Meyer: a coach, not an investor

We’re heading into the Test rugby season, which will put the Super series on hold. From many quarters now, we’re hearing a call for investing in the youth and Fourie Du Preez saying that he is available for the Boks but preference must go to the next generation. That’s all good and well when you’re not the coach.

Heyneke Meyer, who has the most demanding job in SA, has one key focus – to win as many tests as possible as often as possible, starting with a home series. Anything but a win over the wayward England rugby team, who can never be under estimated, will not suffice.

Everyone has been very supportive of the appointment of Meyer to the position he was unfairly deprived of in 2008 – I am confident that we would have won the 2011 RWC with Meyer in charge – but if this simple man from Middelburg does not win his first home series, questions will already be there. I for one won’t be asking questions but they will be there.

Meyer knows that his training time is ridiculously short and so he instituted workshops with selected players from the Unions and this should make the one week he has with the players slightly easier. We need to be clear though that, in the era of professional sport, excuses are not welcome and the SA public will demand nothing less than a winning Springbok test team particularly based on Meyer’s reputation. He is in a tough situation, I acknowledge that, but that’s why he gets paid the big bucks.

There’s no doubt he will, over time, introduce youngsters in his era as Bok coach, but May 2012 is not that time.

I have faith! Good luck, coach.