What they’re saying – Boks vs All Blacks

Heyneke Meyer:

‘I have no doubt that whoever wins the tactical-kicking battle this Saturday will win the match. You can’t expect to beat the All Blacks unless you handle their kicking game.

‘History shows that when you are the best tactical-kicking side in the world, you are the best team in the world. Look at when the Boks beat the All Blacks in 2008 and 2009, they had the best kicking unit on the planet. The All Blacks took note of that, and have made some remarkable improvements in that area since.

‘Right now, they are difficult to beat because they have it all. They’re big, they have the skills, but what really sets them apart is how they play in the air and how they kick.

‘Often there’s a perception in South Africa that we kick too much. What people don’t understand is that there’s a difference between intelligent kicking and aimless kicking. If you look at the matches we’ve lost over the past few years, it is the matches in which we haven’t kicked accurately. We have to improve in that department before the World Cup next year.

‘Handré has impressed me, but his tactical kicking is still nowhere where it should be. But I really believe that he is a special player, and that he has the potential to become a great tactical kicker.

‘Francois Hougaard has improved in that department, as has Willie le Roux. I’m sure the All Blacks will target Willie this week with the high ball, but it’s something Willie and the other guys must deal with if we are going to succeed.’

Victor Matfield:

‘Even when the All Blacks aren’t at their best, they find a way to win the big moments. We’ve seen them do it three or four times already this year. Then it becomes a habit, and they become very hard to beat.

‘It’s something we’ve spoken about, and something we want to develop in our own side. We’ve pulled through on a few occasions this season, but we could have also pulled through in the away games in Australia and New Zealand.’