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 as Bok mentor, Meyer has had the privilege of buying beers only once in seven meetings.
So he has saved up enough to afford a case, as long as the Boks pull off a win against the old foes in Saturday's World Cup semifinal at Twickenham.
Meyer, usually a nervous, fidgety person, cut a relaxed figure as he named his team to take on the reigning world champions.
In the only change to the 23 from the squad that beat Wales 23-19 in the quarterfinal, veteran lock Victor Matfield replaces greenhorn 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 pressure of coaching proud rugby countries and we've had so much mutual respect since then.
"I told him then, 'Steve I can't wait to bring you a beer'. It's only happened once, at Ellis Park [last year] and I brought him a case. He was great and said to me, 'I've been waiting for my beer'. So Steve, hopefully on Saturday I can bring you another case of beer."
Meyer admitted that the seemingly impossible task would require the Springboks to be at their absolute best to have any chance.
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 World Cup that record reads: played 57, won 52, lost 3, drawn 2 for a 90.4% winning ratio. Simply put, they are the greatest rugby team in history.
South 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.
Meyer hopes to buy Hansen some beers
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 as Bok mentor, Meyer has had the privilege of buying beers only once in seven meetings.
So he has saved up enough to afford a case, as long as the Boks pull off a win against the old foes in Saturday's World Cup semifinal at Twickenham.
Meyer, usually a nervous, fidgety person, cut a relaxed figure as he named his team to take on the reigning world champions.
In the only change to the 23 from the squad that beat Wales 23-19 in the quarterfinal, veteran lock Victor Matfield replaces greenhorn 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 pressure of coaching proud rugby countries and we've had so much mutual respect since then.
"I told him then, 'Steve I can't wait to bring you a beer'. It's only happened once, at Ellis Park [last year] and I brought him a case. He was great and said to me, 'I've been waiting for my beer'. So Steve, hopefully on Saturday I can bring you another case of beer."
Meyer admitted that the seemingly impossible task would require the Springboks to be at their absolute best to have any chance.
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 World Cup that record reads: played 57, won 52, lost 3, drawn 2 for a 90.4% winning ratio. Simply put, they are the greatest rugby team in history.
South 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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