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, 13:26 pm
@NZINCHINA-793: We have decided to let our cheerleaders scrum against the Stormers this year – who says us kiwis are not fair !
24 Jan 2012, 13:27 pm
@NZINCHINA-791:
the only country that has form in the death threat department is yours chinaboy.
and Barnsey still came to visist your boys on Kakisland.
Quite frankly I could give a toss whether the lying cheating basteraud ever comes here again.
He doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near a rugby field.
24 Jan 2012, 13:29 pm
@stew-801:
ha that was the best/worst scrummaging I’ve ever seen, Wyatt and the boys are going to give them a right royal in NZ
24 Jan 2012, 13:32 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-802:
Bryce has decided he’s not up for a Peit Van 3 Bellies special and who can blame him.
24 Jan 2012, 13:33 pm
Bugger the Bok-job. Heyneke for President!!!
24 Jan 2012, 13:40 pm
Hot-n-Tot = PrickBox = Helen = some-other-fool… = Malcontent ex-saffa…
yawn…
24 Jan 2012, 13:42 pm
@NZINCHINA-803: We’ll see.
24 Jan 2012, 13:52 pm
@stew-801: So that is a confirmation then that what some of the guys have been saying that kiwi women are butch ?
24 Jan 2012, 13:56 pm
@Treehugger-808: Why do you think i am living in SA – the rugby ha please ! – one thing for certain is SA has beautiful woman !!!! Thank you SA
24 Jan 2012, 13:59 pm
@stew-809: lol, twit…..I didnt know you were living here. You must be married to one as well then ?
24 Jan 2012, 13:59 pm
@stew-798: It was AJ Venter, not Andre Venter.
24 Jan 2012, 14:00 pm
@NZINCHINA-804:
Bryce is a *****.
But as long as he never ref’s the boks again, you won’t here me complaining.
He should be banned for life.
24 Jan 2012, 14:05 pm
@Treehugger-808:
24 Jan 2012, 14:07 pm
@Treehugger-810:
many kiwis look abroad for their wives ina a desperate attempt to add some depth to the gene pool.
Fair enough really.
24 Jan 2012, 14:11 pm
@stew-809:
Kiwi women are hot too. Saw that one model on “Border Security” on DSTV that was getting a grilling from Aussie customs for having a certain white substance on the mirror in her vanity case. She was one sizzling little thing.
24 Jan 2012, 14:12 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-814:
Ouch!
24 Jan 2012, 14:12 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-814: lol, how are you gunther ?
24 Jan 2012, 14:16 pm
@Treehugger-817:
hola sweet cheeks.
when is your husband going away on business?
24 Jan 2012, 14:17 pm
@Great White Sharks coming to get ya-816: Saw that episode, hub was watching it.
24 Jan 2012, 14:18 pm
@Great White Sharks coming to get ya-815: No no – she was a SA import LOL …. Seriously there are some scary specimens !!
24 Jan 2012, 14:18 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-818: lol ,feck you are naughty.
24 Jan 2012, 14:19 pm
@willievz-811: Andre Venter dude
24 Jan 2012, 14:20 pm
@Great White Sharks coming to get ya-815:
her parents must have been Saffas.
24 Jan 2012, 14:21 pm
@stew-822: Nope, AJ
24 Jan 2012, 14:21 pm
@Treehugger-821:
I’m trying to organise a golfing week in KZN and I was hoping to play your front nine.
24 Jan 2012, 14:23 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-812:
why should he be banned for life, Peit Van Lard Bottom attacked a ref and got a fine, lets not blame NZ’s ref of the year for your six straight losses against Aus
24 Jan 2012, 14:24 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-825: Members only.
24 Jan 2012, 14:25 pm
@Treehugger-819:
Got a bit miffed at the episode where the Aussie customs admitted that they have to red flag all parcels coming in from South Africa. True as nuts the very next parcel is a DHL package from SA. They open it and it’s a telephone book stuffed with heroine. Aich!! Makes me so proud.
