Heyneke Meyer
There is a method to the apparent ‘madness’ of Heyneke Meyer’s approach to the Springboks’ 2015 World Cup campaign.
Spending some time with the Bok mentor at a training camp in Cape Town this week, it became abundantly clear just how much preparation has already gone into South Africa’s campaign.
In fact the Bok coach even investigated the hotel beds the players will encounter during their stay in England in September and October – prompting media banter that the ‘Bok coach is sleeping on the job’.
However, even the massive 40-odd players at the 2 training camps – in Johannesburg last month and Cape Town this week – are part of a carefully orchestrated plan to ensure the Boks have the best possible chance of becoming the 1st country to win the Webb Ellis Cup for a 3rd time.
Meyer said the large squads are all part of his long-term plan, with a lot of the younger players that he can take forward.
“Just take a guy like Steven Kitshoff,” Meyer told a media scrum at the Cape Town stadium, adding: “I told him that he is a brilliant player, but he needed to improver his ball-handling skills.
“He needed to play more with the ball, because that is what you want from your loosehead. He went back to the Stormers, really improved on that and he has been world class.
“I believe there’s a lot of benefit in having a big squad and working with youngsters.”
Meyer said he will leave no stone unturned in his effort to “tick all the boxes” going into the World Cup.
He wants to ensure there’s enough depth in every single position.
“I also want the players to know there is a lot of competition,” the coach said.
“It is also great to work with new guys, who bring enthusiasm. The players know exactly where they stand and what to work on.”
Meyer also has no doubt that form alone and reputations will not win the World Cup.
“The World Cup is a totally different competition,” he said, adding: “I have done a lot of research, looked at every single aspect in every World Cup since the inaugural tournament.
“The main thing, I believe, is that you need players that are mentally tough. Yes, it may sound like a cliche, but a World Cup is not always won by the team that wants it most.
“Every single team wants it for their country.
“I believe World Cups are won by guys that can handle the pressure – you can feel the pressure build every week.
“You need guys that are mentally tough, players that – when you are in a bad spot – hang in there and come back and win the game.
“There’s not a big difference between the fringe players and the top players. When I look at Super Rugby, I don’t look at players at home. All teams are expected to win at home. I look at players away from home, the tough conditions, especially in New Zealand, where it is really tough.
“A lot of these fringe players have put up their hands. The fringe players also need to be able to play in more than one position, as you are allowed only 31 players and you can’t just send players back if there’s an injury. If it is a long-term injury, yes, but if it is one or two weeks they have to stay there. That’s when you need the other players to perform.”
Meyer also said selection is not a closed shop and a lot of players can still put their hands up – even players in the Currie Cup competition will have a chance to stake a claim.
He also spoke about having the right mix between youth and experience.
“You can’t name the same 23 for all 7 games, the other guys will need to perform as well.
“However, I always believe the youngsters bring energy. You don’t want to go there with an ‘old’ side with players who are in a comfort zone that feel they will play every game and assume they will just win.
“You need youngsters who bring energy and keep the senior guys on their feet.
“I have mentioned Kitshoff, but the same thing with a guy like Faf de Klerk. He was at the previous camp and his play has gone through the roof. I have never selected just on reputation – the players have to perform.
“As long as there are young players pushing them, it is great for the team.”
Meyer also dismissed the notion that the lack of form of certain key players in Super Rugby is a concern.
“It is important that players peak at the right time,” he said, adding: “It is important for players to start improving their form in the Rugby Championship.
“It is worth remembering that no team that won the Championship won the World Cup in that same year. They are all totally different competitions – Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship and the World Cup.
“If I could pick I would like all our teams to be in the play-offs. In 2007 we had 2 teams in the Final and we won the World Cup – that confidence flowed through.
“However, a lot of the players not in form are world class players. I have seen these players, once they put on the jersey and play for South Africa they are a different animal. It is also my job to get their confidence up. I have had lots of meetings with senior players and I can see the mindsets already changing .
“I’m confident we will get them back to form.”
Meyer said he and his coaching team are really well prepared off the field.
“We have been at the hotels, we’ve been at the fields, I have had guys investigating the field and now again Richie Gray is there looking at the exact times we will play, we have looked at weather patterns for the last 20 years – we have looked at every single aspect.”
Meyer said he even spoke regularly to the overseas-based players, visited them, spoke to their coaches and gave them fitness programmes. He felt they all know what is required of them – certainly those in the running for World Cup spots.
“We have studied everything, weather patterns, the grass, the type of grass.
“We thought we would have slow, heavy surfaces. However, most of our games are played in soccer stadiums, short grass and very hard – it will be a much quicker game than we thought.”
Meyer said they will replicate everything they saw during their investigations.
“We have looked at training venues, I’ve been to the hotels and slept in many of the beds. We are really well prepared off the field.
“We have looked at every single trend that has won every World Cup – we know exactly what it will take.”
rugby365