Eish, baie eish ja
Jake White might have won the 2007 World Cup.
However, fanatics – not the brannewyn and coke fans – look at the real big picture.
White will always remembered for the 0-49 disgrace in Brisbane in 2006. The Boks lost seven out of 12 Tests that year and the last Test against the Poms saved White – when the Boks bounced back to beat the Poms the second time round at Twickenham. Yes, White won the Tri-Nations in 2004, when both the Boks and All Blacks were in a rebuilding phase.
The Boks had to bury 'Kamp Staaldraad' and Graham Henry took over the reins across the Indian Ocean.
The Boks won that year because all teams won their home games. The 'truth' is that White was a great motivator and surrounded him with a good assistant group.
Rassie Erasmus and Eddie Jones saved him and the Boks in 2007.
The fact that the Boks didn't face the All Blacks and Wallabies made it easier, no debate! White could never beat the All Blacks in New Zealand! White had a 66 percent winning record.
Peter de Villiers, let's be honest, was entertaining. He started by saying the Boks is going to run the opposition of their feet and AussieBoer was happy to hear that.
Unfortunately, De Villiers was not really calling the shots. The Boks had their own mafia. Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and John Smit were the 'Dons' and basically coached and determined the game plan.
The Boks did, however, beat the All Blacks twice in Kiwiland in 2008 and 2009. They also won the Test-series against the British and Irish Lions. De Villiers had a 62 percent success rate.
Let AussieBoer state here clearly, that I rated Heyneke Meyer. He was not a 'high profile' former player that 'walked' into the coaching job after retirement.
No, he lifted SWD rugby on his way to deservedly earn his Green and Gold blazer.
When AussieBoer did his Level III coaching course the likes of Jake White, Carel du Plessis and Gert Smal were some of the presenters. White was full of himself and confident, as he knew he was going to be appointed as the new Bok coach.
He 'scripted' the Bok coaching job specifications that candidates had to have, just to apply. That suited him.
Anyhow, it was Meyer who opened his talk showing a picture of the Bulls winning the Currie Cup under him the previous year. I thought he had guts as this was held at Newlands. Fact remains, that he was the most impressive and showed real passion. He had a game plan he believed in and brought him success.
Now, the big problem taking over the Boks was that he wanted to continue with his 'kick-chase-pray' game plan.
That might have worked in the previous decade, but, is long time outdated and the laws changed.
Meyer's first SpringBull, oops, Springbok squad was ridiculous. Many felt Meyer was correct as he picked the players he knew best.
Rubbish, I say, as a country's coach you pick the best (OK, within political boundaries) players, not your 'óssewa-pelle'.
He was still planning to be the best in the world with players that executed that game plan in the previous decade and he is still banking on them.
Last Saturday's loss to the Pumas is unacceptable.
I am not taking anything away from the Pumas. They outplayed the Boks and deserved the win.
Why is this unacceptable? Meyer kept on telling us that he is picking his best available team and wanted to build continuation with the World Cup around the corner.
Why did the Pumas win, even after they got easily beaten by the Wallabies and All Blacks this year and made heaps of changes going in to this test?
Don't under estimate the influence of a man that knows how to beat the Boks, Graham Henry!
The Pumas had so many more attacking flair and starter moves than the Boks.
The Boks brought in two innovative moves from line-outs this season and that is it. The Wallabies and All Blacks, weekly brings in one or two new starter moves. Even school coaches in SA have more exciting backline starter moves.
Michael Cheika won the Super Rugby competition last year and have now won the Rugby Championship.
Why? Because he doesn't worry about picking specific players according to the teams they play.
Remember the 'horses for courses' 1974 Bok-fiasco!
Cheika and Steve Hansen pick their teams irrelevant to what other teams do.
They pick players to execute their game plan, they are more adventurous, innovative and always evolving game plans.
Meyer must select attacking halfback combinations. Not Morné Steyn and Ruan Pienaar. Fourie du Preez, wow, what a big gamble.
Pick scrumhalves that breaks, ala Nic White, Aaron Smith, TJ Penara etc.
Little too late now for the Boks to try it this season.
Meyer should have started that in 2012 – picking Duane Vermeulen, Willie le Roux and Pat Lambie; instead of Zane Kirchner, Pierre Spies, Ruan Pienaar, JJ Engelbrecht etc.
Meyer currently has a 65 percent success rate – beating the All Blacks only once in seven Tests.
Bokke 25 Pumas 37. Eish Meyer, eish!
AussieBoer (Kevin D)
@rugby365com
