Meyer the man to repair Bok brand

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

Pages: « 1 … 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 [18] 19 » Show All

  • 851.HongKongSlong: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 14:58 pm

    @NZINCHINA-846: The problem is it definitely wasn’t Brycie’s first kock up. He has mad a career of being worse then rubbish, same as Stew Dickinson from Australia. There should be a ranking system and promotion and relegation for referees. Right now it just seems like a job for the boys and no matter how bad you mess up, there is no punishment for refereeing incompetence.

  • 852.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 14:59 pm

    @stormersboy-848: I have no return serve for that, feel free to chip in anytime.

  • 853.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 14:59 pm

    @Transformation-845: Forget about barred. She’ll have you dismembered if you carry on like this.

  • 854.au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir...: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:00 pm

    gold members only..?..

  • 855.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:02 pm

    @NZINCHINA-846:

    Bad games.

    The guy is at best incompetant at worst craven and dishonest.

    There is no place in the game for men of his ilk.

    If you like him so much let him ref your domestic comp.

    Nobody watches that anyway.

  • 856.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:04 pm

    @Treehugger-852: LOL I’m just a spectator here.

    Gunther doesn’t share.

    :D

  • 857.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:04 pm

    @>^..^< katman-853: lol nice.

  • 858.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:04 pm

    In my righteous indignation my tent became a tant.

    veldskoen me.

  • 859.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:05 pm

    @Treehugger-852:

    maybe just my members end?

  • 860.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:06 pm

    @stormersboy-856: No man, we are buds doll, and you know i am out of my depth. I give you power of attorney in dealing with him.

  • 861.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:08 pm

    What the effing hell …..

  • 862.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:08 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-859: hahahahahahahah you are incorrigible, I refer you to Stormersboy

  • 863.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:10 pm

    @Dawn-861: oh good another female for the boys to play with.

  • 864.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:11 pm

    Who is this ******

  • 865.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:12 pm

    Hot not!

  • 866.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:13 pm

    @Treehugger-860: I can’t. Conflict of interest!

    :D

    Recusal.

  • 867.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:14 pm

    @Treehugger-860:

    the last time somebody gave stormersboy the power of a hernia he was banned from the free weights sectionof the Durbanville Virgin Active for a year.

    Somehow I don’t think he’ll be that keen.

  • 868.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:15 pm

    @stormersboy-866: Damn lawyers, always finding loopholes :-)

  • 869.J.B. Cowper: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:15 pm

    Meyer is in charge – O’ Happy Day – if the politicos, including Keo, leave him alone we should have some real performance now – he will play to Bok physicality and forward strength …. in other words, our strengths; I’m in rugby again for as long as his tenure …

    But don’t undrestimate the politicos …

  • 870.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:16 pm

    @Treehugger-862:

    Just the tip.

    I promise.

  • 871.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:18 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-867: Pity, cos i think between them, him and katman could take you.

  • 872.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:18 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-867: It was the pool. Apparently I had a different conception of the breaststroke.

    I claim innocent mistake. But you know how it goes, once they have a restraining order there’s just no reasoning with them.

  • 873.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:19 pm

    @J.B. Cowper-869: “I want by the end of the year that the national rugby team, the cricket team, every sport team, to be multiracial.” – good luck to heyneke :D

  • 874.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:20 pm

    This thread has given me a headache

  • 875.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:21 pm

    @stormersboy-872: lol, tears streaming down my face from laughter.

  • 876.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:22 pm

    @J.B. Cowper-869: “traditional strengths” you say> :roll: hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  • 877.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:22 pm

    @Transformation-873:

    I thought all our sports teams were multiracial?

  • 878.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:22 pm

    @Dawn-874: It’s the solar flare. You need to make a hat out of tinfoil.

    Quick.

  • 879.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:23 pm

    I thought only extraball was banned from public pools

  • 880.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:23 pm

    @Treehugger-875: ;)

  • 881.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:24 pm

    @Dawn-879: :mrgreen:

  • 882.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:24 pm

    @stormersboy-872:

    Who was stroking your breasts?

  • 883.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:25 pm

    SB – already did that.

    Aliens gonna get me

  • 884.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:25 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-877: I thought so too, but it turns out the Proteas Street Drifting team is 100% cullert, and always has been. How Komphela let that one slip through the cracks is beyond me.

  • 885.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:27 pm

    @Dawn-883: Pour a bunch of glasses of water and keep a baseball hat handy.

    That should do it.

  • 886.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:27 pm

    There’s cullartS and then there’s coloureds

  • 887.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:28 pm

    @>^..^< katman-884: No Asians ‘n all?

    I claim racist selection policies.

  • 888.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:28 pm

    And then there’s youknow who and extraball

  • 889.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:31 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-855:

    I never said I liked him, I just find your arrogance amusing the Samoans touch you up and they should be banned for life and Brycie has an off day and he’s crooked bent and should also be banned for life, anything else you’d like to see I reckon you should work on getting the Aussies banned since they’ve smacked you 6 on the trot.

  • 890.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:31 pm

    @Dawn-883:

    Take the tin foil off your head if the aliens try and put you in a microwave.

    Otherwise somebody will get hurt.

  • 891.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:31 pm

    @stormersboy-887: They drift for a Durban breakaway faction that hasn’t been recognized by the national governing body.

  • 892.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:34 pm

    @>^..^< katman-891: That explains it then.

    Thanks for clearing that up.

  • 893.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:35 pm

    @NZINCHINA-889:

    Brycie had an off day….

    In the same way they Japanese had an off day at Pearl Harbour.

    And as for the Samoans have the same approach to rugby as your adopted nation has to human rights.

  • 894.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:37 pm

    @HongKongSlong-851:

    agree he’s not a good ref but he’s been accused of match fixing being on the take etc Bryce was the fall guy for a poor Bokke side

  • 895.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:39 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-893:

    I wouldn’t have thought you’d be be throwing the human rights line out

  • 896.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:42 pm

    There twenty cullarts outside laying tar a foot square.

    18 of them standing around! Work smart!

  • 897.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:42 pm

    @NZINCHINA-895:

    Why ever not?

  • 898.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:43 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther-877: *cue extraball and his SACOS diatribes. :D

  • 899.ufo: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:48 pm

    you guys have been selling the kiwi chicks short… and no, not talking about ewe, ewe and ewe…

    mex’s wife won the miss universe in 1983… and also saw a tv show a few years back where they took a dozen or so kiwi babes to australia (of all places…) for some aussie wildman wannabe to pick one as a wife…

    they were babes of note… seriously…

    would’ve loved those women to be brought to cape town for some saffa wildman wannabe to pick one as a wife…

    hell… wouldn’t have been able to make up my mind and just take the full dozen…!!

    but having said that… cape town if brim full of wonderful ladies… :wink:

  • 900.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Jan 2012, 15:50 pm

    @ufo-899: I always maintained that there must be at least a dozen or so hot Kiwi chicks.

    Thanks for confirming that for me.

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