Meyer’s a man with a plan
23 Dec 2011
RYAN VREDE, writing in SA Rugby magazine, finds out how Heyneke Meyer aims to make the Bulls the world’s best domestic side again.
The Bulls’ dynasty is over. For now.
An era of unprecedented success – a nine-year period where they won six Currie Cup titles in eight attempts (one shared) and three Super Rugby crowns – now gives way to a time of rebuilding.
This is primarily (although not exclusively) due to the crippling effect of departures, mostly of senior players. In a mass exodus, one that includes the loss of eight Springboks and a handful of extremely competent squad players who ensured strength in depth, the Bulls were significantly compromised. It is the experience of the departed they will miss the most. With Victor Matfield, Gary Botha, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Bakkies Botha retiring or seeking fresh challenges in Europe and Japan, they have lost 581 Super Rugby caps in addition to a wealth of Test experience (the sextet are all World Cup winners). Their absence will be felt most deeply in high-pressure situations.
In the likes of Matfield and Botha, 34 and 32 years old respectively, they had a second-row duo whose powers were patently waning. Still, even in the twilight of their careers they were among the best in their positions in world rugby.
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Then there are those who still had much to offer, like Fourie du Preez (29), Steenkamp (30) and Rossouw, who despite being 32 has in recent years been a consistently good performer. Furthermore his positional versatility (he is able to cover lock, flank and No 8 with similarly high degrees of competence) is a rare and invaluable asset in a squad.
Following shoulder surgery in mid-2011, Du Preez struggled to impose his will on the opposition as readily as he had when at his best. Yet it is likely that he would have rediscovered the skill and tactical sharpness that for years marked him as the pre-eminent scrumhalf on the planet. But sushi will take precedence over prime steak at supper time, Du Preez opting to continue his career with the Suntory Sungoliath in Japan. He, above all others, is the loss the Bulls will lament most deeply, even though they have a prodigiously gifted successor in Francois Hougaard. In addition, from a leadership and tactical perspective, his and Matfield’s exit compounds their pain, as the twosome were heavily involved in the formulation and effective implementation of game plans. It is imperative that the players quickly progress beyond the psychological comfort Matfield and Du Preez elicited.
Certainly the Bulls’ position cannot be likened to the one they found themselves in in 2002, when the union was in turmoil and their ambition was being undermined by mediocrity on and off the field of play. Rectifying those flaws and steering the Bulls towards the success they subsequently achieved required a dramatic overhaul, primarily with regard to the playing structures, recruitment processes and culture. It is an area the Bulls’ director of rugby Heyneke Meyer, who is tasked with spearheading their drive into a new era of success, has put an intense focus on.
‘When I took over [as Bulls coach] in 2002 I was criticised for cutting 12 Springboks from our squad because I felt they didn’t fit into the team culture I wanted to foster,’ Meyer says. ‘This happened again recently, where some players had to go and be replaced by youngsters willing to embrace the culture I envisage – one of an unmatched work ethic and team above the individual. I felt that had gone away since I was last involved at the Bulls [Meyer was appointed to his current role after last coaching the Bulls to the Super 14 title in 2007]. That is something I’m ruthless about. Some of the players who were not granted contract extensions had gotten bigger than the union and I wouldn’t have that.’
Their recruiting has been purposeful and designed to ensure that there are successors of a high calibre when senior players succumb to the lure of foreign leagues, retire or endure torrid form. Hougaard is a prime example. It is a quality that will ensure they aren’t blown away in the holding years that lie before them, and the one that should make them title contenders in due course.
Recently some positional holes have been filled this way, the most notable being through the acquisition of the highly-rated midfielder Johann Sadie from Western Province. How Sadie responds in a new environment will be telling to the Bulls’ cause and his aptitude for Super Rugby will be tested in a way it never was as a bit-part player for the Cape union. It is certain that he will grow technically under the tutelage of the coaching staff, but the measure of the man will be how he negotiates the mental challenges that will mark his journey.
