Meyer’s the man
15 Mar 2011
MARK KEOHANE, writing in SA Rugby magazine, says the next Springbok coach should be named now.
Not only has Fourie du Preez given Heyneke Meyer the endorsement to be the Springbok coach post the 2011 World Cup, he is emphatic that if Meyer were to be appointed he would make himself available for the national team in 2012.
Give Meyer that job now and ensure Du Preez wears the No 9 jersey in 2012. It would make such a statement of the leadership in South African rugby – a leadership that too often fails itself – if there was such forward planning and certainty in making the appointment.
Instead we will get the usual cat and mouse games. Coaches, including the incumbent Peter de Villiers, will be asked to apply and in the time it takes to interview contenders players will have made decisions based on the uncertainty of who heads up Bok rugby.
South African rugby, like any other national union, can’t afford an overseas exodus of top players at the end of 2011 or premature international retirements.
Meyer would be my choice to succeed De Villiers, but there is strong support in South African rugby for Stormers duo Rassie Erasmus and Allister Coetzee and New Zealanders John Plumtree and John Mitchell.
Italy and former Bok coach Nick Mallett is expected to be off contract after the World Cup, but it is doubtful Mallett would ever want to coach the Boks again given the despicable manner in which Saru ended his tenure in 2000.
Of those coaches based in South Africa Meyer has the most appeal, but it would be expecting too much for any commitment to be made at this early juncture. Succession plans have never found favour in South African rugby boardrooms.
De Villiers, victorious or not at the World Cup, will not be reappointed. The four years he will have served as national coach unfortunately would have been four years too many.
There will be a new face, but whoever that face is will determine how many of the familiar faces remain in 2012. If they knew that identity in advance of the World Cup it would simplify the decision to stay in South Africa.
Du Preez’s public support of Meyer, in an interview with colleague Ryan Vrede in this issue, should be noted with more than just a passing interest because Du Preez in 2012 can be as instrumental to a new generation of Bok rugby as he has been to the Bok glory years of 2007 and 2009.
Victor Matfield is huge on the world stage and even bigger in South Africa, but his imposing presence is secondary to what Du Preez offers the Boks. And that should tell anyone about Du Preez’s value and pedigree.
Du Preez’s fitness will determine whether the Boks can be the first team to defend the World Cup and with Du Preez at scrumhalf the Boks can be successful with the kick-and-chase game that failed them so miserably in 2010.
There is always place in the game for that approach if the right player is there to implement the kick. When it comes to Du Preez, he has no equal in that aspect of the game and as a scrumhalf none have matched his control of field position.
South African rugby should be doing everything it possibly can to keep Du Preez in the country after the 2011 World Cup. New Zealand, if they are to win the World Cup, can’t afford to lose Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, and South Africa simply can’t do without Du Preez.
He is the most complete and influential professional rugby player this country has known. There has to be a plan to keep him in South Africa, and that plan must involve his mentor of the last decade, Heyneke Meyer.
– This column first appeared in the March issue of SA Rugby magazine.
234 Comments
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15 Mar 2011, 15:50 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-95:
stop talking out of your hairy inbox and I will try for a smile
15 Mar 2011, 15:51 pm
fdp is the best rugby player on the planet & he aint scared of a tsunami..
15 Mar 2011, 15:51 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-99: I see everything, know everything.
Watching you right now in fact. You eat with those fingers???
15 Mar 2011, 15:52 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-94: I got reaction out of you… you lose
Please use the L provided below.. Increase the font size and attach to front of forehead
L
15 Mar 2011, 15:52 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-103:
15 Mar 2011, 15:52 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-98:
poeslap
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-100:
out of interest who are these options?
15 Mar 2011, 15:52 pm
After giving it my most careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that there is no easy way to satisfy the likes of Extra Testicle and Shaun Langedinges. A disgruntled coloured knows no soothing.
So for the sake of peace I suggest we let them pick their own team and their own coach. They can play their home games at Athlone Stadium. And since it would be a team they consider representative, we will affectionately call this home ground The House of Representatives.
Eerwaarde Extra Testicle can be their very own Louis Luyt, and Lanedinges will be their Wynie Strydom.
Is this doable?
15 Mar 2011, 15:56 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107: You dont get it.
Thats not what they want.
