Heyneke looks at the test

Heyneke Meyer analyse the second test between the Boks and the Lions.

Sport24

Former Bulls and Leicester Tigers coach, Heyneke Meyer, writes for Sport24, giving his thoughts on the second Test between the Springboks and the British & Irish Lions:

* To begin with, the first quarter of the match was a mirror of the Test in Durban, but this time it was the Lions who used their opportunities. They scored a try and converted the penalty kick. The Springboks failed at two kicks and lost the scrum on their tryline. That placed them under pressure and on top of this, they had to play without an openside flank.
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* Secondly, the scrums were again determined by the interpretation of the referee. This time the Boks get penalised in this department. The uncontested scrums were to the advantage of both teams. The Lions could move Simon Shaw forward to make way for a better-rested player, which made the altitude less important. It also helped the Springboks as they could get better ball possession from the scrum.
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* Thirdly, the Lions did some homework on the lineouts and managed them better. They avoided Matfield and won some good ball with quick throws. They were also effective in stopping the Bok ruck and maul with Shaw being very useful in that department.
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* The fourth point of interest, is that because the Springboks played quite wide initially, it made them vulnerable, having to give away ball possession a few times and being beaten at the breakdown in the first 60 minutes. But this changed when Brüssow came on as with two openside flanks on the field, the Springboks were able to put a stop to the Lions’ quick ball possession, which brought the turnaround in the match.
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* The fifth point of interest was when the score was 16-5 right before half-time, and the Lions were penalised for obstruction. The Springboks converted a penalty and were only eight points behind at half-time. This was crucial, as the difference between 11 and eight points was eventually the difference of three points in the score.
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* Point number six is that the Springboks were again rewarded for their tactical kicking. The Boks won the Test in Durban with the winning try coming from a lineout. When the Lions were offered something similar on Saturday, with three minutes left in the game, they took the kick at posts to go for a draw. That is the difference between the two teams.
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* Point number seven is Habana’s try, which followed a poor Lions line-out. The Springboks won the resultant scrum and Habana got his chance. It was an elementary mistake by the Lions but it was brilliantly used by the Springboks.
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* Point number eight deals with altitude – you had the feeling they had to be ahead by at least ten points by half-time. Eight points wasn’t enough, and when injuries started playing havoc with their team, it was the end for them. When things get tough, you want your best players on the field, but with Roberts and O’Driscoll off the field, the Lions no longer had that luxury.
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* The ninth point is that Morné Steyn’s conversion after Jaque Fourie ’s try and the long penalty kick at the end were winners, but his biggest contribution was his tactical kicking. Pienaar’s kicks were too loose and the Springboks won back Morné’s high kicks almost every time. Jacque Fourie is one of the world’s three best outside centres and must play again.
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* Lastly, the Springboks still don’t build enough phases but twice scored tries from a first phase and this is rarely seen in Tests. Fourie du Preez was tactically brilliant by calling the right movement with JP Pietersen’s try. He saw the Lion’s wing defending in that area and because it was a strange defence area, a gap opened.