Do not fret!

There is light! Look closer and there is light, do not fret…

Lets not get it twisted, the Boks got smashed on Saturday by a supreme All Black side

It reminded me of the pre-Bulls-success era where the Australasian tactic against South African teams was to take the early heat, wait for them to get tired then change gears. Now I am not saying Meyer’s Springbok team has declined a decade, because it has not, but what this illustrates to us is how good this All Black team is and moreso the challenge that lays before not only Meyer and the players, but South African Rugby as a whole.

If you look at that All Black side, they were not missing much, ir was their first choice for most of the 22. They have been settled for about two and a half years now and it showed. Their systems are in place, Hansen has not changed a World Cup winning formula and the trust and support shown in defence and attack is to be marvelled at. What struck me was how clinical and patient they were. When they were on the ropes in the first quarter, but they never panicked, they made mistakes but one never had the idea that the Boks were going to run away with them. And when the Boks missed a tackle, they pounced with deadly accuracy.

So how bad were the Boks and could they have done better? Maybe if the team and defensive structures were in place for longer and the team was together for longer, it could have been different. But what was evident was that the team could not maintain the dominance it showed in the opening quarter. The side is bursting at the seams with talent, but not with pedigree. For the first time in a long time some rebuilding needs to be done, not a lot but just a little. Also if one looks at who was not available (or has made little contribution this year for one or other reason) for Meyer on Saturday, it is quite frightening how much a difference it could have made: Guthro Steenkamp, Bismarck Du Plessis, CJ Van Der Linde, Chilli-Boy Ralapelle, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussouw, Pierre Spies, Siya Kolisi, Fourie Du Preez, Morne Steyn, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie, Juan De Jongh, Gio Aplon, Pat Lambie, Bjorn Basson and JP Pietersen. With the exception of the locks, that is a full starting line-up with reserves! One then finds the pedigree that might have just got the Boks over the line when they had the opportunity to win all three away games and sustain the effort that was made in the first quarter in Soweto. So there is clearly an argument that the Boks were playing largely a second choice line-up on Saturday.

So as much as one would say no to bringing back the old guard, it does not have to mean that they are present when the squad is named for the 2015 World Cup. This experience should not be thrown away and will not be by Meyer. Granted most of the players previously mentioned will still be in their prime years and more than capable of holding their own if they stay in form. So with all things considered, we should feel lucky the hiding was not worse. And moreso, the experience that the youngsters have gained over the last nine matches.

There are few glaring problems with the way the team is set-up. Our defence needs serious help, I do not know why McFarland was selected as the defence coach ahead of Nienaber, but he needs to start earning his pay. Hougaard is not a wing, there are quite a few more actual wings that know which channels to run and are able to defend their one-on-one challenges. Our counter attacking game plan is non-existent so when Plan A fails, Plan B does not exit. This mindshift needs to happen quickly and Meyer can start by putting Pat Lambie at fullback and Aplon on the bench, for the sake of having options and put some fear factor in the opposition’s mind.

But do not laugh, when Meyer says the gap can close in a year. It is entirely possible, though what needs to happen is a mindshift change not only in the Springbok’s mentality but also in the mentality of our professional set-ups in our unions.

I remember in 2010, when Fourie Du Preez was missing from the Bok team since he underwent surgery. The surgery was done after the Bulls won the Super Rugby title in Soweto, but it was evident that he was going to need surgery after the 2009 end-of-year tour. So why was the surgery delayed to accommodate the Bulls, but not the Springboks? It happened because all the unions do not exist to accommodate the national teams, they exist for themselves. Richie McCaw through his central contract with New Zealand Rugby Union will start a six month sabbatical to rest and lengthen his career. The South African rugby community continues to shoot itself in the foot by not having the Springboks as their primary concern. It does not mean that they must have central contracts with SARU but there should at least be some sort of understanding between the unions and the national teams.

Is SARU getting involved with whom and where the Springboks in the Lions team are going next year. Is it not imperative that since Elton Jantjies was the fittest and most inform fly-half in South Africa last week that Meyer (and the national selectors) has a say in where he plays his rugby next year? The same can be said for Jaco Taute. What motivated Mapoe and Cilliers decision to make their respective moves to Pretoria and Cape Town? Are we going to continue to allow Lambie to be chopped and changed between positions in Durban to suit the Sharks or are we going to tell Plumtree to play him at full-back since that is where Meyer sees him playing in the green and gold. Is Hougaard a wing or a scrum-half?

Aaron Cruden was playing his Super Rugby in Wellington, who also has a young flyhalf, Beauden Barrett, whom they wanted to give some game time. NZRU decided to move Cruden to the Chiefs. Barrett gets game time and is a revelation, while Cruden inspires the Chiefs to the Super Rugby title. The same happened when Colin Slade emerged, which then led to Stephen Brett’s move to Auckland.

Why are our tired Springboks forced to play the remaining weeks of Currie Cup rugby? Sure, the likes of Vermeulen, De Jongh, Liebenberg and Lambie have not had as heavy a schedule, but De Villiers, Bekker, Strauss, Beast, Du Plessis, Alberts and Habana have had no rest of late. If we do not learn to respect our greatest asset, our players, we are going to continue to wonder why our talented second choice side is getting hammered at home against All Blacks and then we blame the coach.

We approach a tricky end-of-year tour to Britain. The Irish and English will pose the greatest threat and especially the English who will have something to prove after their tour a few months ago. We also owe the Scots one after our last visit. I was hoping for a proper tour, even if it meant playing the same country, with some mid-week matches for the reserves. Are there only going to be tours when the Europeans come over? After the exposure given to the youngsters so far, it will be good to see how they adapt to their first tour. Goosen’s long terms injury lay-off should see Elton Jantjies given a few starts at fly-half or is Meyer going to go for the “safe” Morne Steyn again? With injuries taking its toll and Currie Cup form not a real bench mark for national selection, there should not be too many surprises in terms of selection. Although another fresh flyhalf or two might be selected, the availability of currently unavailable players mentioned previously might also raise an eye-brow? I would like to see Guthro Steenkamp back to assist in the scrumming department. The rest seem to be unlikely.

Meyer has made many mistakes, but he is a winner and that fact will push him in the right direction. If he can somehow get SA Rugby to start pulling in the same and correct direction. It will not only serve him, but his successors too.

 

Do not fret!