The knives are out and being sharpened as we speak, two prominent former Springboks behind a campaign to see Heyneke Meyer sacked as national coach.

Wynand Claassen and Divan Serfontein, both Springbok in their time, have circulated a letter that doesn’t pull any punches when expressing their lack of support for embattled coach Meyer.

Headed ‘Heyneke Must Fall’, the aim of the letter is to ensure that Meyer is not rewarded with a contract extension when the SA Rugby Union (SARU) executive convenes in December to decide his fate. Below are some excerpts from that letter courtesy of Sport24:

“Let us stand together and fight for change in South African rugby so that we, as loyal South Africans, can again be proud and that players get the opportunities to develop, thrive and to wear the Springbok jersey with pride…

“There is no doubt that SA rugby is on the decline, if one looks at the performances of the Springbok team over the last four years.

“One out of eight victories over the All Blacks in the last four years, tell the whole sorry tale.

“After Heyneke Meyer took over as Springbok coach at the end of 2011, he said that the people must judge him after the 2015 World Cup.  Well, the tournament had come and gone and now is the time to judge him…

“He is coaching pattern rugby instead of individual skills. He is obsessed with size and power… his archaic pattern doesn’t work anymore, but he is still persisting with it. It points to stubbornness and he does not realise that the rest of the rugby world has already moved on, playing total, 15-man rugby, which is exciting for both players as spectators. The players of other countries develop and improve. South Africans are going backwards.

“Heyneke does not understand the modern game. All the rugby playing countries know exactly how the Boks play and plan accordingly”.

They also called Meyer out on his penchant for picking older, out of form players and being tardy with regards transforming the game:

“Meyer insisted (in selection) on experience and pursued old players past their best or retired; he stuck to players who have been injured for a long time; players out of form; and also did not give the necessary opportunities to players of colour.

“Look further to his inexperienced managing and coaching team (which he insisted be appointed) with absolute no international experience at this level. Apparently they also do not know how to coach individual skills. It therefore indicates that Heyneke appoints people, not because of their ability as coaches, but so that he could control them and demand total loyalty.”

Then the final few blows were landed, Meyer’s overtly passionate celebrations another sore point:

“Can SA Rugby afford someone that performs like a maniac in the coaching enclosure, wearing his Springbok blazer, in the eyes of the whole world on television?  Compare this with the behaviour of Steve Hansen of New Zealand. Is this the example of a role model?”

“If one takes everything above into consideration, Meyer has failed. But despite this, he defends his list of performance and now pleads for ‘continuity’ to retain his job.”

“The crux of the matter is that other countries, our own people as well as former Springboks who have so much pride in the Springbok jersey, are feeling ashamed about the performances of the Boks.

“One man is responsible for this, namely Heyneke Meyer.”

No one likes losing, I think we can all agree, but there is also something to be said for going down playing a brand of rugby we can be proud of. As a rugby nation we have almost become resigned to losing to the All Blacks, but it is often the kick-heavy and forward-rumbling tactics that are the source of most supporters’ frustrations.

Play to your strengths, it’s the Springbok brand of rugby, we’ve all heard these lines trotted out. The cold facts point to a rather tepid win-loss ratio this year, and one really has to wonder if Heyneke is the man to turn that around.

[source:sport24]