Heyneke Meyer’s resignation as Springbok coach has cleared the way for Allister Coetzee to succeed him.
|||The door is now open for Allister Coetzee to become the next Springbok coach.
But first South Africa’s rugby bosses will have to decide whether the man to succeed Heyneke Meyer must hail from these shores or whether they’re prepared to invest in a foreign man. That will be one of the key discussion points when the Saru’s head honchos meet in Cape Town next week.
Coetzee, the former Stormers and Western Province coach and Jake White’s assistant at the Boks between 2004 and 2007, will, however, be the favourite to take charge from next year.
The 52-year-old is currently boss of the Kobe Steelers in the Japanese Top League, but is believed to have a clause in his contract that will free him up should he be offered an international coaching role.
Coetzee has a good coaching pedigree - he played a part in the Boks winning the 2007 World Cup; took the Stormers to the Super Rugby final in 2010 and the semi-finals in 2011 and 2012.
Also, the Stormers won the Super Rugby South African Conference three times under his tenure.
WP, under Coetzee’s guidance, also claimed the Currie Cup title twice and were runners-up twice.
Coetzee ticks most of the boxes required to fulfil the very demanding Bok job, but there will be some who will question his ability to take the Boks forward in the way many are hoping the Boks should play; that is like the New Zealand All Blacks.
His team’s though have always been strong defensively and he’s more recently been prepared to gamble with youngsters, while his transformation record cannot be questioned.
The only other local candidate who could be considered by Saru is Lions boss Johan Ackermann - or could he be one of Coetzee’s assistants?
Of the foreign contingent, John Mitchell, John Plumtree and possibly Robbie Deans are coaches who immediately spring to mind. Former coaches White and Peter de Villiers may also feel they deserve another crack at Test rugby.
Meyer said yesterday his decision to stand aside and not be considered to continue as national coach was in the best interests of South African rugby.
“I have always put the Springboks first in my time as coach and since returning from England I have realised that as much as I believe I still have a lot to offer, the time has come for change,” said Meyer.
“My integrity has always been very important and I feel I can leave with my head held high. I’ve always maintained that my only motivation was to serve my country and to do what was best for the Springboks.
“I have greatly enjoyed my time as Springbok coach - although it has been highly pressured at times. I have put my heart and soul into the job and did my very best. I believe that, overall, I leave the team with much to look forward to in 2016 ...”
Meyer took over a Bok team that was fourth in the world rankings at the conclusion of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and lifted them to second by the end of his first season in charge.
That position was maintained in 2013 and 2014 with a combined winning ratio of 77 percent, which included a record-breaking win over Australia in Brisbane (38-12), a Rugby Championship record victory over Argentina in Soweto (73-13) and the first away win over France in 16 years, as well as two unbeaten end-of-year tours.
In all, Meyer coached the team to 34 victories and two draws in 50 matches.
During his tenure, the Springboks recorded a 66.7 percent win ratio and scored 143 tries - second only to New Zealand in that time. - The Star
