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.
@ Bullscot:
Bully, what do you think of this England side to play the Crusaders?
I don’t know too many of the players, and the Crusaders players are more known to me
England: 15 Goode, 14 Foden, 13 Trinder, 12 Barritt, 11 Watson, 10 Cipriani, 9 Dickson, 1 Waller, 2 Gray, 3 Thomas, 4 Slater (capt), 5 Attwood, 6 Haskell, 7 Kvesic, 8 Johnson.
Replacements: 16 Ward, 17 Catt, 18 Sinckler, 19 Paterson, 20 Wigglesworth, 21 Myler, 22 May, 23 Pennell.
91 @ nortierd:
As you say nortierd quite a lot of ‘unknowns’ there at a first glance it looks like quite a mix and match of players but then you look closer and you still find quite a few good players in it, will try and give some run down on some of these names that stand out, on the whole though am not too familiar with many of the tight five.
@ nortierd:
I didn’t watch it but a very good win by your boys, pleasing from a NZ perpective that they closed the gap though from the first game. You’ll probably go on and win it now, clearly we are missing something up front after winning it 4 times in a row we just aren’t good enough now.
@ Bullscot:
I see them as the 2nd to 3rd choice players, and I know they will want to prove themselves, but even though this is an international team the Crusaders are not the Kings, so I followed my gut and picked the Saders.
This pick can really hurt my SuperBru and I’m still unsure as to whether I made the right choice, will have an agonizing wait till tomorrow to see.
I will never have shouted as much and as hard for the Crusaders as I will tomorrow.
NZINCHINA wrote:
Was close, much closer than the 1st game.
The English boys look very good as well, but I’m hoping our Bokkies can deliver one more huge effort.
@ nortierd:
Yes good luck, you need to put something in the trophy cabinet this year!
91 @ nortierd:
15 Alex Goode – has been playing really well for a while with Saracens and think that if it wasn’t for the sudden upward curve in Mike Brown’s play in the last 2 seasons he may have been first choice. Can also slot in at flyhalf 14 Ben Foden – He had a really big reputation going even further back and at some point thought he would be a really good fullback but for me didn’t really live up to all the hype although he has had some injuries recently, not really seen much of him first hand this season to comment on what form he has been in.
Centres- we all know what Barritt offers, solid reasonable distributor and good tackler, think he has had a fair share of injuries last few seasons, don’t know anything about Trinder. 11. Anthony Watson is not a player have seen much but think he is one of the young upcoming wingers like Nowell who could be exciting, quite a big guy and only 20.
10’s. Danny Cipriani – he is such a talented player but again one who didn’t live up to the early hype and a bit of maverick who went off the rails for a while and wasn’t all that succesful in Aus, BUT this season he has come back strongly for Sale and think he deserves his slot. On the bench Myler is another of the really good options for England at flyhalf at the moment, possibly not one of the flashiest and most written about player but he has played a big part in Northampton winning the Aviva Premiership and the Amlin Challenge Cup this season.
Scrumhalves – both Lee Dixon and Richard Wigglesworth are fairly good players who think have been doing well for their clubs Northampton and Saracens but possibly not quite same league as Ben Youngs and Danny Care, but this is possibly also a position that England have really good depth in at the moment.
NZINCHINA wrote:
94 @ nortierd:
Yeah that is probably a good summary of them although some may consider themselves unlucky to not be 1st choice, while others could even be 4th and possibly 5th in line.
@ Bullscot:
Thanks, even though the Crusaders are also missing some 1st choice players, they have a solid team as well with most of the guys having played SR this year.
Their locks are not too known to me, but as I said, I will either lose a lot of ground if Eng win, or I will gain a lot if the Crusaders win.
