Case of optimism

22 October 2015 - 02:31 By Craig Ray in Guildford

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer doesn't care what a case of beer will cost him at the current rand/pound exchange rate, and will be happy to pay if it means beating the All Blacks. Meyer and New Zealand counterpart Steve Hansen have a tradition that the winner buys the loser a beer, and in nearly four years at the Boks' helm Meyer has only had to buy the beer once in seven meetings.So he's saved up enough for a case, as long as the Boks pull off an unlikely win against the old foes in Saturday's Rugby World Cup semifinal at Twickenham.Meyer cut a relaxed figure as he named his team to take on the reigning world champions.His demeanour possibly stemmed from the fact that he had a rare opportunity to name an unchanged starting 15 for the first time since November 2012.The only change to the 23 from the squad that beat Wales 23-19 in the quarterfinal sees veteran lock Victor Matfield replace Pieter-Steph du Toit on the bench."Steve and I started a tradition after the first time our teams played against each [in 2012]," Meyer said. "I was very down after we lost to the All Blacks and Steve came over with a beer and commiserated."The next time we played we lost as well and I didn't even want to go into the post-match function. But again he came looking for me holding another beer."We started talking about family and the pressures of coaching proud rugby countries and we've had so much mutual respect since then."I told him: 'Steve, I can't wait to bring you a beer.' It only happened once, at Ellis Park in 2014, and I brought him a case. He said to me: 'I've been waiting for my beer.' So Steve, hopefully on Saturday I can bring you a case."Since 2010 the All Blacks have played 78 Tests and won 70 with only six defeats and two draws. That's an 89.7% winning ratio.Since winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup that record reads: played 57, won 52, lost 3, drawn 2 for a 90.4% winning ratio."If you look at the All Blacks' record over the past four years, it is the best team that has ever played the game," Meyer said.The teamSouth Africa:15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (c), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.Reserves: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein..

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