The famed Bulls’ junior structures will further supplement losses. The likes of centre Francois Venter and loose forward Arno Botha are treasured at the union and are seen as future Springboks. They will be blooded slowly but purposefully, with the intention of not compromising their ability to realise their immense potential.
Luck, science, timing and instinct combined in equal measure in uncovering Matfield, Du Preez, Botha and Bryan Habana and to a lesser degree Morné Steyn, Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies. The plan is to have those characteristics conspire again to unveil an equally potent generation and in so doing lay the foundation for another era of dominance. That said, Meyer has little time for talk of hope in this regard.
‘We can’t hope that the players we have brought in and will bring in will succeed. We have to have some degree of certainty. I’ve been trying to improve our ability to achieve this by travelling to the USA to meet with top gridiron scouts and see what methods they have of identifying players who’ll make the cut. Obviously technical ability still ranks highest as a criterion, but there is also a huge emphasis on mental toughness. There are tests designed to measure that trait in a young player that I want to adapt for our purposes.
‘I also visited the US Military Academy at West Point [the world’s leading military university] where I interviewed soldiers and leaders who have been on the frontline in Iraq and Afghanistan to see how they deal with the huge mental pressure associated with being in battle situations. It’s mental toughness that will win you the close games and that’s what I want to define my players.’
Bulls high-performance manager Ian Schwartz has worked closely with Meyer and the coaching staff on the recruitment of players for the bulk of his 11 years at the union, brokering the deals that have brought some of the country’s best talents (established and schoolboy) to Pretoria and indeed negotiated the retention of the region’s best young talent. He is optimistic about the future.
‘Firstly, when we recruit players for our Super Rugby squad from other unions we do so only if we believe they have the capacity to become Springboks,’ he says. ‘Johann Sadie and [former WP wing] JJ Engelbrecht are prime examples of that criteria. It has worked for us in the past if you look at Zane Kirchner, Bjorn Basson, Flip van der Merwe and others. It is important that players who come here have Test potential because that ensures we compete at a high level and don’t fall away like we would have in a situation like we just went through with so many senior players leaving.
‘We also believe we sign the best schoolboy talent every year. We look for four primary criteria when signing a schoolboy – he must have exceptional talent, that is, an ability that surpasses his piers in his position, and be big, strong and quick. The fifth criteria can only be established once the player is with us – mental toughness.
‘Some of those types of signings are coming through now. They may not be ready for Super Rugby just yet, but the fact that our U19 and U21 sides made the finals of their domestic competitions [the U21s won] indicates there is a wealth of talent at our disposal. Not all of those players will contest for Super Rugby places, but we only need three or four outstanding ones and we’re in a position of strength. Arno Botha and Francois Venter are the first of those to come through of the new crop. There will be others in the near future.’
Meyer adds that they have to resist the temptation to speak longingly of the past.
‘People said there would never be another Joost [van der Westhuizen] and then Fourie came along. I hear people saying similar things about Victor now. I don’t believe that.
‘It is our goal to continue to deliver players of that calibre consistently. With all due respect to the greats who have moved on, I’ve already seen things in some of our young players here that surpass what they had at a similar age. I’m excited by players like Francois, Arno and [flank] Jean Cook. There are others with the ability to go all the way.’
One of the challenges will be to ensure that the core group of players identified to take the team back to the summit of the southern hemisphere and recapture national dominance are retained in the rebuilding phase.
Meyer sold Matfield, Du Preez and co on his vision in the early 2000s and that vision was enticing enough for those players to resist the advances of local rivals and big-spending foreign outfits. Meyer has again cast that vision and he and Schwartz will endeavour to secure the short-term futures of the likes of Hougaard, Sadie, Venter, Botha, Morné Steyn and Pierre Spies in the face of what is sure to be stern competition for their services in the coming years.
‘The players, coaches and management are fully aware of what we’re looking to achieve here. We want to be the best domestic team in world rugby again. We don’t want to be reflecting on the success of past teams. We aim to create new memories across all our sides, not just the Super Rugby and Currie Cup ones. That is the vision, but the outworking will be difficult as we need to evolve. The leading franchises are all on a similar level in terms of their professionalism, so you aren’t going to gain an edge by having a better game plan, for example. That edge will come in the players knowing exactly why they’re doing what they’re doing, the culture I spoke about already and improving our structures by first identifying the best people for those structures, then improving the people within those structures.’
