The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has delayed its General Council meeting by a week.
The meeting was originally due to take place on 4 December and is understood to have a major influence on whether or not Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s contract is extended following the Springboks semifinal exit at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
The meeting will now take place on 11 December and will follow a meeting of the Executive Council on 9 December.
SARU said on Friday via a statement that “any announcements emanating from the meetings are only likely to be made in the week beginning 14 December.”
Ex-Springboks launch ‘Heyneke Must Fall’ campaign:
2 Former Test captains, Wynand Claassen and Divan Serfontein, are drumming up support among old Springboks, provincial players and supporters to bring down Rugby World Cup coach Heyneke Meyer.
The pair, in an unprecedented move to end Meyer’s tenure as Springbok coach, on Friday circulated a hard-hitting letter under a heading “Heyneke Must Fall” among dozens of former Springboks. Claassen and Serfontein have called for concerted action to ensure that Meyer’s 4-year contract is not renewed when the SA Rugby Union (SARU) executive meets early next month, after the Springboks finished in 3rd place at the Rugby World Cup.
“Let us stand together and fight for change in South African rugby so that we, as loyal South Africans, can again be proud and that players get the opportunities to develop, thrive and to wear the Springbok jersey with pride,” the 2 said.
“There is no doubt that SA Rugby is on the decline, if one looks at the performances of the Springbok team over the last 4 years.
“1 Out of 8 victories over the All Blacks in the last 4 years, tell the whole sorry tale.
“After Heyneke Meyer took over as Springbok coach at the end of 2011, he said that the people must judge him after the 2015 World Cup. Well, the tournament had come and gone and now is the time to judge him.”
Claassen, who led the Springboks from 1981 to 1984 and also captained Natal, and Serfontein a former Western Province and Springbok scrumhalf, said that Meyer has blamed the players’ “lack of skills as the reason for the World Cup disaster” but the problem was that the team was not being coached properly.
“The skills of the players are being suppressed in his rigid, predictable pattern and he actually points a finger at himself by acknowledging that the skills are lacking.
“He is coaching pattern rugby instead of individual skills. He is obsessed with size and power… his archaic pattern doesn’t work anymore, but he is still persisting with it. It points to stubbornness and he does not realise that the rest of the rugby world has already moved on, playing total, 15-man rugby, which is exciting for both players as spectators. The players of other countries develop and improve. South Africans are going backwards.
“Heyneke does not understand the modern game. All the rugby playing countries know exactly how the Boks play and plan accordingly.”
The 2 ask what fate would befall Steve Hansen, the All Black coach, if his team lost to Argentina in New Zealand, were beaten by Japan in the World Cup and returned home with only a bronze medal as consolation prize.
“Meyer insisted (in selection) on experience and pursued old players past their best or retired; he stuck to players who have been injured for a long time; players out of form; and also did not give the necessary opportunities to players of colour.
“Look further to his inexperienced managing and coaching team (which he insisted be appointed) with absolutely no international experience at this level. Apparently they also do not know how to coach individual skills. It therefore indicates that Heyneke appoints people, not because of their ability as coaches, but so that he could control them and demand total loyalty.”
Claassen and Serfontein are adamant that SARU should not be satisfied with a mediocre Rugby World Cup, 4 failed years of coaching and the rapid decline of Springbok rugby.
“This brings us to the extremely suspicious process of Heyneke’s appointment for another term of a further 4 years by SARU. Who did this?
“Can SA Rugby afford someone that performs like a maniac in the coaching enclosure, wearing his Springbok blazer, in the eyes of the whole world on television? Compare this with the behaviour of Steve Hansen of New Zealand. Is this the example of a role model?”
Claassen, who is back in Meyer’s home city of Pretoria after decades in Durban, said that he and Serfontein had decided to protest, before Meyer’s contract was confirmed for another 4 years. In the circulated E-Mail they requested the recipients to forward their letter to as many ex-players and Springbok supporters as possible.
