Boks a distant third - Meyer
Oct 08,2012
The All Blacks' win over the Springboks has emphasised the gap that exists between the global champions and the rest of the world, according to South African coach Heyneke Meyer.
New Zealand beat their hosts 32-16 at FNB Stadium on Saturday to secure their 16th successive Test victory in their last match of the inaugural four-nation Rugby Championship.
"We started off the year as the fourth team in the world and we are second now, but there is still a long way to go," Meyer said.
"I think there is a big difference between the first and second team, but they (New Zealand) are the world champions and they have won a whole lot of games in a row."
The Boks led 16-12 at half-time but the New Zealanders scored two second-half tries to dismantle their perennial rivals.
"At half-time I thought we were still in the game and that we played the right kind of game," Meyer said.
"But the turning point was just after half-time when we conceded a turnover against the best counter-attacking team in the world, which they scored from, and suddenly we were 19-16 behind."
The All Blacks, who have not lost a Test since they lifted the world title last year, are well on track to break Lithuania's international record of 18 wins in a row.
With five matches left in the season, New Zealand could end the year with 21 consecutive victories in the bag.
The tourists showed up the Boks' defence, especially on the counter attack, and Meyer believed their short-comings were due to inexperience against possibly the most dangerous attacking backline in world rugby.
"If you look at the mistakes, it was backs on backs and they will learn from that," Meyer said.
"So we had a few inexperienced players against the best backline in the world and they will punish you if you make mistakes.
"It was not a case of the players not putting their bodies on the line because when we defended in a line we looked good, so it was soft moments."
While Meyer was disappointed with his side's third loss of the Rugby Championship campaign, he felt the team would be in a better place after the end-of-year tour to Britain where they will face Ireland, Scotland and England.
"We will be a different side after another three Tests and a Super Rugby season," he said.
"To be realistic we improved a helluva lot if you look at all the injuries and the players not available.
"It's been a tough few months, but again we started as the fourth side in the world and moved up two places.
"We will work harder and I will do my best to make this a championship side."
Comments (4)
Oct 08, 2012 at 12:47:07
Straight from the horses mouth. I agree with everything he said and it's nice to hear it straight from the horses mouth.
Oct 09, 2012 at 00:25:29
The boks are extremely ucky to be third. It's only thanks to their regular schedule of playing NZ that artificially inflates their world ranking. When you constantly play teams ranked higher than yourself, even a loss doesn't have much impact on your overall ranking score but the occasional win over a higher placed team will disproportionately inflate your ranking score.
Argentina illustrate this point perfectly. Before the start of the Championship they were ranked eighth with a score ( July 30 th) of 79.25. 5 straight losses and a draw (to higher ranked teams) later and they are STILL ranked eigth and their overall score actually improved fractionally, going up several hundredths to 79.34. Both Australia and SA benefit in a similar manner with their regular encounters ( losses) with the worlds # 1 team. I suspect if NZ s SANZAR partners only played the ABs as infrequently as most NH teams that their positions on the IRB table would plummet dramatically.
Oct 09, 2012 at 01:03:50
Simple...
If you have a backline coach who is out of his league then you will get what the Springbok backline delivers.
Garbage in equals garbage out.
If the players who are all ranked as Springbok material fail to deliver after all these test then you have to look elsewhere for the problem....backline coach has to GO!!!!!!!
Oct 08, 2012 at 12:37:21
No constructive backline play and defence from the backs. The brave forwards who did so well are being let down by poor backline play and players. Will HM be brave and humble enough to ask for help??? And maybe help from NZ - WAYNE SMITH!!!!