This pick is a solid gamble, I could have played it safe and picked the Poms, but I went with my gut on this one
91 @ nortierd:
Also meant to add about the wingers that sub Jonny May is a strong fast wing who is unlucky to not be in England normal starting line up. Looks like a decent bunch of individuals in the starting loose forwards, although not sure how much of a number 8 Tom Johnson is, used to think he was a really good player a few seasons ago but probably more a 7 (rest of the world numbering not SA). Matt Kvesic is a good fetcher flank built in the mould of Stegman and Brussow (1.86m and 104kg it says are his height and weight) although probably just not as good but you get the picture, saw him playing on the England tour of Argentina last year and was really surprised at how well he played really quick to the ball with good breakdown skills and a tigerish tackler so was disappointed that he didn’t get more game time in the last 6 Nations. It seems like the modern obsession with size is what will count against him in the long run.
@ nortierd:
Going into a RWC semi final or final against the AB, having lost 7/7 in the previous 4 years, cannot be good for the confidence of the Bok team. The Boks need to start to win against the AB under HM. PdV won 5/11 against them.
I don’t think that HM would want to be known as the Bok coach who couldn’t beat the AB. That would put him in a league with Harry Viljoen and Straeuli as Bok coaches despite an otherwise quite good record overall.
100 @ nortierd:
Not seen the Crusaders in action this season so you are far better placed to judge on how well they will go. Surprised though you went for a win for them but guess its ok you went with your gut feeling as long as you didn’t have a dodgy curry last night…
@ Nama:
Morning Nama
You are right, but I also don’t see it as a train smash at this stage.
Actually, all HM has to do to beat the AB’s is to pick Pollard at 10, so far he is 4/4 against those in black with a fern on their chest 😀
To make doubly sure, he can also pick Brussouw, who has also never lost to them
@ Bullscot:
Lol, I’m sweating bullets over that pick…big time.
@ nortierd:
Hi Nortie. Sorry dat ek nie eers gegroet het nie.
Wat betref die keuses van Pollard en HB om ‘n wen te verseker. Dis natuurlik tong in die kies bedoel
Ek dink as ons die gameplan gaan speel at ons in die laaste wedstryd gespeel het verlede jaar, dan sal ons hulle meer gereeld beginne wen.
@ nortierd:
I need Eng to win tomorrow for a full house. So, we are pitted against each other on this one.
Nama wrote:
Lol, I’m 13/13 so far, but have only gotten 3 margins.
This is a huge game, I knew 90% of the people will go for England, and I could have played safe and did the same, but I decided to go for broke
@ nortierd:
Meant 2 margins.
I’m only 1,5 behind the leaders on RT , so it’s really a huge gamble
109 @ nortierd: “Go big or go home,
” that’s my motto for this week.
Crusaders by 15
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Let’s hope you are right BB
@ nortierd:
That’s a nice run. I am 12/13 after I got the Italian game wrong last week.
How many badges have you earned so far. I’m 11/18.
@ Nama:
Badges?
Lol, I had to go and look what you were talking about, since when do they have those things?
I have 10/18
Wat beteken dit nou? Ek soek die goue medaljes in die groepe 😀
@ Nama:
78% of the picks have gone for England, average is 10 point margin.
Dit is seker die slim en veilige pick, maar ek is mos maar dom en roekeloos
@ nortierd:
It’s new but I find it quite interesting.
If Eng win tomorrow, I can probably earn 2 more (GSP badge awa moving into the top 20%) The yellow cap is probably between Henniek (if the Saders win) and Atlas (if Eng win).
@ Nama:
Atlas is having a great run, especially after his poor start last week
@ nortierd:
Ten minste kry dan dan die “underdog badge” as die Saders wen en die GSP badge ook nog. Jy sal dan seker ook in die top 20% inbeweeg, so dis nog ‘n badge.
Ek sien Sonny Boy Williams is oppad terug.
Nama wrote:
Jip, met Tana Umaga speel
@ nortierd:
Ek sien so
Dit beteken seker weer dat Nonu moet terugstaan.
Users Online
Total 118 users including 0 member, 118 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm
No Counter as from 31 October 2009: 41,344,270 Page Impressions
_