“If one takes everything above into consideration, Meyer has failed. But despite this, he defends his list of performance and now pleads for ‘continuity’ to retain his job.”
“The crux of the matter is that other countries, our own people as well as former Springboks who have so much pride in the Springbok jersey, are feeling ashamed about the performances of the Boks.
“One man is responsible for this, namely Heyneke Meyer.”
Sport24
The momentum to have Heyneke axed is certainly gaining momentum!
A lot of what Wynand and Divan are saying rings true though.
Let me say first and foremost, I am not happy with Heyneke Meyer… make that categorically clear! Now that that is out of the way and hopefully clearly understood, let’s consider what Wynand Claassen and Divan Serfontein are up to…
I have a couple of problems with these 2 gentlemen, per se…
No 1: If Wynand Claassen really cared THAT much about South Africa and South African and Springbok rugby, then why is his son, Antonie, playing in France and for the French national side? And what is Wynand’s contribution to SA Rugby himself… does he coach somewhere, is he involved in Schools or Junior Rugby circles or is he just another bitching swine?
No 2: Regarding Divan, the same applies… what is his contribution and involvement in SA Rugby right at present?
No 3: These 2 gentlemen fall at the same hurdle as all other “Axing Mongers” fall at… they propose simply no viable alternatives!
I’ve been at pains to try and indicate that we as Springbok supporters have severe reason not to be happy with the current state of affairs, both with Heyneke Meyer and SARU, BUT I’ve also been trying to lead to and point what the alternatives are or might be… and what else needs to change to make the whole SA Rugby environment condusive to progressive change and ultimate success.
Addressing only the symptoms of an illness and not disinfecting or eliminating the actual cause of the infection, will not be adequate or successful… not in a generation of life in South Africa!
1. Replacing some of the Assistant coaches, to me, is of utmost importance. Scrum coach, Attack coach, Forwards coach… to start with.
2. Getting a better general South African way of playing established throughout the systems – from schoolboy rugby all the way through to age group and senior and Super Rugby – it simply needs to happen… and SA is at a very important juncture to be able to do that right now, with all the NEW coaches in the SA Super Rugby franchises for 2016!
3. Central Contracting in SA.
4. Instituting a logical Succession plan in place for the Springboks, to replace Heyneke Meyer and coaches beyond that.
5. Identifying the proper prospects as alternative coaches and Assistant coaches.
6. Sharpening up SA Player skillsets.
7. Identifying each coach’s weaker points as he is assessed from Test to the next Test, addressing it… and if unable to resolve it, to replace that coach with one who can. And that counts for Heyneke Meyer too! If he cannot fix his over propensity for witbroodjie-players, his over-loyalty, his over-conservatism, his ultra conservative selection policies and ultra-conservative game plan… then yes, he needs to go!
This should never be about provincial bias, or where the coach coached before… it should be about the best man for the job and the best assistants around him. It should be a totally concerted effort from all over South Africa and it’s franchises and provinces.
“… a bitching swine …” – WTF! Have you no respect, no discernment, no self control?
Both Wynand Claassen & Divan Serfontein are esteemed Springbok rugby captains and their well reasoned opinions carry more weight than yours that has resort to name calling.
As if taking SA rugby to an all time low wasn’t enough for Meyer, he has single handily managed to not only divide supporters in a scale yet unseen, but has actually managed the feat of getting Bok supporters to turn on the team.
I whole heartedly support the ex Bok captains in their drive to rid SA rugby of this man. All he has managed to prove in 4 years is that 1) He is out of his depth in coaching international rugby and 2) being passionate does not make you a decent coach.
@ grootblousmile:
Hi Gbs time is short here so briefly you make many valid points but unfortunately think these get lost in the unnecessary tit for tat insults/slurs on the guys in question.
Let’s have a serious look at what Wynand Claassen and Divan Serfontein’s own Springbok records indicate:
In 1982, the biggest upset of the amateur era happened when Wynand Claassen was Captain and Divan Serfontein played at scrumhalf for the Springboks… and the Jaguars beat the Springboks, IN South Africa at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 3 April 1982.
