Meyer the man to repair Bok brand
24 Jan 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that Heyneke Meyer will bring a working rugby knowledge, a trophy cabinet of experience and some much needed integrity to the Springbok coaching position.
In a two-horse race where Meyer and Gert Smal were the competitors, South African rugby was always going to be the winner. Both are decorated coaches who have enjoyed title-winning success with their respective teams, and both are renowned for their cerebral approach to the game.
For four years, South Africa has been devoid of a leader who possesses such experience and qualities, and predictably those four years have witnessed South Africa finishing stone last in three out of four Tri-Nations tournaments and exiting the 2011 World Cup at the quarter-final stage.
It would appear that the dark days are over. Until a few days ago, Smal was touted as the favourite for the Bok coaching job, an appointment that should have been welcomed and celebrated as the dawn of a new era. Aside from his stint with the 2007 World Cup-winning side, he has also featured prominently for Ireland as a forwards coach and was rightly lauded following their Grand Slam win in 2009. His views on transformation are well-documented, and had he got the top job, he would have worked hard to influence a greater representation across all levels of South African rugby.
Unfortunately, Saru and Smal could not come to an agreement regarding his salary. There were other reasons that contributed to his decision to remain in Ireland, such as the fact that he has committed to the side until 2013 and his family have built a life in Dublin since settling there in 2008. Just as was the case four years ago, South Africa’s loss is Ireland’s gain.
In Meyer, however, the Boks have another outstanding and potentially game-changing candidate, and so the dawn of a new era should still come to pass. His career at the Bulls remains the stuff of legend, having arrived at the turn of the century and implemented changes and systems that formed the bedrock for a dynasty. If ever there was a man that could take a team that has failed in the past and restore them as champions, Meyer is that man.
The Bulls’ mentor has been offered the job by Saru and is likely to take it. Many felt he was ready for the responsibility in 2008, and only a late change by Saru saw Peter de Villiers walking into the Bok coach’s first official press conference. De Villiers walked into that presser wearing a Bulls blazer, a union synonymous with Meyer, and that should have triggered an alarm. De Villiers never fit that blazer just as he never fit the role. He also failed to grow into it as time progressed.
It could be speculated that Meyer would have avoided the mistakes and built on the success of Jake White’s tenure. It could be said that Meyer would have ensured that some of the best players ever to emerge from this country recorded more than a 62% winning ratio over the course of those four years. If Meyer was instated, future generations may have reflected on a golden age instead of one golden year (2009).
But that time has gone, and SA rugby has to move forward. While Meyer won’t have the benefit of working with a team stacked with grizzled title winners, he is the right man to nurture and develop the young talent that’s set to replace Victor Matfield and company. As his record at the Bulls will confirm, he has an exceptional eye for talent and his man-management is of the highest order.
The appointment will be confirmed this Friday, and all South Africans should mark this as a significant day for Bok rugby. Meyer has the means to restore some pride to a side that exited the 2011 World Cup in humiliating fashion. He will have a plan to bring the Boks immediate and long-term success, as a World Cup should never be the only tournament on which a top nation is judged. The Boks should win 80% of their matches, and with Meyer in charge that goal is certainly attainable.
A challenging yet exciting road lies ahead. Fortunately for South Africa, the right man will be driving the bus.
939 Comments
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23 Jan 2012, 21:15 pm
@Michael-447: Similarly, what will the WP boys have left to ***** about if that happens?
23 Jan 2012, 21:16 pm
@>^..^< katman-451: ***** = moan
23 Jan 2012, 21:17 pm
@ashampoopaloo-435: Hey Skop, I thought PDivvy’s poor track record (65% winning ratio) was because the senior players took over the coaching and selecting and Divvy was left carrying tackle bags and doing some stand-up in between games?
23 Jan 2012, 21:17 pm
@>^..^< katman-451: we don’t moan if there are more of our own players
23 Jan 2012, 21:18 pm
@Dawn-449: False alarm i guess…
23 Jan 2012, 21:18 pm
skoppie has to be the most psychic armchair specialist
23 Jan 2012, 21:19 pm
@>^..^< katman-451:
They’ll have plenty left to b itch about, don’t you worry.
No front row
No fetcher
No flyhalf
No Technical Director
And soon, no Defensive coach either.
Unless the Chester-Fester-Div Axis of Awesome comes to the rescue, that is.
