Back three a Bok secret weapon
With his midfield headaches now solved, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer can start working on his World Cup secret weapon.
Meyer, although he admitted there is plenty to work on, had many positives to discuss in the wake of his team's season-opening 46-10 demolition of a star-studded World XV in Cape Town at the weekend.
"We needed a good performance and there has been a lot of criticism that we don't score enough tries," Meyer told a post-match media briefing at Newlands.
"We needed confidence from this match, so I am very happy with seven tries to one. While I am not too pleased about the try we conceded, it was a good start for us."
He felt the World XV, captained by Springbok legend Bakkies Botha, gave his team a real run for their money.
"We need to keep our feet on the ground," the Bok coach said, cautioning against expecting a repeat performance against Australia in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.
"It will be tougher, as we only arrive [in Brisbane] on Monday," he said, adding: "We need to improve next week, as it will be a different challenge though and we will be tested when we face the Wallabies."
While there is some concern about the Boks' creaky scrum in the first half of the encounter with the World XV and the ongoing lack of depth at No.5 lock, Meyer was in a buoyant mood ahead of the trip Down Under.
It was the unmitigated success of the rookie midfield combination of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel that most excited the coach.
Given that captain Jean de Villiers also made a successful return from reconstructive knee surgery – even though he won't be accompanying the team – Meyer had plenty to enthuse about.
Then there is also the unquestionable talent of his back three, admittedly all somewhat below their best, and the incredible depth of the bottomless pool of loose forward talent.
Meyer said De Allende can be a really dangerous player and a great weapon for the Boks against Australia in Brisbane this coming Saturday.
"I thought the centre pairing worked well," the coach said, adding: "Jesse [Kriel] will just go from strength to strength.
"There is often the question of guys performing well in Super Rugby and then taking that step up [to the international stage]," Meyer said, when asked about another stand-out performance by De Allende – whom he described as one of the best players in Super Rugby this year.
"He has really developed well. It was sad for him last year. He was playing well and just before he got a chance he was injured. Then when he eventually got his chance he wasn't at his best.
"He has been the outstanding back in the [Super Rugby] competition.
"What makes him so great is that he is not just a basher and he is really tough to bring to the ground. He also has some unbelievable touches.
"You either have a guy who just takes up the ball and forces rucks or a passing No.12. What I really like about him is that he has the soft touches, that can put another player away, and he doesn't just run into contact. I like his kick as well and he is an all round player."
Meyer said it is great to see that he now don't just have big ball carriers at his disposal, but guys who have skill as well.
"We will need that [skill], especially in the backs," he said, adding that he always felt No.12 was De Allende's best position.
"The way we play the No.12 centre is also a guy who sets up the ball. With Jean [de Villiers] there it was always difficult. Jean slotted in nicely at No.13 as well last year, with Jan [Serfontein].
"We need depth there and Jan is also a quality player. Jean will come back to his best and Jesse will push them – he [Kriel] will take time to know all the plays, but suddenly things are looking much brighter at centre.
"Lionel Mapoe is also back from injury, so I am berry happy."
Meyer also enthused about the back three, despite their somewhat scratchy showing at Newlands.
"JP [Pietersen] is a world class player," the coach said, adding: "It has been some time since he has been at his best and the reason is that he plays in Japan and goes straight to the Sharks – so he never really has an off season. We have been working very hard on his conditioning.
"Bryan [Habana] has also played a lot in recent times and he is also not where he should be.
"Willie [le Roux] is coming back from injury.
"I personally feel they will be our secret weapon at the World Cup.
"They know that, by their own standards, they have to improve a lot going forward.
"We have a lot of confidence in their ability and are working hard ion their conditioning.
"The more Willie plays the better he will get – he showed what a great player he is with some of his touches. I deliberately put him on the wing to see what he and Pat [Lambie] can do.
"I am expecting big things from JP. He is on a mission and is working very hard. He is just as big as any New Zealand or Australian wing. We will need him to be at his best and her will get there, it is just a matter of time."
Other players the coach heaped praise on were debut prop Vincent Koch, who made some crucial tackles out wide late in the game, and loose forward Teboho Mohoje, who is in the process of being converted into a utility that can cover lock.
He was also in raptures over the performance of flank Marcel Coetzee – who played on the blindside, but will continue to work on his openside skills.
"I thought Marcell was awesome – not just at the breakdown, but also putting in a few big hits," Meyer said, adding: "He really carried the ball up.
"What we lose in the line-outs and through the big ball carries, with him and Flow [Francois Louw] there, I though we were very clinical in the breakdown, especially in the first 20 minutes.
"When Schalk [Burger] came on, he had the same brilliant touches as Warren [Whiteley].
"We still have to work on our line-outs, but I really thought the loose forwards had a great game."
Meyer dismissed any concerns over the Bok scrum, who appeared to be under pressure in the first half.
"No, I am not concerned. What makes it very difficult, because we haven't been able to work with the guys for six months.
"We had new combinations – the front row have played together [for the Sharks], but the rest of the pack haven't scrummed together and we only had one scrumming session.
"We will work hard [on scrumming] this week, although there is not a lot of time.
"I am very happy with the team overall and there are a lot of positives I can take out of the game.
"There are a few things we need to fix, but to be honest, I actually expected the guys to be a bit more rusty out there."
Meyer added that the team's kicking game all round was poor.
"Some bad habits crept in, [in some cases] kicking for the sake of kicking. We didn't handle that well, and goal-kicking as well.
"However, it was great to bring Pat [Lambie] on at fullback and he kicked well. Handré [Pollard] is a superb player and he needs to fix his kicking for next week."
He said No.5 lock remains a cause for concern.
"We really hope Pieter-Steph [du Toit] will be back," Meyer said, adding: "Lood [Lodewyk de Jager] is still a youngster and Eben is not really a No.5.
"My main concern is that Victor [Matfield] still has to come through another 11 games. That is the only concern I have surrounding the team.
"We will keep working with the other guys to jump at No.5, but that is my only concern."
By Jan de Koning, at Newlands
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