The Jaguars won 21 / 12.
Hugo Porta was of course the mastermind of that famous win for the Jaguars.
That was Wynand Claassen’s last ever Test, as far as I recall.
So, here’s the question: Is’nt it pretty rich critique coming from them, having exactly the same ghost in the closet?
Then also, when Wynand Claassen (then Chairman of UP-Tuks rugby)… had the misfortune of Tuks copping a 60-Point beating by Maties, guess who Claassen turned to to come save Tuks… yeah you guessed it, Heyneke Meyer.
After that followed the period at Tuks where Antonie Claassens played for Tuks, but did not break through to play for the Blue Bulls… and that is where Wynand & Heyneke Meyer clashed heads or got distanced from each other… so it does not surprize me that Wynand has it in for Heyneke Meyer.
Antonie Claassen of course then left to go play rugby in France.
Now let’s turn to Divan Serfontein, who a few years ago said… and I quote Brenden Nel, SuperSport Journalist from his Twitter Account saying: Divan Serfontein also has a history of slagging Boks. Said he would “never watch another test” a few years ago. Said he would rather garden.
These 2 esteemed Ex-Springboks, specially Divan Serfontein… what has his involvement been in SA rugby since he retired and focussed on his medical practice? Can’t even recall him holding any management position, so is it nothing or nearly nothing for 30 odd years?
And Wynand, apart from being Chairman of Tuks and somewhat involved with the Ex-Blue Bulls player Movement, what has his involvement been, apart from being a regularly invited “Name Player” to sit at the “captains table” for some meaningless functions or discussions or fund-raising and pretty little effect? He last coached in 1989 (University of Natal)… so let’s say he’s effectively been marginalised out of rugby that matters, since 26 years ago. He is an architect by profession and an occasional artist.
If I am wrong about Wynand & Divan, please help me out and indicate what their direct involvement has been!
So, what makes them and their voice bigger or better than the average supporter’s voice…. nothing!
They are just “Ex-big names” from a previous era. They are supporters like you and me, normal people… with a history.
… and believe me, their agendas and motives are clear to me, as I’ve pointed out…
Be that as it may, they point out some serious home truths about the Springboks and Heyneke Meyer, which we all share and where all of us believe things need to change in the SA Rugby landscape.
We differ on the methods, I suppose, in achieving that.
Now call it slurs or whatever you will… but THAT is Wynand and Divan’s own Springbok record, their own involvement in the game and their own attitude towards the game.
Wynand has gone and built himself a real fugly glass house.
I think most ex bok players would symphasize with the boks at present, wynand and divan appear to want to be part of the problem in a divided south africa. We are becoming a reactive society.
Energy shortage – lets build 3 ridiculous coal power stations that will be absolete in 15 to 30 years when nuclear fusion takes over.
Springboks – a few very bad results. Lets fire the coach, and how dare he say we dont have skills, super rugby is a wonderful exhibition of our skills. Our skills and domestic rugby is awesome.
Transformation etc everything is reactive rather than proactive.
What a kak country.
Obsolete*
I think it takes guts for former players especially Bok captains to come out and publicly voice their opinion about their dissatisfaction with the coach and coaching staff and wanting him gone…They’re putting themselves up for others to have a go at them and ask questions regarding their own integrity and if there are hidden agendas and the like….
I watched a replay of the Bok v Ab game and they had Johnny Wilkinson. ..Fitzpatrick and Francois Pienaar who said that he had heard the Bok camp was an unhappy one..but did not elaborate who or what was unhappy…Questions need to be asked on what plan Meyer has for the Bok moving forward…When he first came into the coach position he was not shy to give his thoughts…If he was to address people’s dissatisfaction with his performance and outline his plan this might alleviate the fears some have if he was to continue as Coach..
And I must say Johnny Wilkinson has a marvellous mind when talking about the game….gave some brilliant insights regarding Test Rugby…
7 @ MacroPolo:
“Springboks – a few very bad results. Lets fire the coach, and how dare he say we dont have skills, super rugby is a wonderful exhibition of our skills. Our skills and domestic rugby is awesome.”
