When Heyneke Meyer took over the reigns from Peter De Villiers as Springbok coach in 2012, he told the media that he really wanted the Springboks to be the best team in the world and that they needed to improve in every game to reach that goal.
In Meyer’s first year as Springbok coach, he did not do much to change the formula thatwas handed over from De Villiers, which had in turn been passed on to De Villiers from World Cup Winning coach Jake White.
Many thought that the coaching role was given to Meyer four years too late as many of the players from the 2011 World Cup were at their prime and many of them had playedunder Meyer when he guided the Bulls to three Super Rugby titles in 2007, 2009 and 2010. A few core players from that time had since left South Africa to play overseas, and many doubted and even questioned Meyer's ability, when he wanted the likes of Fourie Du Preez, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Victor Matfield to return to the Springbok set up. One can understand why Meyer wanted the pairing of Botha and Matfield back as those two had played a record 60 tests for the Springboks.
Meyer played out the 2012 season with players he knew and players that will get the job done, but surprised many at the start of the 2013 season when he selected some young blood. Meyer rewarded players for standing out during the Super Rugby season in his selection to face Italy, Scotland and Samoa in the June Incoming Test Series. Players like Willie Le Roux, JJ Engelbrecht, Jano Vermaak and Arno Botha were all given a start, with the likes of Trevor Nyakane, Siya Kolisi, Piet Van Zyl and Jan Serfontein playing off the bench. Lourens Adriaanse, Franco Van Der Merwe, Pieter Labuschagne, Louis Schreuder and Robert Ebersohn were also called up to the squad but were never used.
We've seen plenty of changes amongst the forwards, with some players retiring frominternational rugby and others sustaining lengthy injuries. Coenie Oosthuizen and Trevor Naykane were given some game time to show what they can offer if stalwarts Jannie duPlessis and Beast Mtawarira find themselves unavailable for international duty.
Adriaan Strauss was given the number two jersey to show Meyer that he's got a back up if first choice Bismarck du Plessis is out of action.
Unfortunately the introduction of young Sharks lock, Pieter-Steph du Toit - who could possibly form the next Botha and Matfield combination with Eben Etzebeth - had to wait a little longer, after injury ruled him out. He is definitely a prospect for the future.
Another player that's been invaluable to the Springbok set up is Francios Louw; with his strong physical presence and ball carrying ability, he’s gained many meters for the Springboks. Louw is not just a player that likes the limelight, waiting for stand off ball, he also gets his hands dirty and has managed to win a surfeit of turnover possession when it comes to the tackle situation. We have no shortage of talent among the loose forwards with the likes of Louw, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Siya Kolisi and Arno Botha. If that is not enough we still have Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski and Duane Vermeulen to return to their former glory.
We have also seen some exciting play from some of the Cheetah back line players, namely Piet Van Zyl and the ever unpredictable Willie Le Roux. With a number of mid field players not available, it’s given an opportunity for players like JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein to show Meyer they are ready to take over from Jean De Villiers and Jacque Fourie when the time is right. Bryan Habana, one of the more senior players, has also regained some of his form that earned him three SA Rugby Player of the year awards. Habana partnered with Bjorn Basson on the wing in the absence of Lwazi Mvovo and JP Pietersen. Ever-present and always looking for an attacking opportunity, Willie Le Roux, took full advantage in the absence of fullback Zane Kirchner. Meyer might be playing horses for courses with these two and might call on the more experienced Kirchner when facing the All Blacks and Wallabies.
With all this talent coming through where does it leave players like Francios Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Elton Jantjies, Johan Goosen and Francios Steyn?
Whichever way you look at it, Heyneke Meyer is starting a new chapter in Springbok rugby, he's breaking away from the traditional mold of player selection in his quest to make the Springboks the best team in the world.
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