WHEN South Africa lost to Japan, Heyneke Meyer was a man under heavy, heavy pressure. Now, after his side returned to form with a thumping win over Samoa, the Springboks’ coach appears back to his confident, garrulous best.
Of course, one result is not in itself conclusive proof that the South Africa of old have returned and are ready to sweep all before them. But the personable Meyer is sure that they once more have their destiny in their own hands, and that if they perform as they are capable, his team are capable of great things.
“When I was appointed I said there were two kinds of rugby - winning and losing,” he said yesterday after naming his team for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup Pool B game against Scotland. “Lately we’ve played more losing rugby than winning rugby.
“I’ve always said that if we play to our strengths then nobody in the world can beat us, and I still believe that. It was typical Springbok rugby [against Samoa], without being too conservative.
“If we are fired up and playing to our strengths and play for our country, then no-one can beat us. Slowly and surely we’re getting back to form. We are looking forward to Saturday.”
That focus on doing themselves justice and not worrying too much about their opponents is a constant theme of Springboks press conferences, but Meyer was happy to talk expansively about a Scotland team he is convinced will be more of a challenge than might have been the case in previous years. “Scotland are a team that are not going to go away,” he continued. “They have a lot of confidence at the moment and their coach has done well.
“Their [current lineup] are not a team we have faced previously. They have brought in a few South Africans and New Zealanders and they suddenly have big ball-carriers in their back three as well.
“We have a lot of respect for them. They probably have a lot of confidence at the moment. Glasgow has done well and it is easier when you have a lot of players from one club. They know what they are doing.
“They had great warm-up games, they beat Japan and USA pretty well. Everything is happening for them - they are on a roll and their confidence is great. They are in a good place.
“Scotland are almost at home, so it will be difficult on Saturday. But one thing about South Africa is that is when we rise to the occasion and that’s what I expect from the players. I know my players are warriors and this is the team I want to go with.”
Meyer is without the oldest warrior in his squad, Victor Matfield, who is unavailable because of injury. But in Lood de Jager, Matfield’s replacement, South Africa have a young lock whose partnership with Eben Etzebeth could become the best in the world given a couple of years together.
“Eben and I started together against New Zealand at Ellis Park and that went well as a combination,” De Jager said. “The same was true against Argentina in Durban too – we didn’t play that well that day, but playing with him is certainly something I look forward to because he’s an amazing player. He’s a very physical player and I pride myself on my physicality too so we’ll both go out and try to be as physical as I can.”
Like Meyer, De Jager has been impressed by the Scotland squad, and mentioned Stuart Hogg and Mark Bennett among the Scots players he particularly rates. In common with his coach, however, the young second row is looking forward to a game which he thinks will be an opportunity for his team to show how thoroughly they have recovered from the shock of losing to Japan.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge,” he added. “Scotland are one of the teams that have improved the most over the last year in world rugby, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
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