Meyer: Boks are progressing

The 2013 season was one of the best of the post-isolation era for South African rugby and leaves the Springboks in a good place midway between World Cup cycles.

Coach Heyneke Meyer, in his second year at the helm, has constructed a team that will be a serious World Cup contender in England in 2015.

The Boks won 10 out of 12 matches for an 83% winning ratio - bettered only by Nick Mallett's 1998 team, who won 11 out of 12 and Kitch Christie's 1995 unit, who won 10 out of 10, including the World Cup on home soil.

The Boks also improved in aspects of their play such as the breakdown, where they dominated most matches thanks to improved technique from not only the loose forwards, but the entire squad.

Their attacking play also went up several notches. In 2012, the Boks scored 23 tries and 245 points in 12 tests. This year they scored 47 tries and 404 points in the same number of matches.

Admittedly their schedule was easier in June, when they played Italy, an under-strength Scotland, and Samoa, but they scored seven and six tries against Australia and New Zealand respectively.

In 87 tests against the All Blacks, the Boks have averaged only two tries per game. Against Australia it's the same in 78 clashes.

Meyer said: "For me there is no such thing as a running game or a kicking game. You have to adapt to the situation. What was pleasing this year was that the guys took the opportunities, when they presented themselves, to attack and a lot of players scored tries when we exploited the four against three situations. "

One area of criticism levelled at Meyer's Boks is that they've lost four times against the All Blacks in the past two years. It's not a record he's proud of, but he's not panicking.

"It's a mistake to compare us with the All Blacks," Meyer said. "If you keep comparing yourself with someone else, then you just end up being a follower, and you will always need to be a follower.

"We need to look where rugby is going in the next 10 years and prepare for that."

Performance of year

The destruction of Australia in Brisbane topped the list. For 60 minutes the Boks bludgeoned the Wallabies to a standstill and then introduced the rapier in the final quarter. Four tries, a record 38-12 win in Australia and a first victory in Brisbane since 1971 told the story.

Find of the season

Breakdown coach Richie Gray was unheard of outside of his native Scotland until Meyer recruited him as a consultant. It was a hard sell and the coach had to convince his bosses at the SA Rugby Union that it was a worthwhile investment. Gray proved his worth as the Boks dominated the tackle area in almost every game. Meyer is hoping to contract Gray until the World Cup.

Biggest letdown

Failing to score a fourth try against Australia at Newlands after scoring two in the opening 15 minutes. That lost bonus point had a huge impact on the way the Boks approached their match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.

Ah-ha moment

Meyer's decision to include wing/fullback Willie le Roux in the squad. It seemed that Le Roux's seemingly laissez-faire approach to the game wouldn't fit Meyer's structured style. But the coach recognised the X-factor Le Roux brought and the player repaid him by improving his defence, positional play and decision making.

Highlight of the year

Beating France 19-10 in Paris to complete a second successive clean sweep of northern hemisphere opposition. Not even the All Blacks have managed that in the past two seasons. With the World Cup to be played in England in similar conditions, six wins in as many outings up north is a superb return.

Lowlight of the season

Undoubtedly the Auckland debacle. When Bismarck du Plessis was wrongfully red-carded in the 41st minute of what was shaping up to be an epic encounter, the Boks' season took a turn for the worse. The All Blacks went on to score four tries (three of which were scored while the Boks were down to 14 men) which had huge ramifications on the Rugby Championship finale at Ellis Park three weeks later.

sports@timesmedia.co.za