Boks are hoping for a watershed clash against All Blacks in Dunedin

DUNEDIN has been the Springboks’ Waterloo before, but Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer hopes Saturday’s test deep in New Zealand’s south island will be a watershed for his largely inexperienced Book side.

The coach has preached the import- ance of mental toughness since he took the job earlier this year, and while his side came undone through some soft moments against the Wallabies, they had better harden up against the All Blacks.

It is Meyer’s as well as his players’ toughest assignment yet. He believes the match in Dunedin will help crystallise his selection thought process going forward.

“Mental toughness is non-negotiable, so that is why I don’t want any excuses. You must just deal with anything. I have said to the players in a language they understand that after these two tests, I will know exactly which guys I will go forward with.

“Winning the home tests will be a big focus, but you can see on tour who can handle the pressure every week,” Meyer said.

One of the players going nowhere at the moment is under-fire flyhalf Morne Steyn, partly because the man breathing down his neck lacks experience.

Still, Steyn’s influence over matches has receded since he kicked the Boks to vic- tory over the British and Irish Lions in 2009. He has sporadically replicated that form – most notably against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth last year – in the last three years.

The Boks have, however, won just 16 of the last 30 tests with him at pivot. Hardly match-winning stuff.

“I am a big believer in a guy sticking to his strengths, and I think Morne is a great player in his own right. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, so I don’t think that he needs to change the way he plays. It’s more about the outside backs who must use their opportunities,” Meyer said.

“I also really rate Johan Goosen, and it is easier when you have two experienced guys on his inside and outside. He is also a guy who I want to bring on, as we are also looking a bit long-term.

“He is a quality player and reminds me a lot of the great 10s at that same age. He is the whole package – he is mentally tough, has a great kicking game and has a lot of speed. And he is actually probably too physical!

“Going forward, you need two great players in this position to win the World Cup, and while this is a tough year, there are a lot of youngsters coming through that will help us with our depth. He will definitely put pressure on Morne going forward,” Meyer said.

If Steyn still occupies the No 10 jersey this time next year, Meyer may have a problem.