So what are realistic expectations and acceptable standards, given where they stand at present?
‘Look, not qualifying for the Currie Cup semi-finals wasn’t acceptable, even though we fielded a young side with a view to getting some of them ready for Super Rugby,’ Meyer says. ‘We will never tolerate mediocrity and there’s enough talent in our group to ensure that we are very competitive. But even though I have a clear idea in my mind about the time frame I expect to see results in, I never share that with players and coaches. That limits their thinking. For example, when I first started coaching the senior side, I expected to win the Currie Cup in year three of my plan. We won it in year two. I guarantee you that if I’d told my players and coaches that plan they wouldn’t have been as urgent as they were. That said, in a results-driven game you don’t have a lot of breathing space. We have to get it right as quickly as possible and I believe it won’t be long before we start achieving our goals.’
– This article first appeared in the December issue of SA Rugby magazine.
110 Comments
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23 Dec 2011, 07:00 am
Heineken? You’re kidding!
23 Dec 2011, 07:35 am
@TheTackler-1: you seem to be more of a Coors Lite kinda guy…
23 Dec 2011, 07:41 am
The second time around is going to be much tougher for Meyer. In 2002 there was little to zero expectation, now, it is huge.
23 Dec 2011, 08:03 am
wow!
wow!
(clap, clap, whistle, clap!!!..)
thanks ryan, you honest to gawd blew me away with this article, man.
well done it was excellent, informative and very, very entertaining, keep it up.
tiny bit of criticism though, is the lack of mentioning the national coaching position vacancy and whether you asked heyneke in the interview if his feelings have in any way changed in this regard…a man of his calibre is clearly what is needed… head and shoulders above the rest.
beware world… the bulls will be back…
23 Dec 2011, 08:03 am
I think the Bulls will be competitive next year but the best they can expect with such a new team is a mid table finish.
23 Dec 2011, 08:05 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-4: Agree they will be back in about 2 years time.
23 Dec 2011, 08:06 am
@Sasuke-5:
The Bulls success for me was in a great part built around the player leadership core, specifically Victor and Fourie (and Leonard at the start) – the current squad lacks that imo.
23 Dec 2011, 08:09 am
@PissAnt-3:
as an example, in football thats what people said about mourinho.
i have no doubt heyneke will succeed a second time.
@BuckT-2:
really..?.. i would’ve thought it was doos- lite…
23 Dec 2011, 08:10 am
@PissAnt-7: Agreed. Who is there currently in the squad who shows leadership quality? Chiliboy? Dewaldt Potgieter? Spies? lol Olivier? lol
23 Dec 2011, 08:10 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-8:
Who?
23 Dec 2011, 08:12 am
@Sasuke-9:
From the top of my head players that captained the Bulls in the last 5 or so years were:
Victor
Fourie
Gary Botha
Derrick Kuun
…
All gone.
Chili has not captained a team since forever almost, Potties looked like a very likely successor in 2009 but has since donered off the bandwagon in that respect it seems.
As for the other two…
23 Dec 2011, 08:19 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-8: lol
Lets wait and see what Meyer does with this squad.
1. Greyling
2. Chiliboy
3. Werner
4. Flip
5. Juandre Kruger
6. Stegmann
7. D. Potgieter
8. Spies
9. Hougaard
10. M.Steyn
11. JJ Engelbrecht
12. Olivier
13. Sadie
14. Ndungane??
15. Zane Kirchner??
16. Willie Wepener
17. ???
18. Wilhelm Steenkamp
19. CJ Stander
20. Jano Vermaak
21. Lionel Cronje
22. Jurgen Visser
23 Dec 2011, 08:22 am
@Sasuke-6:
yip, i believe.
@PissAnt-10:
jose mourinho…coached porto to a uefa champions trophy (was an unknown then with zero expectations) and then did the same with inter (by this time very well known and with mega expectations).
heyneke meyer is himself a mentally strong man… he will succeed…
23 Dec 2011, 08:24 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-13:
Not doubting Meyer’s ability – I said it will be tougher especially given the tools at his disposal now.