23 Jan 2012, 21:19 pm
With you there sasori.
I’m half everything.
23 Jan 2012, 21:22 pm
@cab-446: Careful. I”m watching you.
23 Jan 2012, 21:23 pm
Hehehe… Stormersboy…
Your endorfin high got your funnybone firing…!!
23 Jan 2012, 21:23 pm
@Tacitus-457: The CFD AoA will hardly break a sweat sorting out those issues. They’ll even sort Brock’s defensive kicking out of hand out, along with Schalk’s netball style skip pass – two issues that have really plagued them for a while now.
23 Jan 2012, 21:23 pm
@Dawn-458: Much like Tacitus. Only witty half the time.
A halfwit, if you will.
23 Jan 2012, 21:24 pm
Kat and Tac sitting in a tree …
23 Jan 2012, 21:25 pm
@ufo-460: My wife is having a good chuckle over my shoulder.
23 Jan 2012, 21:25 pm
@>^..^< katman-461:
Well, if they can achieve that they are Awesome indeed.
23 Jan 2012, 21:28 pm
@stormersboy-464:
Well I suggest you put her down now. That kind of thing is only funny for a short time. Besides, it must really slow down your replies, what with one handed typing and all.
23 Jan 2012, 21:29 pm
@Dawn-463: Dawn and her laptop, sitting on the loo…
23 Jan 2012, 21:30 pm
SB @ 464
She’s not the only one…
Actually lotsa good humour all round tonight…
Good to see…
23 Jan 2012, 21:31 pm
Not quite.
Grouse sipping.
23 Jan 2012, 21:33 pm
@ufo-468:
Aaag sweet.
Let’s all sing Kumbaya together and join Grantie in his tub of enlightenment. All the kids playing together nicely.
That’s what Keo created this blog for. But he never thought he’d see the day his dream would become reality. He can die happy now.
23 Jan 2012, 21:34 pm
@Dawn-469: Thanks for the mail.
Replied.
23 Jan 2012, 21:34 pm
Katman you onbeskaafte kont.
Talk to your new buddy Tac
23 Jan 2012, 21:35 pm
Nice to meet you too!
23 Jan 2012, 21:36 pm
@Dawn-472: Haai Dawn, dis onnodig.
23 Jan 2012, 21:36 pm
Frank @ 470
Who’d a thunk you had it in you…!!
There’s hope for you yet…
23 Jan 2012, 21:38 pm
@Dawn-469: Naace, I’m a Jameson’s man myself
23 Jan 2012, 21:39 pm
They should allow you to post your comment in another colour to denote sarcasm. Just so everyone can pick it up.
Anyway, can’t hang around here all night long. Might pop in later, if there’s still anything going on.
23 Jan 2012, 21:39 pm
Dawn wash your mouth out with drain fluid.
23 Jan 2012, 21:39 pm
You may find it hard to believe but cullarts have chairs and couches and don’t need to sit on loo 24 7
23 Jan 2012, 21:40 pm
Watch all u want. Why don’t u okes ask Scott gibbs who he thinks should be the bok centres?
23 Jan 2012, 21:41 pm
@cab-480:
Who?
23 Jan 2012, 21:42 pm
Pale toe? White toe?
23 Jan 2012, 21:42 pm
@Tacitus-470: i wouldnt let you near my tub Frank
Not with that great big farken bulls horn of yours…
23 Jan 2012, 21:42 pm
@Dawn-479: But us whiteys have to sit in a tree?
I hope it’s the Grouse talking.
23 Jan 2012, 21:43 pm
@Dawn-482:
Wat? Jy het a vuil mond bru.
23 Jan 2012, 21:52 pm
At risk of repeating my self due to faulty bb, sitting in a tree, k I s s I n g
Never heard it before?
23 Jan 2012, 21:56 pm
@Dawn-486: Well, count yourself very lucky that I didn’t finish my rhyme too.
Which was also a lighthearted joke, by the way.
23 Jan 2012, 22:06 pm
Tac does not indulge in over the shoulder shenanigans with mevrou Tac.
Too much gravitas for that.
23 Jan 2012, 22:07 pm
Ok kat.
All claws sheathed.
23 Jan 2012, 22:42 pm
Why do these Banged Up Abroad people do what they do!
