Calling super method of an instance does not work in Java, unless you call it on the this pointer from within a Class. C++ even allows you to do this: Derived* x = new Derived(); x->Base::meth();

gistfile1.java

class Base {
  void meth() {
    System.out.println("Base::meth");
  }
}

class Derived extends Base {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Base x = new Derived();
    x.meth();
  }

  @Override
  void meth() {
    System.out.println("Derived::meth");

    Runnable r = new Runnable() {
      @Override
      public void run() {
        Derived.super.meth();
      }
    };

    r.run();
  }
}