Heyneke Meyer
Twelve months ago the Springbok talent cupboard looked bare – with a dearth of back-up in several key positions.
Now, less than 10 months out from the start of the World Cup, South African coach Heyneke Meyer believes he has ‘plugged all the gaps’.
Speaking after his team’s hard-earned 22-6 win over Italy in Padua at the weekend, Meyer said he is “very happy” with the state of the Boks’ player resources.
Tighthead prop and fullback were among the two positions where depth was a major concern, but the added bonus of Nizaam Carr’s outstanding debut means Meyer’s already well-stocked loose forward resources have an additional arrow in the quiver.
“I said Nizaam was running great lines in training (last week),” Meyer told a media scrum.
“The test was to take that into a Test match where there isn’t a lot of space and he came through with flying colours.”
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Another player who pleased the Bok coach was Johan Goosen, who started his first Test as a fullback – with the previous five international appearances all in the flyhalf channel.
“It was a typical tactical Test and Johan was tested and I felt he was superb,” the Bok coach said of the 22-year-old Racing Metro-based player.
“When the game opened up it was always the plan to bring Willie on.
“The one area we weren’t really covered was fullback. Zane has never let us down and he is always an option.
“However, now that Johan showed he can play there, Willie has been superb and Pat can also play there.”
However, the biggest positive has been the emergence of new talent in the tighthead position in the last 12 months.
Coenie Oosthuizen’s ability to successfully convert to tighthead – a move forced upon him because of ongoing neck injury concerns – faced probably its toughest test against the mean Azzurri front row.
A scrum that includes grizzled veterans Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Matias Aguero will be a test for any front row.
“Coenie was awesome,” Meyer said, adding: “Not just Coenie, but Trevor as well.
“You have to take into consideration that most of this team have never played here (in Padua).
“It is totally different when you play away from home in these conditions – it is a new environment and most of these guys have not played away from home.
“It was a huge character test for Coenie and Trevor.”
Meyer admitted Oosthuizen has been under pressure, because of his perceived poor scrummaging.
“They came up against arguably one of the best front rows in world rugby,” he said, adding: “ticked all the boxes.
“We have three tighthead props out (injured – Frans Malherbe, Marcel van der Merwe and Jannie du Plessis).
“Last year we struggled, then Frans came through (End Of Year Tour 2013), Coenie has come through and suddenly Julian is coming through.
“I am very happy with the state of our player resources.
“Suddenly we have a lot of guys coming through.”
Meyer felt he will be able to select a “very experienced and very good side” that will go to the World Cup in England next year.
“When I named the side (For the End Of Year Tour) people said I should gamble more.
“However, we always have respect and knew it was going to be tough.
“Now look at our bench – with Nizaam coming on, Julian coming on and even Lood is still a youngster.
“We started with Oupa and Trev, two guys who didn’t even play a lot of Super Rugby this year.”