They have what they want, massive chips on their shrunken shoulders and a platform to whine about it.
15 Mar 2011, 15:56 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107:
Yes
15 Mar 2011, 15:57 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107:
Cape Spanish Allstars?
Very doable.
15 Mar 2011, 15:57 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-109: And you can dance for them.
15 Mar 2011, 15:58 pm
wicket for ukallees.
3 down for 36
15 Mar 2011, 15:58 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107:
He is fed up cos I speak to Keo.
Keo may not answer but he hears all and sees all.
He slates my posts, my religion, my upbringing, calls us “gatkruipers”, makes fun of my BB, etc etc
I just do not get it.
15 Mar 2011, 15:58 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-100: IMO if we want to put rugby first then we need an international coach. Get rid of all the colour/culture/english/afrikaans yada yada and concentrate on rugby.
15 Mar 2011, 15:59 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-111:
That’s conduct unbecoming.
15 Mar 2011, 15:59 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-104: Don’t try and box with the big boys, you’ll just get hurt.
15 Mar 2011, 16:00 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-115: My apologies. You and Rossi can dance for them.
15 Mar 2011, 16:02 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-117:
Listen
This isn’t like you
Stop it
15 Mar 2011, 16:04 pm
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-78:
Yes I clearly see where you are going as your recitation hits right back at you and the manifestations are abundantly clear as demonstrated now.
What you called “studied”, to a thinker is really just memorised bits.”Daantjie” , like you, memorises to recite and never is able to apply his recitations because it is memorised bits and NOT knowledge – do you see that in yourself ?
Word of advice don,t contradict yourself so badly by saying ” I have no doubt that you are educated, …………..” and then you weakly with a silly recited story try to disprove it. It truly makes you look silly.
Science at my level thrives on applying knowledge mostly or you are shown the door, especially if you are a non-American.
Can anyone work the genome in all its demands without being able tp apply medical science knowledge? Ask your wife before you hazard an answer.
Or I can give you that answer by saying just, NO.
My worthy session begins so you have about two hours to reflect on your indescretions.
15 Mar 2011, 16:07 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107: You are such a racist
… I got a new pack of race cards..and you got the first one.. Huge achievement… There is also a L on the back 
But here is my team:
1 Beast
2 Maku
3 Mujati
4 Bekker
5 Matfield
6 Luke
7 Alberts
8 Johnson
9 Bolla
10 Lampie
11 Mvovo
12 de Jongh
13 JDV
14 JPP
15 Aplon
Bench:
Ricky
Kabamba
Gurthro
Elton
Bissy
Undecided Lock
Undecided Tight Head
15 Mar 2011, 16:09 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-114: Now I agree with you. As long as it is not Plum…hehe. We need him for Sharks. Mitchell would do fine though.
15 Mar 2011, 16:10 pm
@ET.(ET.)-119: Your entire regurgitation basically boils down to:
“I know what you are, but what am I” in the way of a response.
Grow up old man.
15 Mar 2011, 16:10 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-116: Says the biggest p ussy in town??
15 Mar 2011, 16:10 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-120:
lambie ahead of rose????
are you crazy or something?
15 Mar 2011, 16:11 pm
Tuks hooker to maties hooker: ‘fok jou … Jou engelse fokking doos.’ Ref: ‘watch your language’ Tuks hooker: ‘sorry Sir’ ******* priceless!!! Transformation jou engelse f0kking d00s
15 Mar 2011, 16:11 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-101: That puts you into perspective. I’m sorry you took that approach. I had you wrong then. Never pegged you as a guy who would use revolting comments when speaking to a woman.
15 Mar 2011, 16:11 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-106: In my opinion?
HM would be one option
Allan Solomons
Nick Mallet
Gert Smal
PDV
The real problem comes with the “after sales support” so to speak. In most other countries in the world the coach has the accountability, but also a fair amount of control over his team.
In this country there is too much interference, requirements etc.
Chilli Boy for example. Forced upon them as the new captain forcing the coach to pick him at the expense of more deserving candidates.
That’s what I mean’t by “backing” them.
15 Mar 2011, 16:13 pm
what ever happened to Ashleigh Langenhoven, she use to send to very juicy pics of herself … anyone have a contact number or email or somethng?
