It is raining quality flyhalves in SA
While most pundits continue to debate who new Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will pick at flyhalf next month, he is already pondering who his No.10 will be at the 2015 World Cup.
Meyer, speaking after the conclusion of his third and final ‘planning camp’ in Cape Town a few days ago, said his flyhalf should be the player capable of landing a match-winning goal-kick from the touchline in a World Cup Final.
While giving nothing away in terms of his preferred choices, Meyer did say that South Africa suddenly had an abundance of world-class pivots.
The season-ending shoulder injury of Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen was an obvious disappointment, but the sudden depth at No.10 meant that pivot position was the least of Meyer’s concerns.
“I can’t say he would have or would not have made the June Tests, but he had a good chance,” Meyer said, when quizzed about Goosen.
The Bok mentor said the future at flyhalf was indeed bright.
“I thought that [No.10] was one position South Africa were lacking in the last 10 years,” he said, adding: “We had one or two flyhalves, but we didn’t have guys who could create and play tactically and suddenly there are four or five great, great flyhalves.”
Meyer said he was also “very impressed” with Stormers pivot Peter Grant, saying: “I think he is playing his best rugby, so he is an option.”
Turning his attention back to the young Cheetahs flyhalf, Goosen, Meyer said injuries were an inevitable part of his game.
“You want your flyhalf to last 10 years, but the way he plays… he is very physical and he puts his body on the line and I want that from a flyhalf, but he is going to get injuries in his career.
“I think that [his injury] is a big blow,” added the Bok boss.
“However, he is mentally tough and I hope the rehab will go well and he will be back playing. He is a guy we can definitely play in the future and he has special attributes – if you can coach that, he can be one of the truly greats.
“In saying that, Patrick Lambie is also a good youngsters and [Elton] Jantjies has been impressive in the camps.
“The good thing is that we suddenly have several great flyhalves and that is why our backline play will improve.”
Meyer said it was vital to have a quality flyhalf in any team.
“Especially playing the World Cup in England [in 2015],” the new Bok coach said, “I have said I am only concentrating on England, the first Test [on June 9 in Durban], but in the back of my mind it is probably going to be rainy there [England 2015] and you need a tactical flyhalf that can play in those conditions.
“If you look at World Cups and you look at finals, it doesn’t matter what type of game you play, it is actually the flyhalf that makes a difference by kicking at poles, kicking out of hand and the way he defends.
“I won’t say I build it around my No.10, but it is a very, very important part of your game.
“It is almost like a quarterback [in American football], you almost pick your quarterback first.
“In England, a World Cup Final, with three minutes to go… a kick in the corner – I want to pick a guy I know is going to kick it over… a player I know has the mentality and the mental toughness to kick it over.
“Definitely, my flyhalf is very very important… it has always been.
“If you look at my history, I wasn’t scared to pick young flyhalves – Derick [Hougaard], Morné [Steyn] were 19 and 20 [when they first played for the Bulls under Meyer].
“There are definitely a lot of great youngsters out there.”
By Jan de Koning
