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• 1.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:22 am

  give it to heyneke dragons!

• 2.Sharkie10:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:26 am

  THIS IS A LETTER FROM AN AUSTRALIAN FAN AFTER THEIR QUARTER FINAL VICTORY….

  “I wonder what our boys (AUSTRALIANS) would have said faced with the same situation of blatant (Gross)incompetence (‘MALICIOUS DISHONESTY’) by Mr Bryce Lawrence.”

  LIMITING THE POWER OF THE WHISTLE

  There are no doubt a lot of Australian rugby supporters celebrating our victory over the Springboks yesterday. There are also a number of us that are wondering how on earth we managed to pull it off against a side that dominated possession and territory and lineouts. Now, I don’t want to take anything away from the Australian victory – our boys did perform superbly but on the day the Springboks were, we have to admit, the better side. The boks, as always were magnanimous in defeat with a somewhat pragmatic approach to the result. I wonder what our boys would have said faced with the same situation of blatant incompetence by Mr Bryce Lawrence.

  I support Australia and always will but for those of us that believe in fair play this was a hollow victory. This was very much like fighting a worthy opponent with one arm strapped behind his back – it leaves a bad taste. There were rumours about Mr Lawrence’s impartiality before kick-off from a lot of ex pat South Africans now living in Australia but we tend to dismiss these conspiracy theories with a grin. Certainly, Mr Lawrence’s performance on the field did nothing to dispel those theories. His performance was nothing short of abysmal. He did not award the bok try because of a dubious forward pass. I have looked and looked and to me, anyway, it did not look forward. Minutes later when the boks once again breached our defences and were well on the way to scoring another try, he called them back for a forward pass. If the first call was contentious, there certainly was nothing wrong with the second one. Here, I must ask – why not use the “eye in the sky”? An impressive expensive piece of equipment that should be used for such decisions.

  He failed to penalise Pocock for slowing the ball down. If we had played like that against the All Blacks, they would not have been so quiet about it. – and rightly so. In the dying minutes of the game he was in full view of at least 2 high tackles by our boys that went unpunished. Any of these transgressions, if properly acted on, would have surely given the game to the Boks with their advantage over territory. To rub salt in the South African wounds, he awarded a high tackle to the Wallabies for a chest high tackle.

  We won, but did we really? Our sport has always been regarded as a “hooligans game played by gentlemen” – If we do not want rugby union to degenerate into a farce that soccer can become we need to make sure that our refs are of suitable calibre. They need to be trustworthy gentlemen.

  Mr Lawrence, I would advise against any planned holidays to South Africa for a couple of years.

  Chris Davis

  The Australian

• 3.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:26 am

  and let his mandate be to win every Test match, each and every one, no judge me at the world cup nonsense!

• 4.Bagel:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:27 am

  Not sure about this…

  He certainly wasn’t so great for Leicester and with the Bulls he took a very long time to gain success and had a golden generation at his disposal albeit he was obviously involved in a lot of their development.

  But I can’t really offer a better alternative besides someone like Mitchell. Coetzee comes across as far too conservative for me.

• 5.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:27 am

  @Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-2:this has been posted ad nauseum man get over the game…we lost that’s it

• 6.Bagel:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:30 am

  @Sharkie10(Sharkie10)-2: @Transformation(Transformation)-5: Exactly, farkin move on already. We had countless opportunities to win the game and we didn’t. The game is cruel sometimes and can be great like in 2007 when we had the easiest run in possible.

  Can’t wait for 2012…

• 7.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:30 am

  @Bagel(Bagel)-4: coetzee is no more conservative than heineken…see what he did with msteyn & brummer

• 8.Jeez:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:44 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-7: please, in 2007 he appointed Todd Louden- Auz backline coach. The bulls scored the most points of the tournament. He had the insight to use a foreign coach. Heck he did this with Derick Hougaard at 10! Who was probably more one dimetional than MSteyn.

  Definitely not as conservative as AC. Even though AC has the most naturally talented backs to his disposal the Stormers stay conservative.

• 9.Kobus Kitty:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:49 am

  I say no to this. He is an average coach that had the advantage of an incredibly talented group of players. He’ll also continue the selection of that mother f-ucker Pierre Spies no matter how he plays. Spies does wondeful BJ.

• 10.once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more...:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:49 am

  thanks ryan, youv’e finally done something i can wholeheartedly agree with.

• 11.once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more...:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:51 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-3:
  yes, also the win/loss ratio against the blacks.
  its stretching too far out.

• 12.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 08:53 am

  @Jeez(Jeez)-8: jake consulted alan zondagh, anton eddie and eddie jones to work on the Bok backline, it doesn’t mean he was less conservative because of those guys. heyneke worship at the alter of “structure”

• 13.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:01 am

  Ryan Vrede, critisizing Matfield’s authority on the game…I think that’s a bit rich. He would know how the system works and have seen the boks perform under many coaches – he knows Coetzee fro Jake-era, Heyneke through many years.
  What makes Vrede such an expert?