15 Mar 2011, 16:13 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-118:
hi dawn,
saw you in the traffic this morning.
but you ignored me like you didn’t know me.
must have been my hired car and new haircut.
15 Mar 2011, 16:15 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-126:
excusez-moi
it’s not aimed at women in particular.
me also talk out of their hairy inboxes.
et is a fantastic example.
if you took psecific umbrage to it s as a woman then you have my apology.
the sentiment stands though.
15 Mar 2011, 16:16 pm
@charo(charo)-124: I am not a racist
..
but let ER get some game time to get his act together and then hewill definitely be in the team.. No use including that has had his confirdence completely shattered by the lesser people who run SARU and the franchises
I think outside of my prejudice…
15 Mar 2011, 16:19 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-123: But my boy you are mistaken. We are not puddys, we are colonial masters. We whip possies into submission and take their resources.
Then we dress them in shoes and make them fan us while we sip Gin and Tonics. Nothing possy about that kid.
Go fetch me a cucumber sandwich and bring my whip, I feel a beating coming on.
15 Mar 2011, 16:19 pm
@charo(charo)-129:
You the three-necked bald guy with the tiny Chevy Spark?
15 Mar 2011, 16:20 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-133: Eish.
We all owe Gunther an apology.
15 Mar 2011, 16:20 pm
@charo(charo)-129:
thanks for coming forward.
I’m taking a lot of heat on that one
15 Mar 2011, 16:21 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107: And you can pick your oranje team and play there as well.
If that aint breaking down barriers, I don’t know what is? What exactly is your gripe? What have you done to further a homogenous society, other than admit that non-whites just about make the grade as humans in some instances?
15 Mar 2011, 16:21 pm
@charo(charo)-129: Perhaps I passed you at Cape Town airport??
Is it a radical haircut?
Perhaps you could recommend you barber to Peter Grant, I was at the Stormers game on Friday with G10 and Robzim, noticed Peter Grant was the brightest ‘star’ that evening but boy oh boy did he need a shave!!
15 Mar 2011, 16:22 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-130: I take umbrage.
15 Mar 2011, 16:22 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-127: I take it that you are an afrikaner hence the inability to think outside of your prejudice?? ..
@WO_to_kill_Sir_Elton(WO_to_kill_Sir_Elton)-128: Another Afrikaner???
15 Mar 2011, 16:22 pm
keo has made a fool of himself, yet again. There has not been one successful SA S14/15 coach that has done well at the national level. They were all dysmal. The best Bok coaches were untarnished by provincialiasm and were able to think outside of the box. Barring Chrisite, Mallet & White, PDV has done rather well better than Maarkgraaf, 2PLUS3(Duplessis), Viljoen, Strauli.
Anyway what happend if PDV pulls the RWC off? He will probably stay on!
15 Mar 2011, 16:23 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-110: You used to be funny and witty……….What happened?
15 Mar 2011, 16:24 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-138:
then I apologise.
like I said it wasn’t directed to you as a women.
it was an equal opportunity insult.
15 Mar 2011, 16:24 pm
@Puma(Puma)-121: Robbie Deans. I think he would be better with the Boks than with Australia.
15 Mar 2011, 16:24 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-140: There have only been 2 successful SA S14/15 coaches. HM and FL. Neither have had the opportunity to coach the Boks as yet.
15 Mar 2011, 16:24 pm
@The X-factor is staying at home.(gunther)-142: equal opportunity insult.
15 Mar 2011, 16:26 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-141: Rough time of the month for you, little pump?
15 Mar 2011, 16:26 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-132: Guess what.. I am in the UK doing the same thing.. along with the Indians, West Africans, Pakistanis and Eastern Europeans…
15 Mar 2011, 16:26 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-133:
well, justrugby did some cyber spying on me and reckons i need to lose weight.
i would say two-neck probably more descriptive.
avis gave me the car – didn’t check what make but it is bladdy small.
went for dandruff treatment again so the hair is missing. normally wear a balaclava but that bladdy car is so small kept on getting stuck on the roof lining.
15 Mar 2011, 16:27 pm
@youknowwho(youknowwho)-147: What peddling drugs in your hoodie and opening corner shops?
15 Mar 2011, 16:30 pm
@carol(carol)-137:
how did the race go?
hopefully no wind this year.
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