New Bok starters on 'World Cup trial'
In three weeks' time some players will have played themselves into, and others out of, the Springbok World Cup selection frame.
South African coach Heyneke Meyer, speaking after he named his team to take on England at Twickenham on Saturday, made it clear that some players are playing for World Cup spots.
He made five changes to the starting XV that lost to Ireland last week – even though he retained the Springbok match-23.
JP Pietersen, Schalk Burger, Adriaan Strauss, as well as the halfback pair of Cobus Reinach and Pat Lambie have been promoted to the starting XV. Cornal Hendricks, Teboho Mohoje, Bismarck du Plessis, Handré Pollard and Francois Hougaard will play off the replacement bench.
Meyer said the changes were not a knee-jerk reaction, following the result in Dublin, but rather in line with the pre-tour plans he had in mind.
The Bok mentor said even though players' careers could be on the line in every single Test, getting into the World Cup squad remains a focal point.
With only 31 players allowed in the World Cup squad, time is beginning to run out for those wanting to put their names in the selection hat.
"The next three games are going to be vital," Meyer told a media scrum in London.
"The Rugby Championship is very different, with an expansive approach where bonus points are on the line. This [tour] is like World Cup play-off matches every game and we knew it would be tough.
"However, we needed something like this. It is also the first time we have four games away from home, on the trot, [since I took over] and the last game is without our overseas-based players – that will test our character and our depth."
Meyer said that by the end of the tour he will have pencilled in "80 percent" of the names that will go to the World Cup.
"There is some [Rugby Championship and Super Rugby] games next year, but this is the real McCoy.
"The guys have to step up and show they can produce under pressure."
Meyer said the other key factor is finding players who can perform under pressure and in the wet conditions the Words Cup will be played in.
"We, as a team, are not good in wet conditions – we don't experience that too often in South Africa.
"We can fix it before the World Cup, but we have to have guys that can play in these conditions.
"It [the game] is more of an arm-wrestle, it is more physical at the breakdown, you have to be very good on defence. It [the final margin] is always within three to four points and you have to be disciplined. You have to use every opportunity and I want to see which players can do that."
Meyer made it clear that a player like Reinach must take his pre-tour form into the Tiwckenham cauldron and show he can step up.
"You have to be in this position where you see guys under pressure," Meyer said, adding: "That is why we are giving Cobus [Reinach] a start.
"He has been brilliant in training, now he [has to perform] at Twickenham, with 80,000 people – it is an unbelievable pressure situation.
"We have two of the best, and most experienced scrumhalves in the world [Fourie du Preez and Ruan Pienaar] out [injured], so we have to see what Cobus can do.
"You want to win every game, but you also have to put these guys under pressure."
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Meyer on Reinach: "big occasion for Cobus but he would not have been here if we didn’t believe he could deliver the goods"
— South African Rugby (@bokrugby) November 12, 2014
Meyer on Lambie: "started at Twickenham for us two years ago and did very well, tactically very astute."
— South African Rugby (@bokrugby) November 12, 2014
"Changes not a knee-jerk reaction following Dublin defeat, but in line with rotational changes in mind before start of tour". Heyneke Meyer
— South African Rugby (@bokrugby) November 12, 2014