SARU has fired some much better coaches who had some damn good results in the past, why on earth would they want to retain a coach who has had some very bad results?
All those issues raised by GBS may well be very true, but it has also been very true for the last 20 years.
It should not now be used as an excuse for Meyer coaching the Boks to an all time low.
Those excuses weren’t offered to Divvie or Jake, even though they, with the same hand dealt as Meyer, managed more in their 4 years than he did.
10 @ nortie:
So, if it’s been true for 20 years, is’nt it time these issues get addressed properly and fixed properly?
We have a golden window of opportunity right now to make changes to many things, why not use this opportunity?
Is it co-incidence that for those same last 20 years, the Springboks have fallen behind the All Blacks in the win / loss ratio?
Another wrong onto of the wrongs for 20 years, does that suddenly make a right?
Fix the SARU and SA rugby issues… and by all means then appoint a good SOUTH AFRICAN coach to replace Heyneke Meyer! I do not subscribe to a foreign coach for the Bokke.
But if the SARU and general SA rugby problems remain, we’ll sit here wanting to fire the next coach too, whether that is in 2 years time or in 4 years time and / or whether we change the 4-year cycle nicely to fit in the middle of Rugby World Cups or otherwise.
PS! You are going to enjoy an article I will be placing on, you are going to drool all over it – written by a newly registered reader, on the Heyneke Must Fall issue. I’ve phoned him, mailed him and asked him to change certain inaccuracies and resubmit the article for placement… so as soon as I get it, it will be put up.
Just on a general Info factor, the following:
I am in correspondence with a Results website for possible Link Exchanges between them and us.
They contacted me, indicating big interest and the thing which makes it viable for me is that they are connected to a host of Live Streaming feeds for Rugby Union.
The trade-off that I am going for is to negotiate absolutely FREE Live Streams for readers of Rugby-Talk.com in addition to the normal Link Exchanges.
They seem absolutely happy with the idea… so far, but the technicalities have to be nailed down well too.
Maybe I should put this on it’s own seperate article… but I don’t know if I should, because it rather pushes for Heyneke to stay, and THAT might be held against me… hehehe
Not that I care much, what is held against me, far too independent for that to bother me!
Here it is, from rugby365:
Jan de Koning takes another look at the attitude towards coaches of South Africa’s national team, in the wake of the emotional outburst by former players.
Let us just, for one moment, pretend South Africa is not a country where crime and corruption are rife, where people are highjacked, raped and killed every waking hour. Let us, in that same moment, pretend that rugby is the most important aspect in the lives of all 53 million people in the country.
Then, perhaps, the incandescent and perfervid outbursts over South Africa’s third-place finish in the World Cup can be understood.
The latest lynch mob calling for the head of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is headed by none other than former Springbok captains Wynand Claassen and Divan Serfontein.
In their maudlin letter, addressed to other former players, they quote a couple of journalists to give credence to their reasoning – including a female that said she “lost her crush” on the Boks.
Now I am not saying this reporter does not know enough about the game, far from it. It is that kind of emotional reasoning that makes the current situation and the entire letter so laughable.
But that is not new to South Africa.
We are ruled by emotion – when it comes to this game played with an oval-shaped ball – with sound reasoning quickly flying out the window.
Springbok coaches have often come and gone in alarmingly quick fashion.
In the pre-isolation amateur era – when Tests were not the staple diet it is today – coaches were rotated regularly.
The most successful Bok coaches in the pre-isolation era were Danie Craven (1949 to 1956) and Cecil Moss (1982 to 1989).
However, in the post-isolation era (1992 onwards) coaches have more often than not been discarded like yesterday’s dirty laundry.
There has not even been a hint of continuity, the one aspect that has set New Zealand apart from the rest in the last 12 years.