24 Jan 2012, 14:25 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-812:
all we “here” is non-stop whinging from the Yappies
its what they do
the PrickBoks couldnt score a trick from a pennyless wh*re let alone trick a score against the Wallabies. So what do they do ? blame the ref, of course.
yap yap yap go the whinging Yappies.
24 Jan 2012, 14:26 pm
@NZINCHINA-826:
Brycie should be banned for life because he is a bent, crooked, cheating boknaai.
Piet van Zyl is banned for life from attending rugby games in SA.
Brycie should follow suit.
24 Jan 2012, 14:28 pm
@Treehugger-810: Yes and two beautiful daughters ( thank god they take after their mother)
24 Jan 2012, 14:28 pm
@Treehugger-827:
That is the best comeback line I’ve hear in years!
I actually have tears in my eyes.
She got you there G-man.
24 Jan 2012, 14:29 pm
I’ll waer a tie.
24 Jan 2012, 14:29 pm
@willievz-824: check it properly mate
24 Jan 2012, 14:30 pm
@PrickBoks going South-829:
speaking of penniless whores how is the miserable speicimen that brought you into this wolrd?
24 Jan 2012, 14:30 pm
72% possession and the useless PrickBoks couldnt cross the line ONCE
so the whinging Yappies blame the ref because they say he couldnt ref the breakdown.
how many points do you get for a ‘breakdown’ ?
useless whinging Yappies
24 Jan 2012, 14:31 pm
@willievz-824:
twas aj.
if it had been andre, there might have been an obituary entry a few days later
24 Jan 2012, 14:31 pm
@PrickBoks going South-829:
Definitely a Kiwi troll. She/he tries to make us think it’s South African but it’s clearly not.
The grammar style is definitely non South African.
Trying to throw us off your origins is not working.
24 Jan 2012, 14:33 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-835:
speak English, mon. Get yourself a decent edgeyoukashun. You might have to travel tho.
24 Jan 2012, 14:34 pm
@Great White Sharks coming to get ya-828: Didnt see that part, I dont watch the program had just come into the house to fetch a horse jorva, hub also says SA people get nailed all the time and a lot of Asians with funny food stuffs and to work illegally,
24 Jan 2012, 14:34 pm
@stormersboy-832:
I know.
Right in the plums.
Women are so cruel.
24 Jan 2012, 14:37 pm
@stormersboy-832: lol, had to think long and hard to get that reply to him, very dicey answering him.
24 Jan 2012, 14:38 pm
who the ***** would want to make a-n-y-o-n-e ‘think theyre a whinging Yappie’ ?!?
no wonder the PrickBoks couldnt cross the line, once, with 72% possession. Theyre dumber than we even gave them credit for.
must be confusing. No pigeonhole to choose and a brain the size of a wasabi pea.
24 Jan 2012, 14:38 pm
@stew-822:
Andre Venter played his last test in 2001.
Piet van Zyl fiasco was in 2002
@Treehugger-842:
would you make an exception for my member?
24 Jan 2012, 14:40 pm
@Treehugger-821: he wants to snorkel in your bubble bath some more
24 Jan 2012, 14:45 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-830:
So going forward any ref who has a bad game against SA should be subject to death threats and banned for life, lets not forget the flithy Samoans should also never be allowed to play the mighty Bokke again, you also told us that.
24 Jan 2012, 14:46 pm
You guys really really need some rugby to focus on.
24 Jan 2012, 14:47 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther-844: lol knew you wouldn’t let it lie.
24 Jan 2012, 14:54 pm
@NZINCHINA-846: jeez, give it a break, we dont want him here, he bryced up royally at the RWC, if there were so called death threats, copy and paste them for us to see, or do you believe every thing you read in the press, since he is your best ref having won that award somehow, it shows how one eyed some of your country men can be and have no credibility.
24 Jan 2012, 14:58 pm
@NZINCHINA-846: Not a bad game.
Bad games. Plural.
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