Meyer not taking any chances

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has resisted experimenting with new combinations for the third-place plaoff against Argentina.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has resisted experimenting with new combinations for the third-place plaoff against Argentina.

Published Oct 29, 2015

Share

London: It will be business as usual for the front-line Springbok players after the team that lost to the All Blacks in this past Saturday’s World Cup semi-final was yesterday virtually picked en masse for tomorrow night’s bronze medal match against Argentina at Olympic Park.

There is one injury-enforced change, with scrumhalf Fourie du Preez unavailable because of a cheekbone injury, and one sentimental selection in Victor Matfield, who starts ahead of youngster Lood de Jager in what will be the 38-year-old’s final match for the Boks. Matfield will also captain the side.

Du Preez is replaced by Ruan Pienaar in the starting line-up with Rudy Paige selected on the bench.

Coach Heyneke Meyer said that there had been a temptation to freshen up the team with some of the fringe players who have not played much rugby at the tournament.

“It was a thought, but not a very long one!” Meyer said. “The game is just too important and I can’t take a chance on picking new combinations.

“We also had to give the guys time off after such a big effort against the All Blacks and we will have had just the one training session on Wednesday beside Thursday’s captain’s run before a Friday match. So it made a lot of sense to go with continuity.”

Meyer said the players who had not had much rugby over the last six weeks understood that “the Springbok jersey is a privilege, not a right”.

He said his comment after the semi-final that tomorrow’s game is “meaningless” wasn’t understood in the way he meant it to be.

“I was trying to say that nothing can compare to winning the World Cup and when your dreams have just been shattered, things can come out the wrong way,” Meyer said.

“Of course every player and member of the coaching staff fully understands that every time you pull on the jersey, even if it is for a friendly, it is vitally important in that you are always carrying the hopes of so many supporters.

“We already feel we let people down by not making the final and we certainly want to give people something to smile about by at least securing third place. It is an incredibly important game.”

Meyer said that he had been on Nick Mallett’s coaching staff during the 1999 World Cup, and had tried to console the head coach after the dramatic loss to Australia in the semi-final, and pick him up for the third/fourth-placed playoff against New Zealand, which the Boks won.

“I was probably a bit naïve back then because now, as head coach, I realise it is a very different story to being an assistant. Only a head coach knows how tough it is to lose,” Meyer said.

“It is a 100 times worse for the coach because the buck stops with you, and you take it personally. I know I do.

“For one thing, there is a lot more social media around these days. At least Nick didn’t have that in ’99!”

Meyer said that he and the players had no choice but to put the despair behind them and deliver a performance that will allow them to “get on the plane with heads held high”.

“We all have to show mental toughness, and we will,” Meyer said. “Argentina have shown at this World Cup that they should have been given more respect over the last 12 months or so.

“They beat Australia last year, Ireland at this World Cup and us earlier this year, and are playing an exciting brand of rugby.” - Cape Time

Related Topics: