Meyer outlines his biggest challenge
by Brenden Nel 30 January 2012, 16:56
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has acknowledged his biggest challenge is to set up a working relationship with the five Super Rugby coaches that will benefit the national team.
Meyer has been in the job just three days, but already he knows the pitfalls. A Vodacom Super Rugby winner in 2007, he has had ample experience in balancing the needs of the franchise against that of the national team.
And too often, the franchises have dealt in self-preservation at the cost of the national team, with little co-operation present and even less goodwill. While World Champions New Zealand achieve their fluency between Super Rugby and test level by working together, too often the Springbok cause has had to take a back seat thanks to the aspirations of Super Rugby coaches.
But Meyer is keen to change all that and for once have a system which will benefit the Springbok cause. Knowing the pitfalls is one thing, but the new Bok coach knows he is on a tightrope trying to balance the expectations of success by the franchises with the national cause.
And the schedule doesn’t make it easier for him, as with just five days to prepare for England’s first onslaught in June, the preceding weekend sees a Bulls-Stormers and Cheetahs-Sharks derby, hardly the thing a Bok coach wants before taking on a tough side.
Still, Meyer is a bit of a dreamer, and while he knows it may not be practically possible in his first year to do so, he would love a national planning forum where a unified vision for Springbok rugby is thrashed out. Failing that, a working understanding will do, especially with the tough season lying ahead.
Speaking in his first press conference in Pretoria after taking the job, Meyer was quick to acknowledge how tough the task would be.
“That will be my biggest challenge. I’ve also been a Super 14 coach, so I know how difficult it is, especially this year where everybody needs to win and there is a lot of pressure. We’ve already started and want to have a national planning session, but it may already be too late,” Meyer said.
And the test series against England doesn’t make it easier.
“It is a huge challenge because this is also the first year we have three tests in between the Super Rugby competition. There will be a lot of planning from the coaches and my biggest challenge is to set up a great working relationship with them,” Meyer explained.
“They see the players a lot more than I do, and that is why I need to go round and spend time at the franchises. That is a key factor for me going forward because for the first test, you only have the players for a week. The weekend before that sees a derby for the four South African sides. I will need those players and help from the coaches and that is why I need to spend time with them.”
Meyer admitted he was “realistic” in what to expect in return, and could not expect total compliance, but would hope for a good dollop of cooperation from the franchise coaches in this regard.
“I’m realistic, coaches need to win. I am on good terms with most of them and had talks with them before I took the position to find out where they stand. They’re very excited and if we get it right then it could be a win-win.
“Alternatively if I don’t do things right at national level, then they get their players back out of shape. I am worried about it because we need to make a huge step up conditioning wise, because the ball is more in play in both the Super Rugby and Currie Cup competitions.
“It will be a win-win situation, and they will also get their players back in a better condition after the end of year tour. We have to work together because there is no other way. If you look at how it happens in New Zealand the franchises gave their players time off to attend training sessions with the national side. “
The Bok coach plans to spend a few days at the South African Rugby Union headquarters before beginning his trek across the country to sell his gospel of co-operation for the national cause.