Springboks
Bok coach lauds No 10 depth
2012-05-03 13:27
Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – Heyneke Meyer believes the flyhalf trade in
South Africa may be at a 10-year high, and that it will enhance the country’s
overall backline play as a result.
Speaking at a media briefing at Newlands here on Thursday, the
Springbok coach said it was one of the positions giving him fewer concerns than
others, just a few weeks out from the international season starting against
England with three home Tests.
His hailing of the No 10s operating for South African teams
in Super Rugby came as he was asked how much of a knock it was to him for
Cheetahs wunderkind Johan Goosen to be ruled out for several months with a dislocated
shoulder sustained against the Highlanders last weekend.
“I won’t say he wouldn’t have made the June Tests, but I
won’t say he would have, either: put it this way, he’d have had a good chance.
“But the great things is, suddenly a position where I
thought South Africa were perhaps lacking for the last 10 years or so -- we had one or two flyhalves, but not too
many who could create or play tactically – (now boasts) four or five great
options.
“I’ve also been very impressed by Peter Grant lately. He’s
playing his best rugby, so he’s an option.
“As for Goosen, I do believe he can become the best flyhalf
in the world when he reaches a mature age. I’ve chatted to him a lot, and told
him I like the way he puts his body on the line, is very physical ... I want
that from a flyhalf or any player representing South Africa for that matter.
“The injury is a blow, and he’ll get others in his career,
but he’s mentally tough and hopefully the rehab goes well and he’ll be back
playing. He’s a guy we can definitely (earmark) for the future, with some special
attributes.
“But Patrick Lambie is another youngster in the running and
Elton Jantjies was impressive in the camp.
“So yes, suddenly there are fine flyhalves and that’s why I
think our backline play will improve.
“World Cups and especially finals have shown how important
the No 10 is to your game-plan. If you look at my history I’ve not been scared
to pick young ones in that position: Derick (Hougaard), Morne (Steyn) were about
19 or 20 when (blooded by the Bulls during Meyer’s tenure there).”
Asked by Sport24 whether the increasingly high-stakes Bulls
versus Stormers derby a week before the first Test against England was a
perpetual nightmare to him, Meyer said: “All four (SA teams playing on June 2) are
worrying me!”
Apart from the big north-south crunch, there is also a match
between the Lions and Sharks in Johannesburg.
“It is a very difficult scenario: the last thing I want to
do is ask the guys to hold back. Obviously I want them to win Super Rugby.
They’ll go flat out and there will be a lot of guys sore after those games.
“I know our players are very competitive (for derbies) and
naturally I want to see that very same competitiveness against England, and also
to go to another level. It will be tough, for sure.
“I don’t want to talk up those games as ‘final trials’ because
then they will definitely kill each other ... I ought to have a 90 percent idea
of the side before entering them.
“But I’ll still only name the team after those games have
taken place.”
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