Also, might be premature, but his success before was built on being the hands-on coach, today he is a DOR. Time will tell.
23 Dec 2011, 08:48 am
@PissAnt-11:
hehehe
ja, it does seem shocking choosing ziggy and timotei but next season will prove all i guess. my thinking is they’re acting as caretakers while a longer term captain and vice is groomed without too much pressure on them, hence the caretaker roles. this seems like something hm would do.
@Sasuke-12:
yip, i do expect them to get a mid table finish if lucky but am more interested in their competitiveness throughout the season, whether winning or losing.
17. de klerk / steyn ..?..
@PissAnt-14:
yes, absolutely. after all the hard work is done and every effort and sacrifice made, one can only hope i guess.
frans ludeke gets far less credit than he deserves imo.
23 Dec 2011, 08:57 am
I do not think leadership is an issue at the Bulls. Players such as w steenkamp, ralepele, potgieter, kruger, a botha, cj stander, william small smith and the sa schools captain from grey are all great prospects. Interesting that Spies has been picked above them all. Surely heyneke knows something we don’t.
23 Dec 2011, 09:10 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-15: De Klerk is injured so wont be available for a while. What Steyn you talking about? Who else is there for 10?
23 Dec 2011, 09:12 am
C’mon! The Bulls miss their mommies when they step on the plane for the away leg. They’re spooked witless in a country where everyone speaks English,
23 Dec 2011, 09:19 am
Meyer’s signing of JJ and Sadie are huge in my opinion.
It shows that he has a willingness to change his gameplan to suit the laws and rules environment at that particular time.
He obviously realised between 2007 and 2010 that completely forward dominating game plan with a 10 who could kick the leather off the ball was best suited at that time. (not that is was a completely skop and jag plan. I think they were in the top 3 try scoring teams in the comp in 2010 but the Bulls have certainly been known more for their conservative approach)
He’s obviously realised that this is not necessarily the best way to play the game any more. Sure, your pack has to be completely dominant to win competitions but your entire backline now has to be up as dominant in case your pack has an off day.
As Pissant says, the pressure is on him now. Very interested to see how he goes.
23 Dec 2011, 09:20 am
@18 do you add any value to anything in your or anyone else’s life, because you just waste everyone’s time on this site.
23 Dec 2011, 09:24 am
tac must be knee deep in the christmas festivities not too have seen / commented on this excellent hm / bulls article yet… catch a wake up tac…
@Horings-16:
i’m thinking its a caretaker role thing. spies and olivier as senior players with experience of the bulls winning culture and whats required to achieve that a well suited to carry that over to the new generation as well as help to groom any new leaders.
23 Dec 2011, 09:25 am
I am more interested to see how Lions go this year….pity about the off field financial issues…
23 Dec 2011, 09:26 am
@John Galt-19: Meyer is smart like that.
23 Dec 2011, 09:27 am
@19 Yes, I remember reading an article where he drew a line between the rules and the teams dominating rugby all over the world. When the Blues, All Blacks and Toulouse dominated world rugby the rules changed the game dramatically and running rugby was at the order of the day, while the Crusaders dominated after that period with a much more defensive orientated gameplan when defense structures became more important all over the world.
23 Dec 2011, 09:27 am
@grant10-22: Ja looks like they will have little depth next year.
23 Dec 2011, 09:30 am
@Sasuke-17:
dawie steyn, as prop replacement at 17 or kirsten ?
fouche, visser, cronje at 10
23 Dec 2011, 09:31 am
@Sasuke-23:
Well that remains to be seen, the proof is in the trophy cabinet as they say. It does show an ability to change though.
23 Dec 2011, 09:35 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-26: Noted….oh yes I forgot about Kirsten.
23 Dec 2011, 09:38 am
Frankie Steyn is the missing link for the bulls.
Buy him.
23 Dec 2011, 09:38 am
@grant10-22:
If the Lions end in the top 8 I will be surprised – happy for them, but surprised.
