Author: Rob

I find Cricinfo to be a rather interesting website. Preaching to a sub-continental power base that is obsessed with betting and stats has pushed cricket’s leading website towards the cool, cold and brilliant world of sport statistics. Cricket is far more susceptible to mathematical dissemination than rugby, but South African rugby and South African rugby fans would do well to take a peek behind the curtain of numbers – sadly they will not like what they find.

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Flippie van der Merwe and Hennie Bekker were part of the Springbok team that took on New Zealand in Wellington on 12th September 1981. Almost exactly 31 years later when Andries Bekker ran on to join Flip van der Merwe on the field in the 53rd minute of Saturday’s test against New Zealand in Dunedin, the circle was complete.

Hennie was a Western Province stalwart of the 80’s, played 2 tests away against New Zealand (both losses) scoring a try, and was named SA Rugby Player of the Year in 1983.

Flippie senior is still one of the biggest men ever to play prop for South Africa at 196cm and 133kg, and played 6 tests for the Boks (winning 4) up until the 1989 match
against a World XV at Newlands.

After his first seven tests in charge, Heyneke Meyer has a 42% win ratio. This is the worst return of any Springbok coach since Carel du Plessis in 1997 with 37%. By comparison, Peter de Villiers boasted a win ratio of 71% after his first seven games in charge, having beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time since 1998.

Meyer’s draw against England was the first time the Boks had failed to beat them since 2006, while the draw against Argentina was the first time in history that the Springboks had failed to beat the Pumas. Not only did De Villiers have a much better start, but he kept us entertained at press conferences.

Peter de Villiers’ first 7 games

Played 7 Won 5 Lost 2 – Win percentage of 71%

Wales (Bloemfontein): WON 43-17
Wales (Pretoria): WON 37-21
Italy (Cape Town): WON 26-00
All Blacks (Wellington): LOST 08-19
All Blacks (Dunedin): WON 30-28
Wallabies (Perth): LOST 09-16
Argentina (Johannesburg): WON 63-09

Heyneke Meyer’s first 7 games

Played 7 Won 3 Draws 2 Losses 2 – Win percentage 42%

England (Durban): WON 22-17
England (Johannesburg): WON 36-27
England (Port Elizabeth): DRAW 14-14
Argentina (Cape Town): WON 27-06
Argentina (Mendoza): DRAW 16-16
Wallabies (Perth): LOST 19-26
All Blacks (Dunedin): LOST 11-21

Peter de Villiers’ next 15 games

Played 15 Won 11 Lost 4 – Win percentage of 73%

New Zealand (Cape Town): LOST 00-19
Australia (Durban): LOST 15-27
Australia (Johannesburg): WON 53-08
Wales (Cardiff): WON 20-15
Scotland (Murrayfield): WON 14-10
England (Twickenham): WON 42-06
British & Irish Lions (Durban): WON 26-21
British & Irish Lions (Pretoria): WON 28-25
British & Irish Lions (Johannesburg): LOST 09-28
New Zealand (Bloemfontein): WON 28-19
New Zealand (Durban): WON 31-19
Australia (Cape Town): WON 29-17
Australia (Perth): WON 25-32
Australia (Brisbane): LOST 21-06
New Zealand (Hamilton): WON 29-32