Ken Borland

The Springboks and Heyneke Meyer are on the back foot and the coach is relying on two changes to his forward pack and a new halfback to change their fortunes against Australia this weekend.

Meyer has always said he will target Australia up front in Perth on Saturday and the inclusion of Duane Vermeulen at eighthman and Juandre Kruger at lock should give the pack more vitality, with the emphasis on a greater ability to play hard on to the ball.

That means the same backline which failed to impress against Argentina will be running out on to the field, but with one significant change. Ruan Pienaar has sat on bench for all five Tests of the Meyer reign, but will get his big chance as the starting scrumhalf on Saturday.

Francois Hougaard, for all his natural talent, has looked hesitant as the vital link between forwards and backs, a round peg in the square hole of Meyer’s game plan. He has not been helped by an inexperienced pack that has struggled to give him front-foot ball, but his erratic service to Morne Steyn and the inaccuracy of his kicking have also spread the lack of momentum down the backline.

It’s not all bad news for Hougaard, however, as Meyer does fancy the X-factor he brings to the game and will start him on the left wing, where his Springbok career began so spectacularly in 2010. The 24-year-old will hope the rainy weather in Perth clears up and it is a dry day on Saturday that will suit his running skills.

But it is the Springbok pack that will have to rule the night at Subiaco if South Africa are to prevent the Wallabies from claiming a record fifth straight win against them. These are dark times for the much-vaunted strength of Springbok rugby with Bismarck du Plessis, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Gurthro Steenkamp, Pierre Spies and Chiliboy Ralepelle all out injured and Bakkies Botha and Ryan Kankowski unavailable. Plus the new boys in the Rugby Championship, Argentina, matched them up front and left them scratching their heads in search of answers.

Meyer’s answer is to go back to a strength that destroyed all comers in 2007 and 2009 – the lineout. Of course, the career of the kingpin of that set-piece, the talismanic Victor Matfield, is now over, but the Springbok coach has made it clear he wants to attack the Wallabies at source, at the set-pieces.

Vermeulen, as destructive a player you can get when fully fit, will finally make his Springbok debut at eighthman, but Meyer resisted the temptation to choose the whole Stormers lineout. With doubts over hooker Adriaan Strauss’s knee – he has trained just once this week – Tiaan Liebenberg could of made his first start in the number two jersey, Eben Etzebeth has impressed at number four and that might have earned Andries Bekker, who had no positive impact in Mendoza, a reprieve at five.

But Meyer has said Bekker is simply not fit enough at the moment. “Andries’ back is almost there and his ankle is almost there. I just wanted to give him a break because we know what we have in Andries. He is a quality player, but he has come through a few injuries and is probably not 100% fit. Juandre played really well against England and I wasn’t happy with our cleaning and the way we recycled ball against Argentina and Juandre plays more to the ball than Andries and we will need that on Saturday,” he said.

“Duane is a specialist number eight and is good in the lineout. Against Argentina, we gave them easy ball at the back of the lineout because we didn’t have a jumper there,” Meyer added.

With Vermeulen coming in at eight, there is a further change in the loose trio with Willem Alberts shifting to number seven in place of Jacques Potgieter, who was a disappointment against the Pumas.

Meyer controversially found no place in the touring squad for Keegan Daniel, who enjoyed a top-class SuperRugby campaign for the Sharks and is a dynamic, linking, offloading type of player. The coach had also previously indicated that a “horses-for-courses” selection policy should get Daniel a call-up against the Wallabies.

“Keegan was unlucky as I felt he could have come on against Australia because they fit his game plan more. But we don’t have a classical number eight at the moment with Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski out and as I said, Duane provides us with another lineout jumper,” Meyer explained. But why not a spot on the bench again for Daniel?

Meyer has instead gone for a fetcher in Francois Louw, a well-travelled flank who is currently enjoying a stint with Bath in England. “On the bench, I had to decide between an impact player or a specialist openside flank. If the referee is going to allow stealing of the ball at the rucks [Saturday’s official is Nigel Owens, a Welshman known to be more lenient at the breakdown], then I want to have a specialist openside,” Meyer said. “I’ve really been impressed with Francois Louw. When we did our ball-stealing drill he was superb on the ground and he looks in great condition. He is definitely going to get game-time on Saturday and I’m quite excited to see what he can bring to the party.”

But it’s not a fetcher stealing the opposition ball that the Springboks need most. It is better protection of their own ball at the rucks and for that to happen, the pack as a whole need to show more fire in the belly when it comes to clearing out.

“We have got quite a big back row and Francois gives us an insurance policy on the bench depending on how the game goes or how the ref interprets the breakdown,” said Meyer. “I want a higher work-rate from the back row. More ball carries and we have to break the line open as well. The one thing we don’t have in our back row, which is a little bit of a concern, is out-and-out pace but I think they make up for that with a big work-rate.