• 14.once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more...:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:01 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-12:
  if thats same alter where they display three super titles and 23 c/cups then i want to go to there

• 15.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:04 am

  I don’t think Heyneke is so boring, he did have some real brutes at his disposal and taylor-made the GP to the guys and he has been massively successful. Also bear in mind that free-flowing play happens only on the foundation of structure. That is why the Boks beat the ABs and Aus when we attack set-piece.

• 16.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:05 am

  tailor-made

• 17.BreakdownBoy:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:06 am

  So funny, he criticises the ‘institution’ of SA rugby’s view on foreign coaches then he says the best man for the job is Meyer? WTF? No coherent point at all.

  Your selection of Meyer just agreed with the sentiment that SA isn’t ready for a foreign coach.

• 18.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:09 am

  @BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-17: Good point. I don’t think that people understand the complexities of coaching specific cultures and in SA case, multiple cultures. Reading White’s book it was clear that man-management was key and this can be done when understanding backrounds

• 19.Kobus Kitty:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:10 am

  Mitchell or Jones for assistant coach. I want to win.

• 20.Kobus Kitty:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:11 am

  Will PdV be releasing a Biography? “Earn a big paycheck without doing anything”

• 21.TheTackler:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:12 am

  When Heyneke Meyer took the step up from coaching Currie Cup to Super 12, he took a very very l-o-n-g time to come up to speed lost 20 of his first 22 games and his Bulls came a distant stone last two years running.

• 22.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:12 am

  We need to win. We produce enough talent to dominate world rugby the way the ABs do- but with WC victories included

• 23.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:14 am

  @TheTackler(TheTackler)-21: Yes, he did start very slowly but he had to build from the floor. Getting the Bok job gives him access to all the elite players.

• 24.Bismarck Burger:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:16 am

  I have to say I also believe Alistair or Brendan Venter would be good options

• 25.once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more...:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:20 am

  @once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-14:
  or is it more like 32?…

• 26.Alucard:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:22 am

  Coetzee and Rassie have done stuff all at WP. Without Nienaber’s work on defence it’s the same substandard tripe that they’ve always had throughout the past decade! If either one of these two clowns gets the job we are in for a very tough four years. Meyer, Jake and Eloff are our only test worthy coaches. Since Jake has ruled himself out, and that Eloff will never get the nod over Coetzee and Chester in this crazy race driven country of ours that leaves only Meyer. But it is to my knowledge that he will not be in the running for the position. So that leaves us in a terrible mess. We need an architect, visionary leader to scalped a new team. Aside from Meyer and Jake, no such person exists in SA. We produce very poor coaches unfortunately. In fact, the entire coaching scene and nonexistant progression system is so flawed and pathetic that it is one of the biggest culprits in allowing such idiotic coaches through to the top positions. Ludeke, Drotske, Straeuli, De Villiers, Muir and Coetzee would never see the light of day if they were New Zealanders. They have systems in place to make sure that the best man gets the job and that their coaches are up to scratch. That has been their only advantage over us the last twenty years, and it’s been all the difference. SARU better think very carefully who it elects this time. Another clown will be the end of the Boks for good.

• 27.Alucard:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:25 am

  @TheTackler(TheTackler)-21: He started with a very poor team, worst in SA history of Super rugby and had to completely reorganize it from the inside out. You completely ignore the fact that he put completely new systems in place off the field as well. In short, he did not take the short cut to nowhere that most South Africans do repeatedly with no success. He set the stage for long term success. That’s how it’s done. Meyer is far and away our best coach to take over the Boks. Had he been in charge of the Boks in 2008 he would have created a dynasty!

• 28.Gunther:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:26 am

  “WHAT DOES VICTOR MATFIELD KNOW”

  Jeez Ryan you are a chippy bellend.

  Matfield’s forgotten more about the game than you’ll ever know.

  You talk to Meyer quite often do you?

  Whatthefuckever.

• 29.WP Till I Die:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:33 am

  Heyneke Meyer will not want the poisoned chalice.

  He has a sweet deal going at the Bulls.

• 30.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:34 am

  @once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-14: i don’t remember saying conservatism doesn’t win you anything. look at australia last saturday, played the whole game with minimal possession and tackled nearly twice as much as the boks did but still won the game by 2pts.

• 31.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:34 am

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-29: why not?

