p16_Layout 1 9/14/14 10:01 PM Page 1 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 SPORTS Meyer’s World Cup plans build, youngsters need to learn WELLINGTON: South Africa coach Centre Jan Serfontein, who is 21, also ment in England. week until we win,” he said. “We’ve been first half, given the game was on the line Heyneke Meyer was left visibly frustrated defended stoutly in midfield, where the “A lot of youngsters have really put in this situation and we haven’t convert- in the final few minutes. and annoyed his side had failed to end All Blacks targeted their attack on sec- up their hands,” Meyer said. “They will ed, and we haven’t taken the next step. “Those last three minutes went pretty the All Blacks’ five-year winning streak in ond-phase with forwards hammering develop ahead of the World Cup and I’m “It’s a bit disappointing that we don’t slow especially when we got turned over New Zealand. away hoping to punch holes through really happy with the depth of our learn from our previous encounters in that scrum, but the leaders said Deep down, however, he knew the the Springboks defence. squad. “I’m really looking forward to the because this was very similar, we had ‘breathe boys, stay calm, back our d mistakes that had been made could be The visitors also tended to win the World Cup because we will have a lot of opportunities that we didn’t use.” (defence),’ and it relaxes you, calms you rectified and the youngsters in his team collision throughout much of the match, time together and that makes a huge Another concern for the Springboks, down a bit,” All Blacks’ scrumhalf Aaron would only be better for their tight 14-10 led by the bristling Duane Vermeulen difference. “I truly believe this team is and most other teams in the world, is the Smith said. defeat to the world champions in and Marcell Coetzee, who were instru- getting better and better.” mental toughness the All Blacks have “If everyone is doing their role the best Wellington on Saturday. mental in slowing down the All Blacks’ developed in recent years which was they can it’s all you can ask for in the end Greasy conditions brought about by ball and earning penalties that stopped Failed to convert never more evident when they did not and we’ve always said if a team is good swirling rain in the first half did not help their momentum. The biggest factor that may have panic while under immense pressure in enough to get around us or through us so with the skill execution of both sides but Meyer has said openly he felt his side counted against the Springboks was that the final 10 minutes. be it. “But they won’t beat us on spirit or the way in which young flyhalf Handre needed to beat the All Blacks at least they did not seize their opportunities Time and again the Springboks ham- lack of trust, so you won’t get anyone run- Pollard ran the game for the Springboks once before next year’s World Cup and when they arose, something that prop mered away, only for them to be ning out of the line to try make a play, was a massive return on Meyer’s gamble while they did not achieve that goal on Jannie du Plessis said was still a concern stopped by a swarming goal-line everyone is trying to stay in the system, to throw the 20-year-old into the caul- Saturday, they had taken a big step for- looking ahead to the World Cup. defence that was probably better than trust your insides and trust everyone to dron. ward in their planning for the tourna- “I would love to play them every that shown by the South Africans in the make the right decision.” —Reuters Wallabies lose hooker Polota-Nau for the season GOLD COAST: The Wallabies’ hooker woes “The question is whether it goes to sur- intensified yesterday with news that Tatafu gery or not, that’s always going to be four Polota-Nau is set to miss the rest of the sea- weeks (recovery) just to look inside, but son and may need ankle surgery. we’re not at that point yet.” Scans have shown Polota-Nau suffered a McKenzie said he would take three syndesmosis (high ankle sprain) injury in hookers on the two-Test tour of South the first half of Saturday’s 32-25 Rugby Africa and Argentina and hopes to have Championship win over Argentina on the Waratahs reserve Tolu Latu back from a Gold Coast and he faces two months on broken arm to vie for a place with Saia the sidelines. Faingaa and Josh Mann-Rea. It is a major blow for both Australia and In a double blow from the desperate the injury-plagued New South Wales hook- win over the Pumas, winger Peter Betham er, who was