It started with John Williams in 1992, who won just one of the five Bok Tests he was in charge of and was summarily dismissed with a 20 percent success rate. It mattered not that his rag-tag team, with provincialism rife, was put up against the three top – and most professional – outfits in the world in Australia, New Zealand and England. And that after a decade in isolation.
Ian McIntosh took over in 1993 and after the disastrous tour of New Zealand in 1994, he was given the DCM (don’t come Monday) with four wins in 12 Tests – a 33 percent success rate.
Kitch Christie took over from McIntosh and is still the only coach with the distinction of a 100 percent success rate. His 14 Tests included the 1995 World Cup victory. A combination of his deteriorating health (cancer) and a fall-out with the powers that be saw him being asked to ‘step down’ while in hospital.
Andre Markgraaff coached the team in 1996, winning eight of his 13 Tests (61 percent success rate), before an ill-judged statement on blacks saw him given his marching orders.
Carel du Plessis started 1997 – losing the series to the British and Irish Lions, winning just the final Test, as well as losing three of the Tri-Nations Tests. Despite a 61-22 demolition of Australia in the last match of the Tri-Nations, his romanticism became too much for his bosses and he was axed, with a 37 percent success rate.
Nick Mallett took over for the year-end tour of 1997 and would go on to achieve a 71 percent success rate, including 16 successive Test victories and a Tri-Nations title. His tenure will be forever clouded by his ill-timed decision to axe captain Gary Teichmann and take Bobby Skinstad to the 1999 World Cup in his place. He was eventually axed – reportedly over a comment he made to a journalist over ticket prices, although insiders say he had fallen foul of the boardroom bullies long before that. His success rate mattered not.
Another romantic, Harry Viljoen, took over from Mallett in 2000 and would depart the scene with a 53 percent success rate. He walked away before he was axed, but clearly saw the writing on the wall. His tenure was marked by weird tactics that included not kicking the ball once in 70 minutes of a match – the players running the ball out from their own in-goal area.
Rudolph Straeuli took over from Viljoen and his era (a 52 percent success rate) and will always be remembered for Kamp Staaldraad and the disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign – a quarterfinal exit.
Jake White took South Africa to World Cup glory in 2007, finishing with a 67 percent success rate, before being shown the door – despite having rebuilt the team and taking them to No.1 on the world rankings. He also fell foul of the boardroom bullies, despite his success.
Peter de Villiers followed in 2008 and would eventually get the boot after the Boks’ quarterfinal exit at the 2011 World Cup – a 62 percent success rate, which include a series win against the B&I Lions in 2009 and a Tri-Nations series win the same year. He will be forever be know as the first ‘quota coach’ – branded so by South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins.
Heyneke Meyer, the current coach (about to be sacked or reinstated for another four years?) has a 67 percent success rate. His failures against the All Blacks is what is at the heart of the lynch mobs chasing him.
This chopping-and-changing is in stark contrast to how New Zealand have treated their coaches in recent decades.
They have used just six coaches in the same period – Laurie Mains (1992–95, 34 Tests, 23 wins and 69.1 percent success rate – World Cup Final loss), John Hart (1996–99, 41 Tests 31 wins, 76.8 percent success rate – World Cup semifinal exit), Wayne Smith (2000–01, 17 Tests, 12 wins, 70.6 percent success rate), John Mitchell (2002–03, 28 Tests, 23 wins, 83.9 percent success rate – World Cup semifinal exit in 2003), Graham Henry (2004–11, 103 Tests, 88 wins, 85.4 percent success rate, World Cup quarterfinal exit in 2004 and winner of the 2011 World Cup), Steve Hansen (2012–present, 54 Tests, 49 wins, 90.7 percent success rate and winner of the 2015 World Cup).
The significant change came after 2003, when New Zealand opted for ‘long-term planning’, instead of the more regular ‘changes’ to their coaching staff.
Henry, with the experience of having been Wales head coach, took over and already started grooming his successor – Hansen. It is worth noting that despite the 2007 World Cup disaster (quarterfinal exit and some strange selections) and a whitewash at the hands of the Boks in 2009, Henry was retained and repaid the faith on home soil in 2011.
