Bulls: There’s life after Meyer
5 Nov 2007
The Bulls have rejected the suggestion that the potential loss of Heyneke Meyer to the Springboks will signal the end of an era.
The Bulls, under Meyer, have enjoyed a successful six-years which culminated in them becoming the first South African side to win the Super 14. He, together with a skilled support staff, has transformed the union’s structures, bringing uniformity in approach, and cultivating a winning culture from the junior ranks upwards.
But the Pretoria based team are on the brink of a new, Meyer-less, era, with the 40-year-old favourite to take the reigns from Bok coach Jake White. Many feel this, in conjunction with the fact that the Bulls have lost a host of players including Victor Matfield and Gary Botha, will herald the end of an era. But incumbent Currie Cup coach Pote Human said the structures Meyer has implemented will ensure sustained success.
“We’re all backing Heyneke to get the Bok job,” Human told keo.co.za. “There’s no doubt he’s the best coach in the country and deserves the opportunity at the highest level.
“But the Bulls won’t fall apart if Heyneke leaves. We’ll certainly miss him, but we won’t fall apart. If the Bulls back someone from within [the union] to take over from him there won’t be too much adjustment necessary from a tactical perspective because we have identical structures from U18 up to Super 14 level.
“The value of Heyneke’s plan is that it is not entirely dependent on him being around. His man management skills are what sets him apart but from a purely playing perspective we shouldn’t have too much of a problem.”
Human is said to be the Blue Bulls Rugby Union’s choice to replace Meyer should he depart. But Human has come in for heavy criticism for the Bulls inability to crack the Currie Cup final this season and is widely perceived to have neither the technical nor man-management skills to match Meyer.
But there have been mitigating factors for him. At one stage he had 27 players out, either with World Cup commitments or injured. Considering this, making the semi-final with what was effectively a third string side is a commendable feat.
“My first tournament as head coach has been responsible for that perception,” he said “Considering that we had a number of young players in the squad and a new, young captain in Derick Kuun, I was pleased with what I achieved.
“To make an accurate judgement of any coach you have to do so when he has his strongest team available. If I do get an opportunity in the Super 14, it would obviously be better to comment on my performance when I have all of our Boks at my disposal.”
The Bulls now face a month long wait before knowing the Meyer’s fate and being able to make a decision on his replacement. Human said this would have an adverse effect on their pre-season preparations which start on 12 November.
“The players want to know what is going to happen and whoever takes over obviously wants time to settle into the role,” he said.
“The sooner that situation is resolved the better for all parties concerned.”
By Ryan Vrede
35 Comments
5 Nov 2007, 07:02 am
YIP, Its time for the HAPPY FEET era, Bring on Mumble, the tap dancing penguin……
5 Nov 2007, 07:02 am
Blue Dragons!!!
5 Nov 2007, 07:04 am
#2 – Sorry man, het vergeet om die drake op te haal…….DRAKE MET POTE…..
5 Nov 2007, 07:07 am
But i think a lot of water will still fall before the final announcement concerning the new Bok coach.
Maybe all is not lost: “lol”
We must not see all in isolation & one can fall into that trap when Keo & all the comments (mine included) are all we read/hear all day. There are a few
people outside this blog who does now something about the game & according to some of them 
the HM thing is not a done deal … yet!
5 Nov 2007, 07:10 am
now = know
5 Nov 2007, 07:12 am
Staal tell us more…
Anyway, thought the era ended after the S14 final…did they not fail to make the CC final this year?
5 Nov 2007, 07:14 am
We will see what happens, but if Pote is fired then it will be a sad day for the BBs.
5 Nov 2007, 07:26 am
6 Koos,
Yip, they did not make the final BUT… they were not so pathetic if one takes into account that at one time they had 27 players that were not available.
But still – the Bull’s CC of 2007 were not the best!
That said wonder how we can rate the Province performance?
5 Nov 2007, 07:35 am
One word Staal…worse!
5 Nov 2007, 07:35 am
I can’t say I trust this guy completely.
Anyone who is ever happy with what he achieved can’t have very high standards.
Aim for the stars to reach the sky.
5 Nov 2007, 07:35 am
If they appoint Human it will be the end. The guy was a decent player, but as a coach he just does not make the grade!.
Not to take anything away from him or degrade him, but he just isn’t the real deal. Rather appoint Ashley the u21 coach. And give him 2 to 3 seasons to build his own squad. That is what the Loffie did with the Lions.
5 Nov 2007, 07:40 am
Ja Staal, remember the Lions and the Cheetahs made the the CC final and the Bulls and the Sharks the WC final and where were the WeePee?
5 Nov 2007, 07:50 am
Ryan…
you guys gonna put up a thread about **** Muir’s name being added to the list of Bok coach candidates…?
Questions needs to be asked how SARU says they didn’t consider Jake because he did nopt apply before the deadline and could not make any special provision for him despite winning the world cup…
but now they happily add Muir’s name to the mix…
talk about shameless dishonesty… those SARU guys are a bunch of fooking a-os
5 Nov 2007, 07:53 am
13 ufo,
those guys are skelm! finnish en klaar!