23 Dec 2011, 09:41 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-29:
Frank will join the Cheetahs.
23 Dec 2011, 09:42 am
The Bulls had it easy back in 2002, and for the past 10 years. They really had noone there to challenge them, the Lions were a guranteed 5 point team, the brokebacks were in full amateur mode, the guppies were pathetic and the FS rode their luck in the CC.
All of this allowed the bullies to pick up momentum, and confidence, which propelled them to super success. Those days are now gone!
The ‘structures’ that Meyer put in place have been replicated at all other provinces, in one way or another. All teams challenging the bullies are in a much stronger position to launch their own era’s of success.
Don’t write the bullies off, but don’t expect a new epoch of domination from them.
23 Dec 2011, 09:52 am
This one line is what sets Meyer apart from the rest;
Some of the players who were not granted contract extensions had gotten bigger than the union and I wouldn’t have that.
As the great Vince Lombardi once said, The strength of the group is the strength of the leaders.
It is something most coaches in SA seemingly does not get.
23 Dec 2011, 09:53 am
meyer is such a proffessional. Would love to see him coach the boks. I don’t believe smal is the right guy for the job right now. With rugby brains like this in our country we can all celebrate the new year knowing that our game will only get better.
23 Dec 2011, 09:53 am
@Sasuke-9: Spies as the captain is a joke. I’m glad they chose someone mentally weak to be their leader.
@Sasuke-25: facinating comment, by cutting the fat and only contracting a lean squad of 40-50 super fit and dedicated Lions, they will struggle, with depth. So much for being professional and realistic.
Stupid Lions, how dare they copy the Sharks business model by contracting less than 50 senior players … they should have stuck with 70+ players and moered everyone with their depth
23 Dec 2011, 10:01 am
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-32:
61-17 biggest winning margin ever in a super final.
regularly handed the crusaders solid helpings of ‘get the **** out of the the playoff’s chumps’…more than any other teams can say…
23 Dec 2011, 10:03 am
@PissAnt-31:
Why?
They paying him in mealies?
23 Dec 2011, 10:04 am
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-35:
23 Dec 2011, 10:05 am
Where’s Tacitus
23 Dec 2011, 10:05 am
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-36: I compare the bullies golden super run to that of the Blues. They had a head start on the other kiwi teams, but ran out of steam and were never able to find the right coal for their engine again.
23 Dec 2011, 10:07 am
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-35: Have you seen the players they are cutting? Some talented players. I am sure 10-15 of those 40-50 contracted will be youngsters. Which is good for the future development of the Lions.
23 Dec 2011, 10:09 am
@Dawn-39: Probably busy stalking Meisiekind
23 Dec 2011, 10:09 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther-37:
He wants to get back to his farm. Wants a number 12 jersey which he won’t get at WP and Bulls, Lions cannot afford him and he will not consider the Sharks again.
23 Dec 2011, 10:10 am
@Sasuke-41: read comment #33, Mitch is cutting anyone that does not fit into the team ethos.
23 Dec 2011, 10:10 am
@Sasuke-42: hoping to catch a strand of his magical golden hair….
23 Dec 2011, 10:12 am
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-44: ok.
23 Dec 2011, 10:13 am
@PissAnt-43: He will get it at WP.
23 Dec 2011, 10:14 am
@PissAnt-33: Especially WP.
23 Dec 2011, 10:19 am
Meyer is South Africa’s version of Grumpy Henry.
The Sharks coach could take some valuable pointers from this guy.
23 Dec 2011, 10:21 am
” ‘When I took over [as Bulls coach] in 2002 I was criticised for cutting 12 Springboks from our squad because I felt they didn’t fit into the team culture I wanted to foster,’ Meyer says. ‘This happened again recently, where some players had to go and be replaced by youngsters willing to embrace the culture I envisage – one of an unmatched work ethic and team above the individual.”
This is what makes Meyer a good coach …. people call Mitch draconian for doing exactly the same thing.
Call Mitch want you will, team players with unmatched work ethic will always do better than a team filled with egotistical big name players.
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