No panic yet, says Meyer
Bok coach reacts as SA’s Super Rugby season ends
SOUTH Africa has endured one of their most challenging Super Rugby seasons in the same year they are hoping to lift the World Cup – but national team coach Heyneke Meyer is not pushing the panic buttons yet.
None of the country’s five teams managed to make the semifinals, the first time South Africa will not be represented at that stage of the competition since 2003 when they bombed out of the World Cup in Australia with barely a whimper.
That might be a bad omen for Meyer, and the reality is that too many of the country’s regular Springboks will look back with little cheer on what has been a dismal campaign.
Had the competition format not forced a South African team into the knockout stages, their best-placed side, the Stormers, would only have had enough points for seventh place in the regular season table.
But Meyer told reporters recently that while the form of the South African sides presented a worry, he was not having sleepless nights just yet.
“Obviously it is a concern, but in saying that there is always a positive as well and I don’t believe a player can peak from February to October 31,” Meyer said.
“If you look at other countries, I know it is not always easy to compare, but many of their superstars have not been at their best so it is important to peak at the right time.
“Confidence is contagious and so is a lack of confidence. In 2007 two (South African) teams were in the (Super Rugby) final and we won the World Cup so if I could have picked then obviously I would have liked teams to be in the final.
“But I don’t think it is the be all and end all of winning the World Cup.”
Meyer said what was important now was that Bok players destined for the World Cup begin to pick up their form in the Rugby Championship starting next month.
“A lot of the guys who are not in form are world-class players and one thing I have seen with these players is that once they put on the Springbok jersey we are talking about a totally different animal and it is my job to get their confidence up.”
Meyer reiterated a long-stated mantra that he will pick his World Cup squad on form and that he does expect to see an improvement from players who may feel they are a sure bet for a place in his squad for the tournament.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks selectors gave their first hint of World Cup thinking yesterday, naming five new faces in an enlarged 41-man squad. The final 31 to defend their world crown will be named at the end of August following the Rugby Championship tests against South Africa, Australia and Argentina, as well as a oneoff test against Samoa and an extra clash against Australia.
Head coach Steve Hansen indicated the huge squad would allow him to balance cup tapering with laying the foundations for next year when several senior players will have left and others may be seconded for Olympic Games duty.
Skipper Richie McCaw is one of several players – also including Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Keven Mealamu – who are expected to retire or move overseas after the World Cup. – Reuters