23 Jan 2012, 22:48 pm
good luck SA with Meyer @ the helm. hope he’s better for bok rugby than PdV was.
23 Jan 2012, 22:49 pm
@Dawn-490: What…They are banging up broads….sounds like a naughty show
0_0
My question is banging them up where?
23 Jan 2012, 22:50 pm
…or is it just one broad that gets banged??
23 Jan 2012, 23:50 pm
BREAKING NEWS: Steven Sykes returning from Leinster to join the Sharks Super 15 squad.
23 Jan 2012, 23:59 pm
with the universally-accepted ‘right man for the job’ signed on as Bok coach, who will the whinging Yappies have to blame for the inevitable losses this time ?
oh well, at least there is still…
the ref
the rules
the opposition
the ref
the weather
the tides
the ref
the USA Republican Presidential candidate
the man flu
the oval ball
the ref
24 Jan 2012, 00:03 am
I will be happy if Meyer is Bok coach.
My first choice would be Nick Mallet but HM will be a good 2nd prize.
Although he is undoubtedly excellent technically and is an innovator with peerless success at S14 and CC level he does not convince with regards to good old ballas, which Mallet has in spades.
That is, hopefully Meyer doesn’t pull a Leicester and a “this little piggy runs all the way home” at the first sign of adversity with the Boks.
But a definite improvement over the Jeppe schoolteacher and the Clown.
24 Jan 2012, 00:08 am
@PrickBoks going South-495: “yappie”…. The sound a sheep makes after you sheepshaggers done the dirty?
24 Jan 2012, 00:22 am
I reckon I will celebrate on Frriday if Heneke Meyer is given the job. And reason to celebrate it will be…
24 Jan 2012, 00:27 am
@PrickBoks going South-495: even Tackler was better than this, shameful
24 Jan 2012, 01:15 am
@Heavens Game-497:
Yappie
whose the ‘sheepshagger’ ?! are you so limited that cliches drip so readily from your oversized whinging piehole.
everyone knows Yappies whinge, not just the Aussies Kiwis and Welsh. Of which I am none of these.
yap yap yap goes the whinging Yappie.
@fantasticbarnsmell-499:
‘shameful’ is getting beaten and always looking elsewhere for excuses. Shameful is blaming the ref, threatening a ref, coercing restraint of trade of an individual.
“Rugby World Cup referee Bryce Lawrence will not be travelling to South Africa for the Super 15. This follows the uproar over his handling of the South Africa-Australia World Cup quarter-final, won 11-9 by the Wallabies, and subsequent fears for his safety. After the match, the Kiwi ref received email and Facebook threats, and was heavily criticised by Springbok captain John Smit and former World Cup final referee Andre Watson of South Africa. Referees have received their match schedules for the Super 15, which starts on February 24, and Lawrence said he was not listed to control any games in the republic. While part of him would have liked to have travelled to South Africa to deal with the criticism and get that over and done with, he could understand that Sanzar – which controls the three-nation contest – did not want a sideshow to detract from its tournament. “In some ways I’d like to go and front it, but it’s not really my decision.” Sanzar referees boss Lyndon Bray could not be reached for comment, but it is understood there were fears a fan might have tried to avenge South Africa’s quarter-final defeat. In an interview with the Weekend Herald, Lawrence said he had been hurt by the extent of the fall-out over the way he controlled the match that put the Springboks out of the World Cup. He accepted that his performance warranted criticism, but he could not accept the implication that his performance was biased. The conspiracy theory that a win for Australia gave New Zealand an easier road to the Webb Ellis Cup has gained credence in South Africa. “I got quite a few threats, people telling me if I came to South Africa to watch my back because they’d take me out,” Lawrence said. “The thing that scared me most was that people would really believe I cheated deliberately and fixed the game. “The thing I pride myself on the most is that I’m up front and honest. For people to say I didn’t referee the breakdown very well, that didn’t hurt at all.” It was Lawrence’s handling of the breakdown, the most convoluted of rugby’s laws, that created the biggest upset. The winner of the Referee of the Year title at this year’s New Zealand Rugby Awards conceded he took the wrong approach into the game. With the benefit of hindsight, he said, he would have refereed the breakdown more “technically”. Had he done so, Wallaby flanker David Pocock might have been penalised a couple of more times than he was – but he would have also earned a lot more penalties for his team, so dominant was he in that area.
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