Heyneke Meyer emotional and animated during a Test match

We take a look at different views on whether the South African Springboks coach, Heyneke Meyer, should stay on as Springbok coach till the next edition of Rugby World Cup or whether he should be replaced as coach.

Rugby365’s JAN DE KONING and Sport24’s GARRIN LAMBEY are of the opinion that Heyneke Meyer should stay on as coach, whereas Sport24’s Herman Mostert believes Heyneke Meyer should be replaced.

My own opinion is that South Africa lacks quality coaches, who could take the Springboks up a notch or 2 and I do not believe the South African rugby culture, SARU’s stoid stance on rugby and the political environment is at all condusive to appointing a foreign coach, to take the Springboks further and upwards. I therefore believe that Heyneke Meyer should stay on, but I also believe there are a number of things which needs to change, to make the Springboks serious contenders for the World No 1 spot.

Let’s take a look at the different views:

Rudi Geldenhuys (Rugby-Talk.com):

It’s all fair and well to shout from the rooftops that Heyneke Meyer should go, should be axed, fired, replaced… but what are the alternatives?

Do we have to be happy with the current state of South African rugby?

Hell no!

South Africa lives with the scurge of political interference in sport and in particular in rugby. It is something we have become accustomed to. I use the term “Accustomed to” and not the term “Used to” or “Satisfied with”, because we are definately not OK or happy or satisfied with this type of interference and we will never be!

Without entering into the merits or demerits of Transformation or Racial Targets, one simple fact remains and that is that any form of racial engineering, will not strenghten South African Rugby, is anti-democratic and remains a bain on our young new South Africa. Once again I stay away from calling South Africa a democracy, as any form of racial engineering seriously takes away from every accepted democratic principle. We do not only see this in Rugby, we see this in every facet of our South African society, where any grouping seems to be afforded more equality than another.

So, now we have this situation, we’re stuck with it, it is the hand we are dealt, whereto from here?

We also know that by 2019 the Transformation Charter of SA Rugby aims at at least a 50% “Quota” or transformation representation.

The first question which arises from this is whether ANY foreign coach approached to be appointed as Springbok coach would be willing to be appointed as such, under these precepts, and if you ask me, he would have to be of less than sound mind to accept the appointment under these conditions.

Now over to the next aspect and that is the remaining South African coaching candidates as well as the general quality of coaches in South Africa, also the absence of any logical succession plan for coaches in South Africa.

No clear plan or logical succession plan exists in South Africa to bring enough new quality coaches through, that much is clear!

Hell, it is a few months away from the 2016 Super Rugby season and South Africa’s 6th Super Rugby franchise, the Southern Kings, does not even have a permanent coach appointed yet!

Which South African coach of high enough standing and of high enough quality do you know of who would be willing to coach the Springboks for the next 4 years, in this poisoned challiced environment?

Would Nick Mallett or Gert Smal be willing to take over and / or put up with SARU and the government’s whims?

Are any of other high profile coaches left over ready for the supreme coaching job, or better than Heyneke Meyer? I think not!

Johan Ackermann at the Lions is only a few years into his Super Rugby stint… and gaining momentum, but to my mind maybe still a few years away from seriously challenging for Springbok coach.

Allister Coetzee has just started in Japan after his Super Rugby stint at the Stormers and he has not even managed to secure a Super Rugby Title for the Stormers, so I would discard him straight away as well.

Gary Gold at the Sharks has never, ever won anything of serious consideration in any of his coaching positions, whether here in South Africa or overseas.

Peter de Villiers cannot even land a Super Rugby head coaching position, failing even to have landed a coaching position at Currie Cup First Division side the Boland Kavaliers. He is in any case a PR and marketing nightmare… funny as hell yes… but not of any international quality or standing.

John Mitchell? Well, his man-management skills are suspect, there was a player revolt against him at the Lions, remember?

That basically leaves recently appointed and green as hell Super Rugby coaches Franco Smith of the Toyota Cheetahs and Nollis Marais (also known as “Chuck Nollis”) of the Vodacom Bulls, as well as John Dobson of WP (who has been overseen as Stormers Super Rugby coach in favour of Eddie Jones). None of these 3 gentlemen are ready to be Springbok coach!

So, what now?

