London – Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer may have sidestepped the issue surrounding his contract extension but he made it abundantly clear that he is willing and available to continue coaching the Springboks to the next World Cup in 2019.
There has been varying speculation prior to the tournament that Meyer has already signed a 4-year extension but Meyer has repeatedly avoided the issue stating that his future will only be determined after the World Cup.
While it was always Meyer’s aim to win the World Cup which would certainly guarantee him staying at the helm until the next tournament in Japan, it is understood that his employers at the South African Rugby Union (Saru) could exercise the right to retain Meyer after the Springboks close semi-final exit.
After losing to the All Blacks in a pulsating semi-final clash at Twickenham on Saturday, Meyer said he is ready and willing to serve South African rugby in the process giving a clear indication that he wants to remain in the job.
“Can’t you see how grey I am. I’ve said before that I am here to serve and whatever it takes. I’m disappointed about the result because I thought we could do it. I really wanted to make the country proud and for that I need to work through it. We had our chances against a good and established team,” Meyer said in the aftermath of the 20-18 defeat to New Zealand.
Meyer believes that the his current team can go on to dominate world rugby if kept intact and with him still at the helm and they will also be certainties to win the following World Cup in four years’ time.
As much as Meyer may have taken a lot of criticism for selecting older and experienced players, it was at this World Cup that Meyer also blooded some youngsters who starred for the Springboks after their first round defeat against Japan.
The likes of Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel have at least two more World Cup tournaments left in them while the more established players like Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen, JP Pietersen, Willie Le Roux, Adriaan Strauss, Willem Alberts and Patrick Lambie could still be in contention to make it to Japan in 2019.
“Many of the players who played could still be there at the next World Cup, it’s not about World Cups I believe that this team can go places. So many youngsters came through in all positions and I believe this could be one of the best teams in the world going forward. Have to take it on the chin, credit to the All Blacks I don’t have any excuses and I gave everything I have but it was not good enough. It’s been a huge honour and I’ve always wanted to serve my country,” Meyer said.
It is highly unlikely that a decision on Meyer’s future will be made soon but much consideration will be made by Saru of the Springboks making it into the semi-finals and the success the likes of England’s Sir Clive Woodward and New Zealand’s Sir Graham Henry had with their respective teams in leading them to World Cup victories in 2003 and 2011.