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Cape Town - The starts to Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer's reigns as Springbok coach could not have been more different.
De Villiers's appointment as Springbok coach in January 2008 began with controversy after SARU president Oregan Hoskins indicated that his rugby credentials were not the sole motivation.
Meyer's appointment by SARU in January 2012 was hailed by rugby pundits far and wide. He was regarded as the ideal candidate for the Springbok coaching role after he led the Bulls to four Currie Cup titles and the first Super 14 victory by a South African team in the competition.
But an analysis of their respective first seven Tests in charge could not make for more different reading.
In his first year in charge De Villiers not only handed reigning Six Nations champions Wales a thrashing, but also coached the Boks to victory in Dunedin as they became the first team to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand since England in 2003 - and the first Springbok team to beat their fiercest rivals in New Zealand since 1998.
Meyer's draw, in the third Test against England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in June, was the first time South Africa had failed to beat England since 2006, while the Boks' draw against Argentina in Mendoza in the Rugby Championship in August was the first time post-isolation that South Africa had failed to beat Argentina.
A look at the Springboks' first seven Test results under Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer:
Peter de Villiers:
June 7, 2008: South Africa v Wales, Bloemfontein - WON 43-17
June 14, 2008: South Africa v Wales, Pretoria - WON 37-21
June 21, 2008: South Africa v Italy, Cape Town - WON 26-0
July 5, 2008: All Blacks v South Africa, Wellington - LOST 8-19
July 12, 2008: All Blacks v South Africa, Dunedin - WON 30-28
July 19, 2008: Wallabies v South Africa, Perth - LOST 9-16
August 9, 2008: South Africa v Argentina, Johannesburg - WON 63-9
5 Wins, 2 losses – Win Ratio of 71%
Heyneke Meyer:
June 9, 2012: South Africa v England, Durban - WON 22-17
June 16, 2012: South Africa v England, Johannesburg - WON 36-27
June 23, 2012: South Africa v England, Port Elizabeth DRAW 14-14
August 18, 2012: South Africa v Argentina, Cape Town - WON 27-6
August 25, 2012: Argentina v South Africa, Mendoza - DRAW 16-16
September 8. 2012: Wallabies v South Africa, Perth - LOST 19-26
September 15, 2012: All Blacks v South Africa, Dunedin - LOST 11-21
3 Wins, 2 Draws, 2 Losses – Win Ratio 42%
Meyer’s current win ratio of 42% is the worst of any Springbok coach since Carel du Plessis in 1997 with 37%.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Are you at the point yet where you're beginning to miss Peter de Villiers? Or should Heyneke Meyer be given more time to get the best out of his players? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
De Villiers's appointment as Springbok coach in January 2008 began with controversy after SARU president Oregan Hoskins indicated that his rugby credentials were not the sole motivation.
Meyer's appointment by SARU in January 2012 was hailed by rugby pundits far and wide. He was regarded as the ideal candidate for the Springbok coaching role after he led the Bulls to four Currie Cup titles and the first Super 14 victory by a South African team in the competition.
But an analysis of their respective first seven Tests in charge could not make for more different reading.
In his first year in charge De Villiers not only handed reigning Six Nations champions Wales a thrashing, but also coached the Boks to victory in Dunedin as they became the first team to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand since England in 2003 - and the first Springbok team to beat their fiercest rivals in New Zealand since 1998.
Meyer's draw, in the third Test against England at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth in June, was the first time South Africa had failed to beat England since 2006, while the Boks' draw against Argentina in Mendoza in the Rugby Championship in August was the first time post-isolation that South Africa had failed to beat Argentina.
A look at the Springboks' first seven Test results under Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer:
Peter de Villiers:
June 7, 2008: South Africa v Wales, Bloemfontein - WON 43-17
June 14, 2008: South Africa v Wales, Pretoria - WON 37-21
June 21, 2008: South Africa v Italy, Cape Town - WON 26-0
July 5, 2008: All Blacks v South Africa, Wellington - LOST 8-19
July 12, 2008: All Blacks v South Africa, Dunedin - WON 30-28
July 19, 2008: Wallabies v South Africa, Perth - LOST 9-16
August 9, 2008: South Africa v Argentina, Johannesburg - WON 63-9
5 Wins, 2 losses – Win Ratio of 71%
Heyneke Meyer:
June 9, 2012: South Africa v England, Durban - WON 22-17
June 16, 2012: South Africa v England, Johannesburg - WON 36-27
June 23, 2012: South Africa v England, Port Elizabeth DRAW 14-14
August 18, 2012: South Africa v Argentina, Cape Town - WON 27-6
August 25, 2012: Argentina v South Africa, Mendoza - DRAW 16-16
September 8. 2012: Wallabies v South Africa, Perth - LOST 19-26
September 15, 2012: All Blacks v South Africa, Dunedin - LOST 11-21
3 Wins, 2 Draws, 2 Losses – Win Ratio 42%
Meyer’s current win ratio of 42% is the worst of any Springbok coach since Carel du Plessis in 1997 with 37%.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Are you at the point yet where you're beginning to miss Peter de Villiers? Or should Heyneke Meyer be given more time to get the best out of his players? Send your thoughts to Sport24.
