get into any sort of rhythm.

Elton Jantjies’ performance with the boot last night was not enough to give anyone comfort that he will have what it takes on the big stage. Given that it was a crunch game, his lack of conversions shows on a lack of BMT on his part, something that’s been questioned in the past.

So, despite the apparent wealth of flyhalves we thought we had in South Africa, we have an off form player in desperate need of rest and re-focus, an injury prone, talented youngster who is on crutches until next year, and an inexperienced, talented youngster who seems to freeze on the big stage. Read the rest of this entry →