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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24 Jan 2012, 01:21 am
no surprise that Lawrence being denied a role in SA Super games in 2012 has not even registered or been reported on this website, despite it having direct comment on the integrity of the tournament.
wholly consistent with being a nation of whingers.
24 Jan 2012, 01:31 am
@PrickBoks going South-501:
Not really news. A useless ref, left out, simple! Maybe worthy of a run on ad?
24 Jan 2012, 01:32 am
Oh, I forgot to add…………dooooooooooooooooos
You boys taught the world how to whinge in 2007, everyone else holds that up as the yardstick
Twat!
24 Jan 2012, 01:35 am
looks like the racist wet pantie is back in a differnt guise………same old Saffa hating twat as before…
run troll run
24 Jan 2012, 01:42 am
wc is over. get over it
24 Jan 2012, 02:11 am
@whatever-503:
yup and back then NZ’rs were told to get the fk over it. so get over it already. we’ve gotten over 2007 and 2011.
ps “PrickBoks going South” apparently isnt a kiwi, according to him/her, yet your so quick to kiwi bash u jump to conclusions amd assume that he is.
get a life doos
24 Jan 2012, 02:45 am
HM obviously hasn’t learned from his failure at Leicester
And he probably hasn’t learned from the Bulls’ failure in 2011 on all fronts
That is if he is really to be appointed as the Boks coach
24 Jan 2012, 03:05 am
@man1a-506:
hey f uk pig, he may say he is not a this or a that, but the writing is very “wet pantie”.
Took you 4 years to get over 2007, we have already moved on from 2011
Think maybe you need to get a life dooos for brains!
24 Jan 2012, 03:24 am
i’d be careful bout HM and his strong ties to the bulls. when robbieDeans and johnMitchell ran the AB’s, deans stacked the AB’s with canterbury players that he liked. it took 3 fullbacks to replace cullen and merhtens was still at the top of his game but was over looked for carlosSpencer. Carlos couldnt kick goals so a canterbury full back was brought into the centres…of course danCarter was already in the team playing at 12 but obviously no one told the coaches that he was a good kicker.
SA with its parochialism should be real careful how meyer approaches his boks role and whether he really is in it and solely for the good of the boks.
24 Jan 2012, 03:45 am
So glad to see that useless Bryce Lawrence, dumb kiwi, has been left out of anything near competitve rugby, the only thing he should ref is a fantasy netball league. Heyneke Meyer, will be a good choice, I hope they keep Rassie and Nienaber.
All the IRB needs to do know is get rid of another uselsess kiwi, Paddy O Brien, send him, to retire on his sheep pad in Invercargill.
24 Jan 2012, 03:49 am
look at the silly whinging Yappie, desperately clutching at straws. Im no dole-bludging Kiwi, but Id rather be a dole-bludger than a whinging Yappie any day of the week.
Never even been to NZ. But these whinging Yappies make them look like the most earnest peoples on Earth.
yap yap yap goes the whinging Yappie, clearly has a brain that only fits in a pigeonhole. With room to spare for all his whinging Yappie mates too.
24 Jan 2012, 03:50 am
yet another whinging Yappie hops on board
whinging Yappie clones.
24 Jan 2012, 03:57 am
@maximus1-510: yeah dumb kiwi’s. them dumba55 AB’s giving the boks a hiding for 3 of the past 4 years. dumb kiwi’s have got the wc and all the other silverware. dumb kiwi’s winning age grade, womens and 7′s rugby etc
if it wasnt for these dumb kiwi’s, boks might be number one.
24 Jan 2012, 04:26 am
In the little village of west bumfuck our hero Bokprix valiantly defends his tiny world against the evil Japies and dole bludging kiwis. As he fell into the vat of fermented dingo ***** and Bundaberg as a baby he is not permitted to drink it any more.
A lone voice against the world.
24 Jan 2012, 04:52 am
@PrickBoks going South-511:
Ok big boy, you seem to be whinging about Saffa’s alot hey? Why don’t you be an even bigger hero and let us all know where you are actually from?
My guess is that you probably come from a nation that whinges more about Saffa’s whinging than the Kiwi’s , if thats at all possible
24 Jan 2012, 04:55 am
whats a yap? I know puppies yap………. maybe you are trying to use the often used slant at saffa’s…..yarpie? Seeing as you can’t spell it, I doubt you know the meaning!
Better still, go troll on a g ay pick up site, that would be more in your line…
24 Jan 2012, 05:51 am
look at the whinging Yappie, so limited between the ears that he needs a pigeonhole to work in. Not the brightest are we, bumshine.
