May Clancy have helped Boks?

Cape Town - The performance of Irish referee George Clancy in Saturday's clash between South Africa and the World XV at Newlands has served as a wake-up call for Heyneke Meyer's Springboks.

Meyer said the Springboks would have to adapt to the way whistlemen from the northern hemisphere policed breakdown play.

He said the Boks were more familiar with the style of southern hemisphere refs, who traditionally allow players less time over the ball with the result that it emerged quicker at breakdowns.

"Most of the players have been playing in the southern hemisphere where the referees place a lot of emphasis on the game being quick and endeavour to facilitate the ball coming back quickly from the breakdown," said Meyer.

"When you play against northern hemisphere opponents with northern hemisphere referees it is different."

Meyer said the slow manner in which the ball was recycled at breakdown affected the way the Boks played.

"We thrive on quick ball and we are a great attacking team when we do get quick ball but we were unable to get that in this game and that was a bit of a wake-up call for us.

"This match was important to us, because we have to play together as a team to become better. I believe we are a very dangerous team when we play with quick ball."

Next week in Durban, the Boks will be up against northern hemisphere opponents (Wales) with a northern hemisphere referee, Frenchman Romain Poite, who famously red-carded (two yellow cards) South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis in a Rugby Championship match against New Zealand, in Auckland, last September.

Meyer felt that Wales, who will play a warm-up game against Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, would prove formidable opponents.

"Wales will be well prepared.

"They are a quality side with big backs which will give them go forward ball.

"They also played together in the Six Nations, while we (the Boks) are just starting out."

The Springboks flew out from Cape Town for Durban on Sunday with no injury concerns after their Newlands hit-out.