To ensure an 80-minute effort up front, Meyer had the opportunity to go for a 5-2 split on the bench with either two locks or two loose forwards amongst the reserves.

But the coach has selected three backs amongst the reserves, including the exciting 20-year-old flyhalf Johan Goosen – a surprisingly bold move by Meyer. “I believe that Goosen can be a world-class 10. He has got everything that you need from a flyhalf and I want to get him into the system as soon as possible, as well as getting him into the culture and the patterns of play because the 10 makes most of the calls.

“I want to give him some game-time as soon as possible, but it depends on what happens during Saturday’s game as Morne Steyn is one of our more experienced players,” he said.
Pat Lambie, who has frustratingly not seen any action off the bench in the last two games, and exciting wing Lwazi Mvovo are the other backline substitutes.

While their contributions in open play left much to be desired in Mendoza, the scrummaging is not broken so Meyer is unlikely to make changes in the front row, unless Strauss cannot play of course. If Liebenberg has to start, then the uncapped Craig Burden will be on the bench and he is a tremendous force in broken play, which could add some much-needed spark on attack.

Springbok team: 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Bryan Habana, 13-Jean de Villiers, 12-Francois Steyn, 11-Francois Hougaard, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Ruan Pienaar, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Marcell Coetzee, 5-Juandre Kruger, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Adriaan Strauss, 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Bench- 16-Tiaan Liebenberg, 17-Pat Cilliers, 18-Flip van der Merwe, 19-Francois Louw, 20-Johan Goosen, 21-Pat Lambie, 22-Lwazi Mvovo.

http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-09-05-nervy-boks-prepare-for-must-win-wallabies-test

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is on the back foot and is likely to rely on his forward pack to change their fortunes against Australia this weekend.

As former Springbok coach Jake White pointed out last week, coaches under pressure tend to go back to what they know, and Meyer will target Australia up front in Perth on Saturday.

That means the same backline which failed to impress against Argentina will probably be running out on to the field, but with one significant change.

Ruan Pienaar has sat bench for all five Tests of the Meyer reign, but looks set to get his big chance as the starting scrumhalf on Saturday.

Francois Hougaard, for all his natural talent, has looked hesitant as the vital link between forwards and backs, a round peg in the square hole of Meyer’s game plan. He has not been helped by a pack that has struggled to give him front-foot ball, but his erratic service to Morne Steyn and the inaccuracy of his kicking have also spread the lack of momentum down the backline.

It’s not all bad news for Hougaard, however, as Meyer does fancy the X-factor he brings to the game and is likely to start him on the left wing, where his Springbok career began so spectacularly in 2010. The 24-year-old will hope the rainy weather in Perth clears up and it is a dry day on Saturday that will suit his running skills.

But it is the Springbok pack that will have to rule the night at Subiaco if South Africa are to prevent the Wallabies from claiming a record fifth straight win against them.

These are dark times for the much-vaunted strength of Springbok rugby, with Bismarck du Plessis, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Gurthro Steenkamp, Pierre Spies and Chiliboy Ralepelle all out injured and Bakkies Botha and Ryan Kankowski unavailable. Plus the new boys in the Rugby Championship, Argentina, matched them up front and left them scratching their heads in search of answers.

Meyer’s answer is to go back to a strength that destroyed all comers in 2007 and 2009 – the lineout. Of course, the career of the kingpin of that set-piece, the talismanic Victor Matfield, is now over, but the Springbok coach has made it clear he wants to attack the Wallabies at source, at the set-pieces.

Duane Vermeulen, as destructive a player you can get when fully fit, is set to finally make his Springbok debut at eighthman and it could coincide neatly with a whole Stormers lineout being chosen.

With doubts over hooker Adriaan Strauss’s knee – he hasn’t trained all week – Tiaan Liebenberg could make his first start in the number two jersey, Eben Etzebeth has impressed at number four and that might just earn Andries Bekker, who had no positive impact in Mendoza, a reprieve at five.

“Duane is a specialist number eight and is good in the lineout. Against Argentina, we gave them easy ball at the back of the lineout because we didn’t have a jumper there. Duane also knows Bekker, Etzebeth and Liebenberg well,” Meyer said.

With Vermeulen coming in at eight, there should be a further change in the loose trio with Willem Alberts shifting to number seven in place of Jacques Potgieter, who was a disappointment against the Pumas.

Meyer controversially found no place in the touring squad for Keegan Daniel, who enjoyed a top-class SuperRugby campaign for the Sharks and is a dynamic, linking, offloading type of player. The coach had also previously indicated that a “horses-for-courses” selection policy should get Daniel a call-up against the Wallabies.

“Keegan was unlucky as I felt he could have come on against Australia because they fit his game plan more. But we don’t have a classical number eight at the moment with Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski out and as I said, Duane provides us with another lineout jumper,” Meyer explained.