Can’t help whinging tho, even when it’s not at the ref.
yappity yap
24 Jan 2012, 06:34 am
@whatever-515: Judging by the lack of intellect, humor or any class shown by him in his trolling, he’d have to be an Aussie virgin, mid forties no friends, still living with Mum and too scared to leave the caravan park without her.
24 Jan 2012, 06:43 am
Cape Town – Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has not been approached by Heyneke Meyer to form part of the Springbok coaching team, he said on Monday.
Speaking after his team’s training session in Bellville, Coetzee denied media reports that he had spoken to Meyer about taking a job as assistant coach.
Meyer is the hot favourite to succeed Peter de Villiers when the new national coach is named on Friday.
“Heyneke never approached me,” Coetzee said.
“We last chatted about two weeks ago, but we did not speak about Springbok-related matters.”
24 Jan 2012, 07:01 am
thankfully the worlds biggest mystery will be solved on Friday, what a shambles of a selection process denials counter denials you would think you were selecting the next pope
24 Jan 2012, 07:04 am
@NZINCHINA-520: And if Meyer gets selected the Boks can settle in for 4 more years of misery!
24 Jan 2012, 07:09 am
@NZINCHINA-520: @HongKongSlong-521:
Meyers imminent appointment is bad news for the antipodes – the last time he coached the Boks (forwards coach) he set a world record of 17 consecutive test wins.
He is no clown so be afraid.
24 Jan 2012, 07:11 am
@RL-522: They were probably thinking of a different Heinecke Meyer.
24 Jan 2012, 07:16 am
The Bok team under Heienken will be, unfortunately:
1. Coenie
2. Biz
3. Jannie
4. Flip
5. Bekker
6. Brussouw
7. Smith
8. Spies (c)
9. Hougaard
10. Morne
11. Habana
12. Wynand
13. Sadie
14. Engelbrecht
15. Niknaksman
24 Jan 2012, 07:23 am
Juan Smith breaks down again….off to see a specialist for scans, etc and not going on Cheetahs week long training camp to Jeffreys Bay…
Sykes leaves Leinster to rejoin Sharks on 1 year deal…..
24 Jan 2012, 07:29 am
@grant10-525: Bad news for Juan – i enjoy his play i hope he pulls through for this S15 but by what you say this could be the end for the big flanker
24 Jan 2012, 07:32 am
@man1a-509: Deans staked the team with the best players in the land – just because they were from Canterbury doesnt mean he was provincial ….. We cant help we have the best players LOL
24 Jan 2012, 07:33 am
@stew-527: Also Deans wasnt the head coach ?????
24 Jan 2012, 07:40 am
@grant10-525:
Yeah, heard about Sykes coming home this weekend.
Thats huge for the Sharks, finally a specialist 4 lock who can get down and dirty with the best of them.
24 Jan 2012, 07:49 am
522 that would be equaled the world record not set a new one, i’m sure he’s a good coach I doubt very much anybody in the AB camp will be overly worried though.
24 Jan 2012, 07:50 am
@John Galt-529: great news for sharks….and maybe even Boks rugby.
I have always thought Flip VD Merwe is a bit overrated…..and SA needs a 4 lock….Sykes was always underrated imo…..really good news all roundI reckon.
This J Smith reoccurence is a wake up call for SA Rugby….the Stormers must leave schalk at blind side where he dovetailed nicely with Brussow at WC…..to expect J Smith to make Bok side again is a big ask…..
24 Jan 2012, 07:54 am
Sykes rejoining the Sharks a boost for them and SA !!
I always said I doubt Juan would ever be the player he was, that was a horrific injury and difficult for a flanker as there is a lot of strain on the achilles, whether pushing or jumping,
24 Jan 2012, 07:55 am
@stormersboy-519:
good news… at least that would mean no unexpected surprises for us…
@grant10-525:
bad news for juan… one of my favorite all-time boks… but his frequent breakdowns are one reason why i’d pick schalk as captain over juan…
.
as far as this chappie yappie is concerned…
the fact that on an anonymous website… where everybody nails their colors to the mast… that this guy can’t even say where he’s from or what team he supports says way more about him than any of his meaningless imbecilic yapping…
i think he is a regular disgruntled ex-saffa blogger who has over the last few months re-invented himself three of four times and come back to spout the same drivel…
good or bad… at least just about everyone else is prepared to stand up for what and who they believe… this guy stands for nothing… is nothing… means nothing…
less said to him the better…
24 Jan 2012, 08:06 am
Juan is also 1 of my all time favorites…….but reality is that Achilles is a chronic injury…….not sure he will be back consistently…..as JR says the strain on that tendon will be enormous ….just not convinced Juan will come through all this quite the same player as before.
Believe me I will be rooting for him…….but he vertainly does not need any more added pressure of captaincy , etc……Juan needs to solely focus on himself now…
24 Jan 2012, 08:06 am
@John Galt-529:
Good news for us.
