Former rugby stars have called on the South African Rugby Union (Saru) to “refresh the Springboks after the World Cup”.
This comes in the wake of reports that Saru intends giving current Bok coach Heyneke Meyer a new contract, even though the Springboks have plummeted to fifth on the International Rugby Board’s rankings following last Saturday’s embarrassing home defeat to Argentina in Durban.
Former Bok flank Thando Manana says Saru should wait until after the World Cup to make a decision about Meyer’s future, as his predecessors Jake White and Peter de Villiers weren’t kept on despite having won more trophies during their tenures.
“If you look at it, Jake White won the World Cup, but his contract was not renewed. You had Peter de Villiers, who won a Tri-Nations and beat the All Blacks three times in a row, his contract was not renewed,” Manana said yesterday.
“So for Saru to give him an offer till 2019, it’s going to take our rugby back.
“I think someone else can do a better job than the incumbent. It’s premature to be offering him another four-year deal when he hasn’t won anything.”
Manana says Meyer hasn’t built a strong enough squad over the past four years that can win a World Cup; his leadership core is getting a bit long in the tooth.
The Bok coach also has not brought enough young talent through over the past four years, he says.
“I certainly feel the Boks’ contingency plans purely relied on veterans, especially guys who are past their prime. He took over from De Villiers in 2012 and played into that trap of keeping those players,” Manana said.
“There is nothing to show, no players that have come out that we can speak highly of. You have players who will be replaced within a year, and then what?”
Cassiem Jabaar, a former Saru scrumhalf and captain, says Springbok rugby is at one of its lowest points it has ever been.
“We have always been in the top three, but now we are in fifth place. Even the Under-20s are struggling. Our rugby is going down,” he said.
But he says the alarm bells had started ringing long ago – and not just after the Boks’ first-ever defeat to the Pumas.
“Meyer should have been gone long ago, last year already. People are only waking up now,” he said.
“I don’t believe Heyneke is doing justice to the SA rugby union.
“Instead of giving him a new contract, they must haul him over the coals.”
Meyer’s selections have been in the spotlight this week following trade federation Cosatu’s calls for a “mixed” team after the Boks ran out against Argentina with a black player on the wing and a Zimbabwean-born loosehead prop.
But Jabaar says Saru is also responsible for the lack of black players in the team.
“SA Rugby has had more than 20 years to produce of players of colour who can represent South Africa,” he said.
“Every time players play well in Super Rugby, they get selected but don’t play. How is that guy supposed to motivate himself?
James Small, one of the heroes of the 1995 World Cup, says Meyer has made too many mistakes during his tenure, and the former Bok has called for new blood – on and off the field.
“It’s a difficult job. He has got to win every Test match. It’s a hard thing to understand from his perspective,” said the former wing.
“I think it’s time for new blood. You can’t depend on the results at the World Cup. He has had his go, and I think a guy like (Lions coach) Johan Ackermann would do a great job.”
Yesterday, Meyer responded to criticism from Cosatu, and said he backed transformation in rugby.
“I know my integrity is intact. You’re always going to get players that are unhappy if they don’t play. I don’t look at colour, I look at the best players.”
Meyer also yesterday added three black players – fullback Zane Kirchner, wing Lwazi Mvovo and prop Trevor Nyakane – to the Bok team for Saturday’s international match against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Last night, Cosatu claimed victory in response.
It said: “Cosatu is glad that the number of black players has been doubled in the Springbok team starting line up.
“This is an indication that Saru will not change out of their own and only pressure will bring a change.
“This also confirms that Heyneke is not a good coach who considers all the talent available.
“This seems like a team selected in panic to remove the pressure from him.” - Cape Argus