I say Heyneke Meyer should stay on as Springbok coach, but I also say there has to be some radical changes in the way that the South African Super Rugby sides approach the game! Once SA Super Rugby sides embrace a more complete type of game, then maybe Heyneke Meyer will have the player material available to also evolve the Springboks into a more complete team, with a more complete game approach… if not, then we are in for a long next 4 years!

That dear people, is MY opinion, you are welcome to agree or disagree!

If you differ from me, kindly differ with some merit to your reasons, not just because you hate or dislike Heyneke Meyer.

Jan de Koning (rugby365):

The haters will hate and pessimists will always see the dark side. Jan de Koning looks past the hyperbole at what is the right thing to do.

I am flabbergasted at the unbridled hatred directed towards South Africa’s coach Heyneke Meyer at the moment.

Even Peter de Villiers in his most dysfunctional idiosyncrasy was not disliked as much as Meyer is at the moment.

Maybe Rudolf Straeuli in the aftermath of Kamp Staaldraad experienced the kind of vitriolic bile directed at the Springbok mentor.

I was as disappointed as the next person in the Boks’ loss to the All Blacks in the semifinals.

However, unlike some cretinous ‘supporters’ I did not wish to bring harm to any of the coaching staff or players.

Wishing somebody dead because of a 2-point loss to the world’s best team is taking it a tad too far.

Seriously, that says more about the so-called ‘supporters’ than the coaching staff or players.

I want to take a step back and look at – what I feel – should be the way forward for Heyneke Meyer.

We all know there is this rumour that he has already been signed on for another 4 years.

He did not shed any real light on it either, with a sidestep that will make most midfielders proud – when asked about it at a media briefing at the weekend.

However, I believe he may well be the right man to take us forward – be that for another 2 or 4 years (preferably 4 years).

Just think about this: What would have happened if England had discarded Clive Woodward after the 1999 World Cup (quarterfinal exit for England), or New Zealand dismissed Graham Henry after the 2007 World Cup (also a quarterfinal exit)?

Meyer is as passionate about the Springboks as the next person – you can hear that when he speaks, you can see it in how he behaves on the sidelines during games, you can see it in the painful expressions in his face when his team gets beaten.

Did Heyneke Meyer make mistakes in the last 4 years? YES!

Did he learn from those mistakes? I believe he has.

Did he get some things right? Yes.

Now that the emotions of the loss have settled, let us look at where the national team stands.

In contrast to the prevailing pessimism, there were significant changes to the team in the last 4 years.

A substantial chunk of the team that played in the semifinal at the weekend made their Springbok debuts under Meyer and can go on to play in the next 2 World Cup tournaments.

Willie le Roux, Jesse Kriel, Damian De Allende, Handré Pollard, Duane Vermeulen, Lodewyk de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane and Jan Serfontein all made their Test debuts under Meyer.

Now add in the likes of Francois Louw, JP Pietersen, Adriaan Strauss, Willem Alberts and Patrick Lambie and you have a well-established team.

If you compare that with the quality of the players that New Zealand will lose by next year, you may see why there is reason to be optimistic.

Springbok rugby is not in such a bad state and I believe Meyer is slowly (maybe slower than some want) evolving the national team.

When he took over the Bulls in 2002 it also took them a few years to settle and evolve. By 2007 they won their 1st title and added 2 more (2009 and 2010, albeit under Frans Ludeke) with a brand of rugby that packed stadiums – making them the most supported brand in the Southern Hemisphere.

And – again contrary to what the naysayers will tell you – they also scored plenty of tries, always among the top 3 try-scorers in Super Rugby.

But back to the Springboks and Meyer’s future.

I took a look at what Meyer will be left with next year (if reports / rumours are true that he is staying on) and it is really encouraging.

Here is what New Zealand will look like: Ben Smith (available), Nehe Milner-Skudder (available), Conrad Smith (gone to France), Ma’a Nonu (to Toulon), Julian Savea (available), Daniel Carter (France), Aaron Smith (available), Kieran Read (the next captain), Richie McCaw (retired?), Jerome Kaino (getting old, but still around), Samuel Whitelock (available), Brodie Retallick (available), Owen Franks (available), Dane Coles (available), Joe Moody (available), Keven Mealamu (retiring), Ben Franks (gone to England), Charlie Faumuina (available), Victor Vito (available), Sam Cane (available), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (available), Beauden Barrett (available), Sonny Bill Williams (swapping codes again or retiring?).

