Spies may not be good enough - Meyer

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 28: Pierre Spies of the Bulls during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on February 28, 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 28: Pierre Spies of the Bulls during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on February 28, 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Published May 6, 2015

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Johannesburg – Pierre Spies is back to playing his best rugby, but that might not be good enough to make a return to the number eight Bok jersey according to Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Pierre is back to his best, I still think he can play better [though],” said Meyer at a Springbok training camp where 44 players had assembled in Johannesburg on Monday

.“But I can also mention five other loose forwards that are playing great rugby at the moment. A guy like Jaco Kriel shows what depth we have at loose forward, he was in the first camp.”

Spies has struggled with a bicep injury but was back to full fitness where he has played a key role at the back of the scrum for the Bulls in Super Rugby this season.

“A guy like Pierre being back is great,” said Meyer

“I had a one-on-one with him, he hasn’t been here for two years and to see how excited he is great. He’s played more than 50 games.”

With Stormers number eight Duane Vermeulen a clear favourite to don the Bok jersey at the World Cup starting in mid-September, Spies will have his work cut out to make it into the final squad. Meyer said it was natural for a player to struggle when coming back from injury.

“He’s always been a great player and people were harsh on him, he’s been injured for two years and it’s tough to come back and get another injury.

“Ever since he was a youngster he was an awesome player.”

On the subject of loose forwards, Meyer said South Africa had a number of top-quality players which make his selection job difficult.

“The one thing I’m most worried about is picking the loose forwards. A lot of the media say this guy should go to the World Cup, but people don’t realise nine of your 31 must be in the front row. If you look at all the other positions, you either go with four locks and five loose forwards or three locks and six loose forwards. So to pick five loose forwards out of probably 12 world-class loose forwards is going to be very difficult.” – ANA

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