Willie le Roux was electric against Wales!
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer praised his team’s character and commitment in Durban after they defeated Wales 38-16 in the first of two tests in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday.
The coach admitted that they had a tough week leading up to the Test match, as they had to take to the field with a number of new combinations and debutants.
“It was a tough week with a lot of disruptions. I asked the guys to put their bodies on the line today as it was important for us to start well. I am very pleased with their response and effort, especially in the first half. I am very proud to be coach of this team,” Meyer said.
The coach was pleased with the effort on attack, which resulted in 5 tries, and he applauded the impact of Willie le Roux at fullback.
“I will take 5 tries to 1 anytime, anywhere in the world,” said Meyer. “Last week we scored 6 against a World XV and now 5 against one of the top defensive teams around.”
“Willie is probably the best fullback in the world at the moment. He is playing with a lot of confidence and has a license to express himself. I am very happy about his progress since he started on the wing last season. I challenged him to improve his aerial skills and defence last season and he did that very well.”
“We wanted to improve our scrummaging and we conceded no penalties there. We have good options in the team, and to see the young guys like Lood (de Jager) and Cornal performing the way they did was very pleasing. Jan (Serfontein) also did very well in his first start, especially as he has not played with JP (Pietersen) in the midfield before.”
More information on injuries will be made available on Sunday, but Meyer indicated that Johan Goosen (knee) and Bakkies Botha (Achilles) left the field in discomfort.
Springbok captain, Victor Matfield, said the scoreline was indicative of his team’s effort, especially in the first half. “We are happy,” said Matfield. “But there is still some hard work ahead as we made too many mistakes in the second half. However, the nice part of that is that we can put in the hard yards this week. We can only get better the more we play together.”
“We made some errors in the second half, but none in the first half. At this level, if you give away ball, you can be without it for 10 minutes.”
The Springboks and Wales will play the 2nd of their 2 Tests in the Castle Lager Incoming Series at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit next Saturday.
@ robzim:
I remember Willie-John McBride always had a pipe dangling from his mouth, Fran Cotton smoked like a chimney (he and Syd Millar, ’74 Lions manager).
I believe Serge Blanco was a chain smoker, or so I’ve heard…? And so was Willie Duggan, the legendary Irish lock who played test rugby until age 38…
@ robzim:
@60 O hel ja, dit was erg, selfs vir my as n roker!
Party mense rook mos in jou gesig.
Ek rook so dat niemand eers agterkom nie, verdra nie n mens wat n sigaret in sy bek rondra nie…
61 @ Pietman:
When you are Smoking Fit, then you are seriously fit!
Even now, when I play squash, I do not easily get tired… have the luxury of a natural fitness.
Ek sal seker moet begin dink aan ophou rook, die kardioloog was nie te beindruk met my longe gister nie, narkotiseur ook nie, dis hoekom hulle my nie aan die slaap gesit het nie…maar wetie of dit op my ouderdom nog enigsins n verskil sal maak om op te hou nie…
grootblousmile wrote:
Jy reken? Ek flippin hoop so!
64 @ Pietman:
Het hulle jou toe maar eerder epiduraal verlam?
Wat was toe alles in daai bottel met parte?
robzim wrote:
Lol, and then they asked, do you want to sit in the smoking or non smoking section….as if there was a difference
Good, the Swiss equalized, score 1-1, hope it stays like that, that was my prediction.
Need a break, this round not going well
grootblousmile wrote:
Ja, epiduraal.
Bottel vanmiddag weggesmyt, lyk soos ingelegde blomkool wat daar in is, maar dok se dis vetweefsel wat hy verwyder het rondom die breuk. Aardige besigheid… ek dog eers dis strawberry roomys wat daar op die bedkassie staan!
69 @ Pietman:
Genade!
Ja my ou twee maters die probleem is julle kan nie weer skoon longe kry nie, ek kan darem nog myne bevuil. Julle rokers het geen vrees. My goeie vriend hier in Hoedies se suster het so 4 jaar terug gesterf aan letterlik versmoring, die eksterne longmasjien kon nie meer help. Hy het sy gat so afgeskrik en opgehou vir 2 jaar, nou rook hy erger.
En die Dokter waarsku hom gereeld , sy longe is ook sat
@ superBul:
@71 Kuk besigheid man, wetie hoekom mens ooit begin het nie!
Vat vir jou, jy het op n tabakdorp grootgeword en jy rook nie…jy koop tot Potties se kooperasietwak hier by die supermark…gister tot pomelos gesien van Letaba, heelwat SA produkte hier, veral vrugte.
@ robzim:
Actually flying with smokers was better because the airlines were forced to circulate the cabin air more now they have realised they can do it less so less oxygen and more germs.
Willie may not be the best 15 in the world at the moment but there is something of the Jouba about him would love to see him with Movovo and Habana.
@ gunther:
Yes, Jouba….but I wonder how long teams will persist kicking away possession in Willie’s direction?
See you tomorrow!
@ grootblousmile:
Tjeers, also signing out.
Like what I saw yesterday.
Regimented….with a bit of flair.
Bakkies, Vic and FDP are laying down the blueprint for PSDT, Etzebeth and Reinach to emulate.
Got to beat the AB’s in NZ though… this year…
Tuff Gong wrote:
Must get a few of the Junior Bokkies to come talk to the Seniors….hahaha And incorporate Dawie Theron.
@ superBul:
Ja. Never looked like the Bokkies would ever lose that game.
Jobs not done. Stilk have to beat England.
At least the French soccer team managed to convert a penalty into points.
@ Tuff Gong:
You should try beating us in Africa first, one win at home in the last 4 seasons is pretty ugly reading.
@ NZINCHINA:
hehe
I don’t care if Heyneke’s Boks don’t beat the All Blacks in SA or in NZ, I would just prefer him to beat them in Eng next year.
That’s the one that really counts for me
@ nortierd:
Fair call Norty but if that plan fails Meyer could well end up with 7 losses against his greatest foe over 4 seasons and no WC, at least when we farked up at all those WC’s we still won everything else there was to win and more often than not finished the year ranked number 1 so it was a litte easier to take. Meyer will desperate to beat the Ab’s this year even if you aren’t 😛
2 @ grootblousmile:
Certainly is a good time for the fullback position in World rugby, you could add Stuart Hogg to that list.
@ NZINCHINA:
Noodles my boy, I prefer to take the holistic view
😉
I would love it if we can beat you this year, we have 2 RC games in 2014 against you and only 1 in 2015, so he has 3 games left before the WC to try and get that.
If I’m given the choice between these 3 and the one in Eng, I know which one I would choose.
What did you think of the juniors?
Nice to see a ding dong battle between the old foe again
3 @ robzim:
Think Leigh Halfpenny has been improving his all round play as a fullback, for a while feel that his big strength was his incredible accuracy with his place kicking but certainly in the last season or so he has added a bit more to his play with his running but I feel he has some way to go to get up to the level of someone like Mike Brown with his counterattacking and do wonder that if it wasn’t for his value in the team as place kicker whether as much fuss would have been made of Halfpenny the fullback. Rob Kearney was a very good fullback but feel that his play has not advanced much in the last few seasons and suspect that he is a player going more on reputation than recent form, don’t know if its age or injury that has been catching up with him, still very good under the high ball though.
86 @ nortierd:
Not looked too closely at the permutations but is it a given that these teams will meet in Eng 2015…
@ Bullscot:
If both win their pools and win their QF games, they will meet in the semis, with Eng and Aus expected to play in the other semi.
89 @ nortierd:
Ahh ok thanks nortierd so yes it is quite likely to happen
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