5 Nov 2007, 07:57 am
staal…
too true. Surely Jake (if he wanted) could take them to the CCMA…?
Companies can’t exclude (or fire) a person for a reason and then include or hire another who did exactly the same thing… and Muir – nice guy he may be – freely says he did NOT apply within the deadline… out of respect for Jake WHite.
5 Nov 2007, 08:00 am
has anyone seen theat muir is interested in bok job. Amazing… I’m a wp boytjie, but dic is a brilliant candidate. Our backline will flourish under him.. go you good thing!!
5 Nov 2007, 08:08 am
#8 – OUCH!! That little poisonous question has just ruined my breakfast..
We’re building down here, for the record – Roll on 15 Feb, Mumble’s “Happy Pote” Bulls against a reborn Stormers outfit….
Jokes aside, I am feeling pretty positive, and quietly confident about next season (unlike last pre-season). We might even provide a few more Boks next season – Schalk Burger himself said at a breakfast on Friday that it got “pretty lonely” in France when Jean went home – shame…
**** Muir is a FANTASTIC option for Bok honcho.
Backline play to flourish under him – guaranteed.
Wish there was room for Loffie Eloff 2.
5 Nov 2007, 08:41 am
Ruck, the Stormers and WP will continue being **** until they buy some decent props. Newlands will wait a very time before it is as full as it was last Monday.
5 Nov 2007, 08:50 am
#18 – Piss on a gals parade, why don’t you. Jake Boer ain’t half bad, c’mon. Yes, our front row have been elegantly pushed all over the country the past few seasons, and it does seem as though we are still a little “thin” on the ground in the front row, BUT, I am confident that Rassie is aware of what he’s doing…..especially with regard to our tight forwards. If the 15 Feb rolls around and Mumble’s HAPPY POTE Bulls push us backwards, I shall swallow my words – and a few litres of sparkling white to wash “said” words down.
5 Nov 2007, 09:07 am
I really don’t rate Rassie as a coach. Look at how Freestate played when he was coach compared to the game they play under Drotske.
The Bulls are also in for a few painfull years if Pote coaches them, as the Sharks will be if they lose Muir.
5 Nov 2007, 09:15 am
#20 – One things for certain, I’d rather be stuck with Rassie, than Mumble “Happy Pote” Human.
Drotske is a fine coach, agree.
I can’t see Plumtree taking over at Super 14 level just yet, so if **** were to “go to the dark side” (Bok Coach), I’m not sure who would step up to the plate in Natal.
All this drama whilst Loffie Eloff happily builds a team. I am betting that Loffie is going to achieve great success in the Super 14 – they might not win it, but I reckon there’ll be some upsets at their hands.
5 Nov 2007, 10:03 am
i wonder if the powers that be can put pressure on the bulls to give de villers the coaching job if heyneke gets the top job?
5 Nov 2007, 11:55 am
De Villiers coached the Falcons or the Pumas and didn’t do too much with them if I remember.
5 Nov 2007, 12:10 pm
Loosehead my point is that if de villiers doesn’t get the job, it woul dbe due to lack of s14 experience. there is only one way to remedy that situation as i see it…
5 Nov 2007, 12:22 pm
JUSM what I would suggest is that they combine the SA U19 and SA U21 squads and base them in Port Elizabeth [for example]. Make De Villiers the coach and let them play in the Currie Cup 2nd division and then if they are good enough promote them to the 1st division and maybe S14. That way you get to keep all the players together and you give the coach much needed experience.
5 Nov 2007, 12:32 pm
Loosehead that could work and is a good plan but if they couldn’t even make the Spears fly I would suggest that your plan is way out of the administrators reach…
guess i’m just stirring a bit but if heyneke moves on there would be a vacancy at the bulls.
5 Nov 2007, 12:35 pm
The Bulls should employ Jake……..
5 Nov 2007, 12:42 pm
5 Nov 2007, 12:43 pm
i think the bulls board would prefer de villiers to jake.
5 Nov 2007, 12:56 pm
#22 de villiers will NEVER coach the Bulls. Not in a hundred years. The Bulls will stay local and bring up someone hwo has already being in their system.
5 Nov 2007, 12:58 pm
g13g, Pote is not the answer
5 Nov 2007, 13:11 pm
#31 maybe we need that other Pote..Fourie
a hardman, chuck him into the mix.
5 Nov 2007, 13:13 pm
Pote Fourie, now there is a name from the past.
5 Nov 2007, 13:41 pm
yep
master of the pick up and drive!..heck he was the Buck Shelford of SA rugby.
6 Nov 2007, 16:55 pm
Net nie Pote nie – hy het nie dis “skills” om die Bulle af te rig nie. As ‘n stoere Blou Bul ondersteuner moet ons hoop dat HM aanbly by die Bulle of dat ons iemand anders as Pote as hoofafrigter kry.
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