making his return from a knee is also in serious doubt for November’s ligament tear in his 50th Test match. European tour after again injuring his bro- Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie, who is ken foot. Scans have detected a fracture also missing Stephen Moore and Nathan but team officials said it is unclear how bad Charles for the rest of the year, will again be the damage is. Betham scored his first Test forced to rely on fourth-string hooker try in the Wallabies’ win. James Hanson for the September 27 Rugby Betham joins Henry Speight (hamstring) Championship Test with South Africa in on the sidelines but experienced utility Cape Town. Adam Ashley-Cooper is expected back “I’m frustrated for him,” McKenzie said. from a neck problem to play against the “You’d love him to have a clear run and just Springboks while Joe Tomane (hamstring) play football. “He did a great job coming off is also now fit again. no football for a while, that’s why we put Australia’s wing depth has been tested him in there. “He was equipped to handle it almost as much as the hookers, with Pat and he has the experience and he made a McCabe (retired), Chris Feauai-Sautia big difference.” (shoulder), Nick Cummins (Japan club rug- The dilemma for the Wallabies is by) and James O’Connor (France) also whether to gamble on rushing Polota-Nau unavailable. back for the start of the four-Test tour “The winger-hooker curse continues,” against England, France, Ireland and Wales. McKenzie said. “We get them back and COLOMBES: Racing-Metro’s winger Marc Andreu looks at the scrum during the French Top 14 rugby union match Racing Metro 92 vs Lyon on “We don’t think it’s surgical at the then they disappear again.” Lock Sam Saturday at the Yves du Manoir stadium in Colombes, near Paris. — AFP moment but it’s clashing with that Carter is also being assessed for an ankle (European tour) timetable so it’s making it problem before the 28-man tour squad is difficult,” McKenzie said. named this week. — AFP Argentina coach says McIlroy in title hunt even Pumas need consistency without his ‘A’ game GOLD COAST: Argentina rugby coach Daniel played the whole tournament.” admitted after the match he didn’t know what Hourcade says the Pumas have to become more Hourcade said he was trying to build the the last scrum penalty against the Pumas was ATLANTA: As Rory McIlroy hunts his fifth honours and a mind-boggling bonus of consistent if they want to regularly challenge Pumas into a more consistent outfit which could for. “In the last scrum we had (control), but the tournament win of the year at this week’s $10 million are on the line. teams like Australia, New Zealand and South perform at the top level every week. “We are referee penalised us,” Creevy said. “Our number Tour Championship, his rivals could well Africa. The Pumas came back from a poor first 60 building a team and our main concern is the nine said it was for one thing and the number feel a sense of foreboding that the world Money incidental minutes in their Rugby Championship match style of game we play,” he said. seven said it was for another, but I don’t know. I number one is tied for the lead despite not For McIlroy, however, another tourna- against the Wallabies on Queensland’s Gold “The results will come if we play our rugby in will have to talk to the referee.” playing at his best. ment win and a first ever FedExCup crown Coast to almost steal an unlikely draw Saturday. a good way. Tonight, we didn’t do it.” Hourcade Creevy echoed Hourcade’s disappointment Just as Tiger Woods in his heyday used are all that matters. The money is inciden- However, with a dominant Argentine forward conceded that Australia were the better team with the Pumas’ performance. “I was happy with to intimidate his peers by contending for tal. “I don’t think I’ve ever thought about pack camped on the Australian goal line, referee despite the closeness of the scoreline. “Australia the last 20 minutes but not happy with the titles even when not possessing his ‘A’ money on the golf course,” said the 25- Glen Jackson ruled a scrum infringement against was better than us-we made 91 tackles and they game as a whole,” he said. “Most of the time we game, McIlroy has swept to the top of the year-old, who won back-to-back majors them right on full-time to give the Wallabies a made 12, they had 80 per cent of possession and were having to defend and that made us a little leaderboard at East Lake Golf Club without this season at the British Open and PGA 32-25 win.