• 32.hendrikp:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:35 am

  I think Meyer is a good coach. I wouldn’t question his record…

  I do have some problems though if he were to be appointed:
  - Favoring of Bulls players. I want the best for the Springboks… and that means not including the likes of Greyling, Kruger, Stegmann, Potgieter, Spies, Olivier, Basson, Kirchner… the list goes on. I am concerned that Meyer would load up on Bulls players who simply don’t cut it.
  - I am in favor of a balanced approach. Kick when you need to. Run when you need to. Defend well. We don’t want Blue Bulls rugby.

  None of the guys seem perfect… but hopefully those in charge know what is needed and have a thorough interviewing process.

• 33.wooden spoon:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:36 am

  Brendan Venter.

  We need smarts and muscle, not dom f*k deurmekaar and muscle.

• 34.WP Till I Die:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:36 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-28:

  Touché.

• 35.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:36 am

  @Bismarck Burger(Bismarck Burger)-18: you mean like Graham Henry coaching pakehas, fijians, samoans and maoris?

  he seems to be doing a great job of it.

• 36.mshiniwami:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:40 am

  The bloke DOESNT WANT THE JOB.

  Now what the f*ck more do you want to hear? Heyneke Meyer has and WILL not make himself available for the post as he has siad NUMEROUS times over the last 4 years or so.

  The front runner is Alister Coetzee with assistant Rassie Erasmus & Brendan Venter.

  Or unless they go left field completely AND go with a foreigner with maybe McKenzie,Gatland,Mitchell which I highly doubt.

  @Alucard(Alucard)-26:

  Jake?? Eloff??? WTF??? thats a joke especially Eloff who is coaching at Boland.His success has come at age group level which makes him no different to Jake/De Villiers.And now since SA wants a coach with better credentials how does Eloff figure in that criteria?

• 37.Gunther:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:42 am

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-29:

  exaclty.

  why get involved with the twatsticks at saru when you have the chance to build a dynasty at the bulls?

• 38.Kietzphat:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:43 am

  Guess this all depends on whether Meyer is content with being a Bulls coaching legend or if he wants to the chance to be a Springbok coaching legend as well.

  As for picking mostly Bulls players? I’m not the biggest Bulls rugby fan, but every coach has their favourites.

  Kitch picked a mostly Transvaal side for the World Cup
  Mallett had a soft spot for Bob, even dropping Teich for an injured Bob for the ’99 World Cup (which he later admitted was a big mistake)
  Jake had Ashwin.

  Etc

  I think if its effective, its a bit petty to look for negatives. Yes there will always be room to improve, but to fault a side for winning with “boring” rugby is pedantic unless there is a much better solution easily available.

• 39.Alucard:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:46 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-36: Actually, Eloff achieved far more than the lauded Mitchell with inferior player at Super rugby level. The only joke here is that you pretend to know something about Bok rugby.

• 40.hendrikp:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

  Biggest load of rubbish I’ve seen in a few days.

  - Rebuilding of what?
  - How does Vrede know we are ready for a foreign coach? We take pride in the Springboks being South African… I’d feel uncomfortable with a foreigner in charge, especially one who drifts away from our traditional strengths.
  - So what if Matfield has an opinion. What makes Ryan Vrede’s opinion more valuable?

  Heyneke Meyer should apply. He is a good coach. But that was a poor attempt at discrediting a player who only has the best interests of the Springboks in mind.

  Vrede is ‘n d00s.

• 41.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

  @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-33: you think venter has changed his mind on the bok job, cos in the past he has said he doesn’t want it!

• 42.Skeppie:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

  Heyneke Meyer would be a great choice. He may have taken a while to get the Bulls to where they were but he didn’t exactly have the raw materials he needed when he first started, once he had the players he needed and the structures in place the Bulls became a great side. He’s got a history of developing young talent and bringing players though a structured set up. Give Meyer the right tools and he will be great for us!

• 43.Alucard:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:49 am

  @Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-38: Jake had little options at wing for nearly all of his four years. Aside from Habana there was the aging Paulse. By 2007 he was finished, and JP was still a 15 then, but he dropped Willemse and the rest is history.

• 44.Gunther:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:51 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-36:

  Gert Small?

  I’m not sure that Rassie and The Mad Doctor get on.

• 45.Big Hit:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:54 am

  Meyer perfect for SA, Mallett perfect for England

• 46.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:55 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-36: Gatland is bound by a watertight contract to coach Wales till 2015

• 47.>^..^< katman:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:57 am

  Where is Chester these days?

• 48.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:57 am

  @Alucard(Alucard)-39: bwahahahahaha don’t go there alutard…really chap

• 49.Big Hit:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:58 am

  @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-33: Venter will continue to have the Boks playing kick and chase rugby in the most backward old school way imaginable. They might well win but if they don’t he’ll be giving the Aussies, Kiwis and referees both barrels and few biscuits to boot (no pun..ok pun).

• 50.Transformation:
  12 Oct 2011, 09:59 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-47: doing commentary for SABC

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