Reinach, Lambie impress coach as Boks sing in rain

THE FACT that it started to rain in London about two hours before the kick-off in the Springbok-England game on Saturday would have actually been what coach Heyneke Meyer wanted.

While there has been good progress with the Boks’ attacking game in the last 18 months, Meyer has said that his team were finding it tough to play in wet conditions, and that was the case nine days ago against Ireland.

The Boks also battled in the torrential rain at Loftus against Argentina in August, although they were a bit better on a slippery pitch against the All Blacks in Wellington last September.

Jean de Villiers’s team needed to sort out this issue once and for all against England, especially as they are the Rugby World Cup hosts next year and are likely to be strong contenders for the title on home soil.

So, the way the Boks took charge at Twickenham and minimised the errors that had spoilt their Ireland performance, brought great joy to Meyer as this was the last true examination for his team in northern hemisphere conditions, as Italy won’t pose too much of a threat on Saturday in Padova, while a weakened Bok side minus their overseas-based players will face Wales in the tour finale.

“We never want to go to a game where you just kick – we really want to evolve as a team. I’ve also said that we want to play a ball-in-hand style and we scored the most tries last year, and we are up there this year too. We have to execute and be more skilful,” Meyer said.

“But by saying that, sometimes you have to have a game like this where you have to do the basics right; you grind out a win, and that’s Test match rugby. That, for me, that’s World Cup-winning rugby – that’s what we are going to face.

“Sometimes you chase from behind and throw the ball around, sometimes it opens up when you are making the right decisions. So I’m really happy that we almost took a step back, but in a sense, three steps forward because we adapted to the conditions and to our game plan.”

Meyer was almost apologetic about the fact that he wanted to see an improvement in the tactical kicking, but he shouldn’t have to be. Playing positive, attacking rugby doesn’t mean that you cannot kick and find space at the back or win territory with a torpedo down the line.

That is why the performance of scrumhalf Cobus Reinach was arguably the biggest plus to come out of the England Test. He mixed up his game wonderfully between quick passing from the rucks, accurate boxkicks and lovely long punts.

“I probably shouldn’t say this in front of the South African press, but I think the difference was our kicking game. It was a great Test match and I thought we were clinical and our kicking was much better. We worked hard on being more contestable in the air, to put them under pressure,” said Meyer.

“And chasing the kicks, we were much better,” added the coach, who was impressed by his halfbacks. “I thought Cobus was superb. He had two charge-downs, but England are probably the best in the world with putting pressure on the scrumhalf. He is still a youngster but he controlled the game well in his first Test start in very difficult, wet conditions. He really turned them with the boot, made some great tackles, and got us quick ball.

“And Pat Lambie has always played well for us at the end of the year, specifically in this weather. If I remember correctly, we’ve won every single game that he’s played here. He is a very level-headed guy, took the right options, especially with the drop goal as well. And he has a calm influence on the team.”

There will be two new faces at tighthead prop and blindside flank for the Italy game, with Jannie du Plessis ruled out with knee and hamstring injuries, while Schalk Burger wasn’t going to be used agaisnt Italy, and is unavailable for the Wales Test as he is an overseas-based player.