Heyneke Meyer has been in office a little more than 140 days, so to say he was relieved after his team banked a series victory over England would be fair, but does that mean he’s a relaxed man? Hardly!

thenewage – Michael Mentz

Like any mentor plotting the way to the ultimate prize in rugby, Meyer is a very busy man.

Along with some of the most respected field experts, the starting line-up for that date at Twickenham in 2015 is being drafted and while not every player who featured in his maiden Test victory in Durban will be there on that day, they will all look back at the contribution they made to help the team get to that point.

Meyer’s goal is simple – his team must become the dominant force in world rugby.

Getting there is, however, slightly more complicated when considering the pitfalls his job entails.

The week leading up to his first match served as a prime example of how tough it is going to be.

Cries of foul play could be heard from the Free State when he decided not to select specialist fetcher Heinrich Brüssow.

Then there were a storm of accusations that he has a preference for Bulls players, yet it is interesting to note that there were fewer soldiers from Pretoria in his first battalion, or starting line-up, than was the case when the Springboks suffered their shock exit at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

“Starting with a win was great, but we have a little more than 40 matches left before the next World Cup and although a solid start was important, you can never expect to play the brand of rugby you would like to from the word go – we need to play faultless, clinical rugby,” said Meyer.

Slightly relieved, yet very well aware of the knives that are constantly being sharpened by those involved with the sport, Meyer’s plans for a celebratory trip to a trout farm outside Lydenberg is steadily starting to take shape.

There he and a few close friends will reflect on the hard work and personal sacrifices that were made to bring a special trophy home. A trophy that, even when it rests in New Zealand for a few years, has the ability to unite a nation.

Yet it won’t be the silverware that will be their main inspiration for the celebration.

“I don’t coach to win trophies, I coach for those special moments like when Bakkies Botha gave his jersey to me after the World Cup final – those moments when someone tells me I made a difference in their life,” said the Bok mentor.

“The relationships I build with special individuals matters more than something that will eventually perish, and if those relationships work, the trophies will come.”

Traditional values and mutual respect are of greater importance than success on the field for Meyer who sees himself more as an educator than a rugby scientist.

And as an educator and specialist motivator, he reflected on society and sees it as his task to identify and nurture certain core values that are inherent to all men.

“In society today we have enough managers. We need leaders or champions of industry. Managers look at the bottom line, leaders look at the future and give people dreams and aspirations.”

That relentless search for perfection was best illustrated when he recently made the effort to speak to each and every player in the country that has the potential to wear the coveted green and gold. The result from his four planning camps, held in Pretoria (twice), Cape Town and Durban shone through as many men started lifting their game both on and off the field.

“Champions are champions before they win a trophy, is what I tell every player who has the honour of running out for the Springboks. They are role models and must always act accordingly.”

Granted he has taken into consideration the human factor which dictates that he too will make mistakes, Meyer knows what he signed up for, although taking up the job wasn’t the easiest of decisions.

The South African Rugby Union (Saru) had struggled to find a successor for Peter de Villiers and at the last minute came knocking at Meyer’s door.

His past achievements that include four Currie Cup crowns and a Super 14 title – made him the prime candidate to become the next man South Africans depend on for their team to succeed.

But was he up for it from the start? He knew from day one that the political relevance of his position is equally important, although today his focus remains on that goal, and nothing else.

He often tells his players: “Playing for the Springboks is not a matter of life and death, its more important than that.”

He also speaks of winning rugby even though that term isn’t exactly defined in a rugby dictionary.

As far as his trustees in this massive mission is concerned, he had the opportunity to hand pick his assistant coaches and didn’t hesitate to call on the same men who helped turn the Bulls from the laughing stock they were in the late ’90s to the rugby powerhouse they are today.

“I think they are the best coaches available,” he said in response to criticism that they all hail from the same union.

“And if you look at it from a provincial perspective, the five Super Rugby coaches weren’t available. Rassie is here from the Stormers and Allister Coetzee is also here.

“They were the first guys I approached. I now have the only guys who have won three Super Rugby trophies, six Curie Cups – so I’m confident that they are the best out there.”

On a more personal note, the Mbombela- born motivator admits that he is not a huge fan of the glitz and glamour that is becoming an increasingly important part of his 9-5.

“I’m actually a guy who likes being out of the public eye and this is difficult.

“I love nature. Being alone with my family on a nature reserve or on my trout farm where nobody knows me gives me great pleasure. We are actually very private people. I know it is difficult with this job to stay out of the public eye and I have to admit that you don’t realise how much your life will change until you take up this job.”

Unlike the previous time when he threw his name in the hat and was snubbed at the last minute, Saru this time identified him to take the organisation forward.

“When I said yes it was not about me, but what I could do to help my country,” Meyer insists.

“And I know that if we all work together we can make this best team in the world.”