But why not a spot on the bench again for Daniel?

Meyer will instead go for a fetcher in Francois Louw, a well-travelled flank who is currently enjoying a stint with Bath in England.

“On the bench, I have to decide between an impact player or a specialist openside flank. If the referee is going to allow stealing of the ball at the rucks [Saturday’s official is Nigel Owens, a Welshman known to be more lenient at the breakdown], then I want to have a specialist openside,” Meyer said before the team departed for Australia.

But it’s not a fetcher stealing the opposition ball that the Springboks need most. It is better protection of their own ball at the rucks and for that to happen, the pack as a whole need to show more fire in the belly when it comes to clearing out.

To ensure an 80-minute effort up front, Meyer could well go for a 5-2 split on the bench with either two locks or two loose forwards amongst the reserves.

While their contributions in open play left much to be desired in Mendoza, the scrummaging is not broke so Meyer is unlikely to make changes in the front row, unless Strauss cannot play of course.

If Liebenberg has to start, then the uncapped Craig Burden will be on the bench and he is a tremendous force in broken play, which could add some much-needed spark on attack.

Pat Lambie, who has frustratingly not seen any action off the bench in the last two games, and exciting centre Juan de Jongh will probably be the backline substitutes.

Likely Springbok team: 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Bryan Habana, 13-Jean de Villiers, 12-Francois Steyn, 11-Francois Hougaard, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Ruan Pienaar, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Marcell Coetzee, 5-Andries Bekker, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Adriaan Strauss/Tiaan Liebenberg, 1-Tendai Mtawarira. Bench- 16-Tiaan Liebenberg/Craig Burden, 17-Pat Cilliers, 18-Flip van der Merwe, 19-Juandre Kruger/Jacques Potgieter, 20-Francois Louw, 21-Pat Lambie, 22-Juan de Jongh.

The Ford Pumas pulled away from the second quarter as they smashed the SWD Eagles 70-27 (half-time 35-6) in their Absa Currie Cup First Division match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday.

The bonus-point win was vital for the Pumas as they try to prevent the EP Kings from getting too far away from them at the top of the log. The Kings temporarily stretched their lead to 13 points with their victory the previous evening over the Valke, but the Mpumalanga side ensured the gap returned to eight points at the end of the 10th of 14 rounds of league play.

If the match had been overseen by the police rather than referee Joey Salmans, the Pumas might have been charged with assault with intent to cause grevious bodily harm as they steamrolled the Eagles, a dominant pack and their powerful runners in the backline running amok.

Flank Jaco Bouwer scored a hat-trick of tries and wing Wilhelm Loock crossed twice in the space of four minutes either side of halftime. Flyhalf JC Roos also kicked with tremendous composure and accuracy as he succeeded with all nine of his conversion attempts and replacement lock Christo le Roux kicked the 10th just for good measure.

The Pumas began on the right note as Bouwer scored in the first minute and a second try by centre Jerome Pretorius gave them a 14-3 lead after the first quarter.

The home side’s tight five were in firm control and the Pumas’ loose trio capitalised with Uzair Cassiem and Bouwer scoring tries in the 24th and 32nd minutes respectively, before Loock was able to make good ground down the left and score just three minutes before the break.

Two penalties from fullback Elric van Vuuren were all the Eagles had to show from the first half, but they can take some credit for battling on gamely right until the final whistle and they scored three tries in the second half.

Loock showed that he can turn on the after-burners as he scored straight from the second-half restart and, given the flood of scoring that saw the Pumas grab four tries in the previous 17 minutes, it must have felt like years for the 2 000 home supporters before they crossed the tryline again in the 58th minute through lock Nqubeko Zulu.

Roos converted to stretch the lead to 49-6, prompting the Eagles to bring on most of their bench and they did have an impact, relatively speaking of course.

A try by replacement hooker Wayne Khan cut the deficit to 13-49 with Van Vuuren’s conversion, before Pumas star Bouwer found the space to barge over for his hat-trick try in the 69th minute.

Centre JW Jonker also found the gap to score six minutes later, but the Eagles had the reserves and the determination to score twice in the closing stages, the impressive Van Vuuren grabbing tries to give him a tally of 22 points from the match.

But the Pumas fittingly had the final say as replacement wing Ashwin Scott scooted over in the corner for their 10th and final try.

SCORERS

Ford Pumas – Tries: Jaco Bouwer (3), Jerome Pretorius, Uzair Cassiem, Wilhelm Loock (2), Nqubeko Zulu, JW Jonker, Ashwin Scott. Conversions: JC Roos (9), Christo le Roux.

SWD Eagles – Tries: Wayne Khan, Elric van Vuuren (2). Conversions: Van Vuuren (3). Penalties: Van Vuuren (2).

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup-first-division/news/120901/Pumas_smash_Eagles