Our pack should be very competative.
24 Jan 2012, 08:07 am
from news24…
Solar ‘Bullet’ to hit Earth
Duncan Alfreds
Cape Town – Charged particles from the sun will strike the Earth on Tuesday after a huge solar flare erupted on Monday.
The M9-class solar flare was observed by Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory and erupted from a sunspot on Monday at 03:59 GMT, SpaceWeather.com reported.
The coronal mass ejection or CME is travelling to Earth at 2 200km/s which means that it could potentially cause communications disruptions to networks on the planet that could include disabling satellites in its path.
In the polar regions people could observe spectacular auroras, that may even be visible at lower latitudes.
The CME may have a particular impact in South Africa because of the South Atlantic Anomaly where the Earth’s magnetic field is weakest.
The CME is scheduled to hit at about 14:18 GMT on Tuesday and South Africans should take care to avoid being exposed directly to the sun.
So hang on to your hats…!!
24 Jan 2012, 08:08 am
@grant10-534:
yeah grant… agree on all counts…
24 Jan 2012, 08:08 am
ah, so a gap closes for sharks haters eh?
lock looking better.
now Fransie needs to come home and the sharks look like genuine contenders imo.
riaan viljoen, mvovo, JPP, fransie, mjekevu/whitehead, lambie, mcleod/froggie/hoffman
thats not a kuk backline imo with depth as well (ludick, odwa,bosman and jouba still to come).
ja, go the shaaaarks (quiet one).
24 Jan 2012, 08:14 am
and in the pack we have:
beast, biz/burden, jannie/van staden(?)/ herbst, alberts/deysel/mullet, botes/keegan, kanko, hargreaves, skeate, sykes.
and a few more.
eish, shaarks!
24 Jan 2012, 08:15 am
@rangerman-538:
yeah bud… reckon sharks are gonna kick ***… as they normally do…
will be a very interesting s15 from an sa franchise perspective… i reckon the teams start off very evenly matched and will be mighty riveting to see which team builds any ascendancy over the others…
i feel for the cheetahs… as combative as they are… juan just takes them to another level… they will miss him…
heck… can’t wait for this thing to start already….!!
24 Jan 2012, 08:15 am
as for bryce lawrence not coming to sa, i say puuuuuuuuuussyyyyyyyyyyy.
what a scared little girl, he knows he did wrong and doesnt have the guts to face the consequences.
loser.
24 Jan 2012, 08:16 am
@ufo-540: ag the sharks will once again take us to the highs and lows lol.
but ja, i cant wait!
24 Jan 2012, 08:18 am
@ufo-533:
Its very irritating to scroll through posts like that. Why not just delete posters that clearly are out to start fights, it really annoys me.
24 Jan 2012, 08:18 am
@rangerman-538: It’s a great coup for you guys. definitely an are where you guys could use some strength, and these days a good no 4 lock is a great asset,
Sharkies will be competitive this year for sure, A lot depends on how your backline fires. If they get the combo’s right than it’s game on!
24 Jan 2012, 08:21 am
@rangerman-542:
hehehe…
as do the stormers…
i believe it will be a very tightly contested sa franchise this year… with all the teams beating each other and winning and losing very similar numbers of games and the placings being decided on bonus points…
if stormers don’t start adding attack to their defense we’re gonna be nowhere at the sharp end… the guys have gotta start getting the try bonus points…
exciting times in sa rugby from a bok and province point of view…
24 Jan 2012, 08:29 am
@Mr Black-543:
hey bud… just ignore it… guys like that only want to get a reaction to give some relevance to themselves… and they can only do that if others react…
to me it’s just water under a ducks back…!!
no problem with a difference of opinion or perspective… but i’d far rather engage with kiwi supporters no matter how different or ‘bad’ or ‘abusive’… at least they believe in and are proud of their team and country and are prepared to stand up for them…
24 Jan 2012, 08:29 am
@stormersboy-544: ja, i must say i am breathing a sigh of relief.
24 Jan 2012, 08:31 am
@ufo-545: i think you;ve hit on a very important aspect of this year’s competition,
It won’t be good enough just to win 9 or 10 games.
Bonus points will become vital.
Not just those earned but also those denied your opponents.
Also with Lions and Cheetahs getting better and better they will hopefully be able to take some points off the touring teams and not be an easy 5 pointer for them,
24 Jan 2012, 08:34 am
@ufo-546:
Yeah i hear you about the kiwi supporters, thats how i feel about Stormer supporters.
Anyway, the prickbok dude looks like Poppa.
24 Jan 2012, 08:38 am
@Mr Black-549: hmmmm…..could be poopa i suppose.
we all know pops is badly addicted to this site and also hates throwing a bit of abuse around.
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