Meyer: 'All Blacks have it right'
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Bok coach Heyneke Meyer said the matter of injuries rested heavily on his mind and feels the time had come to change the systems in place for the national team.
The heavy workload of the Boks in recent months have resulted in numerous injuries and as a result, the side will tour without the likes of hooker Bismarck du Plessis, lock Andries Bekker, number eight Pierre Spies, fly-half Johan Goosen, centre Frans Steyn and wing Bryan Habana.
"Being Springbok coach is a managerial job as much as anything else and it has been frustrating at times for me in this first season," said Meyer.
"One of my big strengths has always been to look at the system and then go about getting it right.
"There are some great players with injuries when one looks at Frans (Steyn) and Bryan (Habana)," added the Bok boss.
"Okay, JP (Pietersen) is back from injury, but the injured players can do a lot for the team, they are important for us.
"The (incoming) youngsters do well but when you have names like Habana and Steyn in your backline you have a really good team."
Meyer felt South African rugby should take a leaf out of New Zealand's book and rest the players for extended periods in an effort to ensure good health.
"Without wanting to be critical of the way things are done here, I would like to see changes in the systems going forward," Meyer said.
"I think New Zealand have got it right. They intend to rest (Richie) McCaw on their European tour.
"Their management of the players is unbelievable, and they are also doing the right thing on their end of year tour, taking 34 players and introducing talented youngsters around a core of experienced guys."
Comments
new_j4a says...
@sirtidychris, now that you mention it...I agree
Posted 12:59 08th November 2012
sirtidychris says...
his comments seem a bit contradictory ? its a shame to be missing our star players like steyn and habana for the tour....we should be more like new zealand who rest there players like mccaw for the summer tour ? under his premise he wants his star players fit so he can rest them and leave them at home
Posted 10:58 02nd November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
they could convert the club games to touch rugby. BDP would still be injured though as would the other RC injuries.
Posted 00:22 02nd November 2012
melkdave says...
Theres nodought NZ have their player management right in so far as the national team are considered.But trying to copy it isnt so easy as Ireland have found out and the IRFU owns the clubs..Their clubs are doing well ,but at national leval they are not ,by anyones standard.considering the expeianced players they have and the young talant comming though.Wheather SA could do better than Ireland in copying the NZ system remains to be seen .One thing i do know if SARU want to centally contract players ,its really going to cost them a pretty penny in compensation as they dont own the clubs,and given their recent track record on managing the game in SA ,i have doughts if they could copying NZ anyway.
Posted 10:50 01st November 2012
Carpelone says...
Sandal, are you reading?
The same was said by Hansen.
Still waiting for your apologies.
Posted 10:50 01st November 2012
SACanuck says...
Agree 100 percent on this issue. SARU needs to wake up.
Posted 10:28 01st November 2012