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Cape Town - Coach Heyneke Meyer is adamant that 2012 was one of the better years for Springbok rugby after they finished their European tour unbeaten.
Wins over Ireland (16-12), Scotland (21-10) and England (16-15) meant the Boks finished the year on a high after an indifferent Rugby Championship campaign, which saw them finish third, only ahead of newcomers Argentina.
"We only lost three out of 12 games," Meyer told the Beeld website after arriving in Johannesburg on Monday.
"Even if you look at some of our best seasons like 2007 (when the Boks won the World Cup) and 2009 (British and Irish Lions series and Tri-Nations wins), we lost more then than we did this year.
"Our coaching team was only able to start working with the players relatively late as most of them were still part of Super Rugby.
"We always knew it was going to be a tough year with all the players we've lost. The All Blacks are still ahead of us, but we started fourth on the IRB rankings list and finished second. Now we have to close that gap and grow as a team."
Meyer predicts a better 2013 when several injured stalwarts like Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brüssow, Johan Goosen and Bryan Habana will be back.
"It will be wonderful for South African rugby when all the injured players are back. The competition (for spots) will be immense," said Meyer.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Coach Heyneke Meyer is adamant that 2012 was one of the better years for Springbok rugby after finishing on a high. Do you agree with Meyer? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
Wins over Ireland (16-12), Scotland (21-10) and England (16-15) meant the Boks finished the year on a high after an indifferent Rugby Championship campaign, which saw them finish third, only ahead of newcomers Argentina.
"We only lost three out of 12 games," Meyer told the Beeld website after arriving in Johannesburg on Monday.
"Even if you look at some of our best seasons like 2007 (when the Boks won the World Cup) and 2009 (British and Irish Lions series and Tri-Nations wins), we lost more then than we did this year.
"Our coaching team was only able to start working with the players relatively late as most of them were still part of Super Rugby.
"We always knew it was going to be a tough year with all the players we've lost. The All Blacks are still ahead of us, but we started fourth on the IRB rankings list and finished second. Now we have to close that gap and grow as a team."
Meyer predicts a better 2013 when several injured stalwarts like Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brüssow, Johan Goosen and Bryan Habana will be back.
"It will be wonderful for South African rugby when all the injured players are back. The competition (for spots) will be immense," said Meyer.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Coach Heyneke Meyer is adamant that 2012 was one of the better years for Springbok rugby after finishing on a high. Do you agree with Meyer? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
