How will Heyneke Meyer fare in 2013?
In his first year, Heyneke Meyer was immediately under fire and he started with two unconvincing wins against England, with the 3rd Test against England ending in a 14 / 14 draw. He ended the 2012 season with a 58% win record. His best supporters point out that with the 2 draws he recorded, the losing percentage is a fairer assessment of his first year. The half-full glass group will point out that he only lost 3 games for a 25% losing percentage. Seeing it this way makes his debut year a reasonably good one.
What would we want from him in 2013?
The 2013 season consists of 3 different tournaments or segments. The Incoming tours starting in less than 2 weeks, the Rugby Championship and the End of Year tour.
Incoming Tour:
The first part consists of a brand new mini tournament hosted in South Africa between South Africa, Italy, Samoa and Scotland. In the first two matches South Africa play Italy and Scotland. South Africa will play the best of the 3 in their last game. What type of result would be acceptable here? I recon a clean sweep is non negotiable and most supporters would agree with me.
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
The Rugby Championship:
In 2012 the Springboks ended 3rd with only 2 wins and a draw against Argentina. The Bokke lost twice to our arch rivals, New Zealand, and once against Australia. In 2013 South Africa starts with a home game against Argentina and then go on tour to play Argentina, Australia and New Zealand and end with two home games versus Australia and New Zealand. There is a lot of room for improvement on last year’s performance, but all South Africans expect a series win.
End of Year Tour:
So, what will constitute a successful 2013 campaign for Heynecke Meyer?
If he could swing the two drawn games of 2012 to wins, he will immediately have that elusive 75% win ratio. But that would leave him still with 3 losses out of 4 against the real enemy, Australia and New Zealand. I would say the absolute minimum acceptable situation would be to win 10 out of 12 Tests in 2013. That means he will have to win two games vs the ANZAC opponents. Winning 10 Tests would give him a healthy 83.3% win ratio. But that might still leave him without the Rugby Championship title.
Heyneke will most probably have an easy first part to the season and the only criticism might be his game plan and tactics… and of course his squad and team selections.
@ Gena_ZA:
name vanne en tuisdorpe asb. of kry jy daai statestiek in jou duim? o en sit sommer by watter standert hulle soontoe is en hoeveel van hullr ouers was in grey of oranje gewees.
op die kakhuis gesit en uitdink maar as jy wil gaan praat met skoliere en onderwysers daar, ek het verneem van iemand wat direkte bande het met die skool en Vrystaat rugby
ek’s nie lus vir n argument nie
Wat ek try se het is baie skllokinders word voreg reeds gekoop/geboek vir die toekoms
32 @ Gena_ZA:
You hit the nail on the head.
First hand knowledge.
Monnas offered Justin Botha a full bursary for his entire high school life, tuition and accomodation and living expenses when he was in Std 4!!!
He went on to play SA Schools 2 years in a row and Lions Craven Week for 3 years.
Pity the Sharks Acadamy varked him totally. But that’s a story for another time.
@ Gena_ZA:
boonop stuur baie ouers hul kinders na familie daar in Bloem. Kyk lets face it die Grey is n PUIK rugby skool en enige Pa wat sy seun n Springbok wil maak moet dit oorweeg om die knaap daar te laat draai.
Interesant dat soveel goeie senters deesdae daaruit stroom, seker n baie goeie skills coach en n afrigter wat agterlyn spel aanmoedig.
Dan weer is die plek vir slotte, Pretoria. Dit is ongelooflik hoe baie groot slotte n draai deur Pretoria gemaak het
kyk ek stem saam en sou ook my seun of Affies, Grey of Perel toe stuur as ek kon
Slotte in PTA, hel ja, vleis is nog goedkoop hier man 🙂
21 @ ben-die-bul:
Do you not think that I was perhaps taking the piss out of the situation? Did the smilely not give it away?
37 @ Loosehead:
BiDiBiDi also had a smiley at the end…. hehehe
John Barclay has been ruled out of Scotland’s tour to South Africa a few days ago as he needs a shoulder operation, not sure any replacement has been named yet and while not necessarily a like for like swap think Rob Harley would be a good candidate.
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