Now let us look at what South Africa will look like in 2016: Willie le Roux (available), JP Pietersen (available), Jesse Kriel (available), Damian de Allende (available), Bryan Habana (available), Handré Pollard (available), Fourie du Preez (retired), Duane Vermeulen (in France, but available), Schalk Burger (going back to Japan, but retired from Test rugby), Francois Louw (available), Lodewyk de Jager (available), Eben Etzebeth (available), Frans Malherbe (available), Bismarck du Plessis (in France, but available), Tendai Mtawarira (available), Adriaan Strauss (available), Trevor Nyakane (available), Jannie du Plessis (in France, available), Victor Matfield (gone to England, retired from Test rugby), Willem Alberts (France, available), Ruan Pienaar (Ireland, available), Patrick Lambie (available), Jan Serfontein (available).

That is a very interesting picture and does not take into account the back-up (or fringe) players.

If you look at the Currie Cup competition, there is a host of very talented youngsters coming through, along with some established players that will give the national team some real depth.

That is why I say, #HeynekeMustStay!

Garrin Lambey (Sport24):

The jury is out and there certainly are pros and cons to his future at the helm of the national team.

Let’s assume for a moment that the Boks beat Argentina in their bronze medal match on Friday. Third place overall would certainly be a marked improvement on 2011’s defeat in the quarterfinals.

In his time in charge, Meyer has established a nucleus of players who are primed to perform at their peak in Japan in 4 years’ time. Players like centres Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Jan Serfontein, locks Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth, tighthead Frans Malherbe, fullback Willie le Roux and flyhalf Handré Pollard are all expected – baring injury – to become Bok stalwarts in the years to come.

Meyer has a 66% win ratio – which is better than his predecessor Peter de Villiers (62.5%) – and over the course of history the Springboks have only won 64% of their matches so he is “ahead of the curve”.

While Meyer’s transformation record is poor – and it’s a key point on SARU’s agenda – no replacement, local or foreign, will easily find players of colour to meet those demands as the matter needs to be addressed, and get buy-in, from provincial coaches at Currie Cup and especially Super Rugby level to start with.

Many will point to the 1-dimensional approach of the current Springbok gameplan. Perhaps the best way forward would be to have a think-tank session with all the attack coaches at provincial level and appoint someone to take charge of the attack side of matters. Maybe looking towards New Zealand for that appointment wouldn’t be a bad idea…

Meyer could still continue is his role as head coach, just with better assistants at his disposal…

Herman Mostert (Sport24):

The Springboks may boast a 66% win-ratio under Meyer as coach, but their record against old foes – New Zealand – is dismal in recent years.

Under the tutelage of Meyer, the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks just once, while losing 7.

Saturday’s semifinal against the Kiwis was a close affair on the scoreboard, but perhaps not a fair reflection of proceedings on the field of play. The All Blacks dominated all facets of play and had the game been contested in better conditions, may have sealed off the game much earlier.

The Kiwis also appeared nervous in the 1st half, with flyhalf Dan Carter uncharacteristically kicking possession away against a resolute Springbok defence.

When the heavens opened during the halftime break, with the Springboks leading 12 / 7, the script was written for an upset.

However, the fact is the Springboks didn’t have an adequate enough game plan to put the All Blacks away. They never looked like scoring a try and their lack of impetus on attack was evident to see.

New Zealand dominated territory (67%) and possession (57%) and according to statistics derived from World Rugby’s official website, dominated all facets of play.

Whether the Springboks claim 3rd place at the World Cup or not, 2015 will go down as a torrid season. They lost all their matches in The Rugby Championship, including a 1st-ever loss to Argentina, as well as the embarrassment of losing to Japan in their World Cup opener.

However, it is their lack of impetus with ball in hand which is the most worrisome. Aimless tactical kicking has also put them under pressure countless times, and as some pundits noted, it was “better for rugby” that the team who played all the rugby won at the weekend.

Perhaps the time has come for SA Rugby bosses to consider a foreign coach to change the way the Springboks play the game…