The trio at the heart of Meyer’s World Cup plans
TV highlights: what’s best on the box
Super Rugby, Hurricanes v Waratahs, 6am, SS1/CSN; Highlanders v Blues, 9am, SS1/CSN; Brumbies v Melbourne Rebels, 11.30am, SS1/CSN; Western Force v DHL Stormers, 1.35am, SS1/M-Net; Sharks v Vodacom Bulls, 4.30pm, SS1/M-Net; Toyota Cheetahs v Reds, 7.30pm, SS1/M-Net; M&F Premier Interschools Rugby Glenwood v Maritzburg College, 1.55pm, CSN
PSL, Polokwane City v Free State Stars, 2.30pm, SS4/SABC 1; SuperSport Utd v Moroka Swallows, 7.30pm, SS4; EPL, Everton v Burnley, 3pm, SS3; Chelsea v Man Utd, 6pm, SS3; Stoke City v Southampton, 3.50pm, SS9; FA Cup, semi-final, Reading v Arsenal, 6.10pm, SS5; La Liga, Barcelona v Valencia, 3.55pm, SS5; Deportivo v Atletico Madrid, 6pm, SS7; Real Madrid v Malaga, 7.55pm, SS7; Serie A, Juventus v Lazio, 8.40pm, SS5
IPL, Kings XI Punjab v Delhi Daredevils, 4.15pm,
Mamelodi Sundowns v Bloem Celtic, 7pm, SS9; Champions League, quarter-final first legs, PSG v Barcelona, 8pm, SS3; Porto v Bayern Munich, 8.40pm, SS5
IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals, 4.15pm, SS2
European Tour Shenzhen International, day 1, AM, 4.30am, SS1; PM, 8.30am, SS1; PGA Tour RBC Heritage, day 1, 9pm, SS1/CSN
Europa League, quarter-finals, Wolfsburg v Napoli, 9.pm, SS3; Sevilla v Zenit St Petersburg, 9pm, SS5; Dynamo Kyiv v Fiorentina, 9pm, SS6; Club Brugge v Dnipro, 9pm, SS7
IPL, Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings, 4.15pm, SS2; One-Day International, Bangladesh v Pakistan, 1st ODI, 10am, SS7
European Tour Shenzhen International, day 2, AM, 4.30am, SS5; PM, 8.30am, SS5; PGA Tour RBC Heritage, day 2, 9pm, SS6/CSN Super Rugby, Crusaders v Chiefs, 9am, SS1/CSN PSL, Ajax Cape Town v Univ. of Pretoria, 7.30pm, SS3; Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Mönchengladbach, 8.25pm, SS7
IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils, 12.15pm, SS1; Kings XI v Kolkata Knight Riders, 4.15pm, SS1
European Tour Shenzhen International, day 3, 7am, SS5; PGA Tour RBC Heritage, day 3, 9pm, SS6/CSN SHANGHAI: Eight years ago, the World Cup champion Springboks were named the team of the year at the Laureus Sports Awards. Yesterday, a day before this year’s awards, Heyneke Meyer sat in a room at the Shanghai Grand Theatre and hinted at how he planned to emulate Jake White’s side.
In brief, Meyer is keeping an eye on Frans Steyn, who is in a self-imposed exile from the national team, Fourie du Preez’s fitness is being managed, and he thinks Jean de Villiers will have recovered in time. He also believes any one of eight teams could win the World Cup.
“I haven’t had any problems with Frans,” said Meyer. Steyn withdrew from the Springbok squad in June last year after what was claimed to be contractual issues between the 27-year-old and Saru.
“It wasn’t between me and Frans. We’ve got a good relationship. He came back quite late from Japan, so I haven’t spent time with him.
“I don’t believe there should be egos going into the World Cup. It’s not about me, it’s about the bigger picture and the country. I’ll give everything to win that World Cup for the country. We will look at the best players, at who is fit and who is available, it doesn’t matter how young or old they are.
“It’s going to be tough because a lot of guys have been loyal to us, but you have to pick the best 31.
“Frans is a quality player, and if he’s on form we know what he can do. It’s a pity he isn’t playing at the minute, because he’s just came back and played one or two games. I’ve always regarded him highly.”
Du Preez said recently he would not be playing any Super Rugby before the World Cup, and that he would meet up with the Springboks in July before the Rugby Championship.
Meyer confirmed this yesterday, saying the Springbok management had Du Preez on a programme to manage his fitness.
“I rather want him to be underplayed because we have five games with the Championship and the World Cup, and that’s enough to get him 100%.
“After seven games, he will be at his peak going into the final. What you don’t want with Fourie, and some of the older guys who are important to us, is to play a full season of Super Rugby, and play all the Championship Barcelona v PSG 8pm, SS3 games and then, when they get to the World Cup, they break down. Fourie has been struggling with a back injury. Last year he had an ankle op.”
Du Preez could well be the Springbok captain at the World Cup with both Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield currently injured, although Meyer believes De Villiers is on course to return to full fitness for the tournament.
He will be fresh, although Meyer prefers not so treat an injury as a chance to “rest”.
“That’s where we have been getting it wrong. Rest is not about not working, rest is about working harder on conditioning, going to the gym and getting in peak shape. That’s what we’ve lacked in the past.
“Players who rest totally are starting from scratch, and you want guys coming back into the team in June and July at 100% peak performance. We hope Jean will be ready. He’s a tough customer and has been training hard.”
Meyer’s World Cup squad may not be set in stone, but do not expect too many surprises. Consistency of selection has been the starting point for many a successful team. Confidence helps, too.
“We do a lot of research and have invited a lot of guys to our camps. A guy like Jesse Kriel has been part of two of our camps as a youngster, and he’s playing some great rugby.
“There are a lot of youngsters coming through, but in a World Cup year, you are obviously going to go with most of the side that has been together for three or four years.”
“In 2007, the Bulls and Sharks were in the final and a lot of our players were on form, which helped with the confidence going into the Championship (Tri-Nations as it was then) and then the World Cup.
“It’s still early days, and a lot will change before we get together for the Championship.”