It was also during this period, post-2007, that New Zealand started dominating the game and world rankings.
In the period preceding Henry – when they used four coaches in 15 years – the All Blacks’ rankings fluctuated wildly – from sixth in 1994, to first in 1996/97, back down to fifth in 2001, up to first in 2001 and back down to third in 2003. Since 2004 they have been no lower than third and have been No.1 for the past four years – steadily putting daylight between them and the rest, from 89.61 rankings points to just under 94 rankings points at present.
Since 2004 – the Henry/Hansen era – South Africa held the No.1 spot just briefly in 2007 (World Cup winners under White) and 2009 (B&I Lions winners & Tri-Nations champions under De Villiers).
Under Meyer, the rankings points rose from 84.34 (January 2012) to 89.34 (December last year), dropping down to 88.23 this year.
Perhaps, just perhaps, the New Zealand model of the past decade-and-a-half (standing by the coach in dark times – Henry, 2007 and 2009) is better than South Africa’s favourite pastime of #TheCoachMustFall.
We can debate game plans and suggest Meyer is an ‘autocrat’ – as the former Boks, Claassen and Serfontein, suggested. We can look at just one win from eight encounters with the All Blacks and say Meyer is a failure.
However, New Zealand stood by Henry – despite a World Cup quarterfinal exit in 2007 and being whitewashed by the Boks in 2009. They stood by their coach during those dark times.
Jake White was axed after a successful World Cup campaign, Pieter de Villiers was openly called a ‘quota appointment’ by his employers and later discarded (despite his 2009 successes).
Maybe it is time for #TheCoachMustStay.
But then again, this is South Africa – we are ruled by emotion, NOT logic.
As Claassen and Serfontein so aptly stated it, they want “instant” success.
Surely long-term domination is a better option?
Mmmmm, quite a conundrum, this coach issue.
2 Distinct camps:
1. Those who want Meyer to go NOW!
2. Those who are cautioning not to be too hasty and look at the solution in a broader perspective.
Jan de Koning is right though, we are emotional beings, driven by raw emotion in South Africa!
nortie wrote:
The huge difference between Meyer and his predecessors, while Meyer could only maintain a “second best” rating, his win% was higher than the others, who had extreme highs but extreme lows, thus their criticism was more frequent.
So this is not the first “all time low”, and looking at springbok rugby the last 40 odd years, it certainly wont be the last.
So I have no problem with Meyer being fired, but what I want is a review of south african rugby too, the administrators should set some realistic and optimistic targets for the next few years…
What we currently have is reactive measures all across the board… Transformation? The Kings? Selecting overseas players? etc etc
Too many reactive measures without consideration of the consequences, or analyzing the root causes
Saw this comment on another rugby blog. It is probably the one that most closely matches my view, put into words better than I can.
This unshakeable, blind support for HM is so confusing to me. The Boks are playing some of the worst rugby we have played in close to a decade. We have regressed in almost every aspect. The only reason we are even remotely competitive is because thankfully we have an exceptional player pool, and barring Carter and McCaw we pretty much can match NZ man for man. Where we come undone over and over again is our archaic gameplan and staggering inability to change tactics. How many times do we have to go into the break at half time with a lead, only to be out thought by our opposition?
People talk about his passion, like its a positive. I don’t see passion, I see someone unable to stay calm under pressure, and unable to assess and act accordingly. Steve Hanson is passionate, do you see him losing his cool every few minutes? I would much rather have a calm head leading us, than someone on the verge of an aneurysm. Just imagine how incoherent or confusing his half time rants must be… (But its more likely something like “Look we not passing it enough to Schalk at 1st receiver, he needs more carries, they will never see it coming. And don’t you date EVER let the centres or wings touch the ball, they are only there to tackle, you got it?”)
SARU needs to be bold, and display strong leadership and courage to make tough decisions. I fear they lack the ability to really enforce change and progress. The only way we can move forward and be competitive is if we drop this crippling conservatism and strive to be leaders in both skills, gameplan and approach to the game. We will never achieve this with Heyneke Meyer at the helm.
9 @ Te Rangatira:
No doubt in my mind much of the unhappiness came with Matfield in the team.
Matfield was a serious disruption to the Bulls this year, and by the end of the regular season they looked more like a bunch of individuals rather than a team, and the cracks created by the rift between Flip vd Merwe and Victor was crystal clear.
I still backed him for the Springboks, and Ill always back my team without regrets, I thought Meyer would be able to control him, but his ego was just too big (maybe self created to counter heavy public criticism)… but Meyer clearly could not.
I still don’t see much wrong with Matfield’s game in general, his fitness was quite excellent, he made tons of tackles and got involved more in general play than in 2011, he looked like a better player to be honest and criticism of his general play was harsh imo, BUT to the team(s) his coming back was an absolute disaster.
Charo wrote:
We will never achieve this with Heyneke Meyer, Jurie Roux and Oregan Hoskins at the helm.
fixed it for you 😉
@ grootblousmile:
“Jake White was axed after a successful World Cup campaign, Pieter de Villiers was openly called a ‘quota appointment’ by his employers and later discarded (despite his 2009 successes).
Maybe it is time for #TheCoachMustStay.”
I bet Jan de Koning was one of those calling for the axing of Jake White
@ MacroPolo:
Thanks man.
You are not far off the mark – even when in jest.
16, 19 & 20 @ Charo:
I do not have a problem with people asking that Heyneke Meyer be replaced… but I’d like those same people, including Wynand Claassen & Divan Serfontein to come up with workable alternatives, that will be better than Heyneke Meyer.
In addition I want SARU fixed too, SA rugby systems fixed, a clear Springbok coach succession plan put into place.
I want Central Contracting and only SA-based players to qualify to play for the Springboks.
I want the 6 SA Super Rugby Franchises to play a similar and balanced game plan and be on the same page, like the New Zealand teams do so successfully.
I want players who come off Super Rugby and into a Springbok squad to already be well-conditioned and fitter than 80 minutes of Test rugby would require.
… we saw none of that in 2014 & 2015…
I do want certain of the Assistant coaches replaced, because I do believe we have alternative Assistant coaches to replace them!
Scrum & Forwards coach – Matthew Proudfoot.
Attack Coach – The Emirates Lions are setting the example here, so draft in their backline & attack structures coach – Swys de Bruin.
I want Cheryl Calder involved again for peripheral vision training.
Skills coach – the options are less here, but it can be on a consultancy basis, once the SA Super Rugby sides give better skilled players over to the Bokke to take from there.
If there needs to be a replacement Defence Coach (I think the Bokke did well on defence) – Jacques Nienaber who was so successful with WP and the Stormers.
I even think Matthew Proudfoot can be groomed to take over as National coach, if handled correctly in the next 2 years. He’s done a rich apprentice-ship under Allister Coetzee in Super Rugby and transformed the WP and Stormers forwards and scrumming performances. He’s calm and collected and calculating… I like what I see in him.
De Koning is missing the point and glossing over Meyer’s failures by hinting only at the 1/8 v NZ.
All other sides in the world have a similar percentage against NZ.
The fact of the matter is those losses against Argentina, Wales, Ireland and of course Japan.
And not just that we lost, but how we played when we lost.
Meyer has too many times confused himself with his double speak IMO.
He has no clue where to take the team from here on in, he is a man caught in a time warp and he does not have his successful 2007 side fit and raring to go.
The game has moved on in the last 8 years, he hasn’t.
He proclaimed that Jesse and De Allende were always part of his plan, nonsense, they were only brought in because of injuries and J Fourie being unfit.
He can fool some of the people some time, but he can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
He is the one who ignored SR form to rather select overseas players, I fail to see how his rugby philosophy would now take a dramatic turn and change.
Third place in the WC wasn’t a prize, it was just indicitave of how poor the rest of the world is and how far behind Aus and NZ everyone else is.
NEVER reward failure …
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