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Cape Town - Heyneke Meyer’s record to date as Springbok coach does not compare favourably to that of his predecessors Peter de Villiers and Jake White.
Meyer's appointment by SARU in January 2012 was hailed by rugby pundits and 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.
When he was appointed, Meyer targeted performance between World Cups and making home victories non-negotiable as two key factors he wished to improve on during his reign.
“There are only two kinds of rugby - winning rugby and losing rugby, and I subscribe to the first type,” said Meyer when asked what style the Boks would employ with him as coach.
“The World Cup is very important, but you cannot build at Springbok level. The building has to be done at Super Rugby, Currie Cup and the lower levels. Every single game the Springboks play is extremely important, and the mission is to win every game we play. I believe we have to choose the best available team to win every game. I want to see the Springboks back at No 1 in the world, which is where we belong,” Meyer said.
Meyer has, however, been hindered by a young squad, injuries to key players and an inexplicable loss of form from several Springbok stalwarts.
Following the conclusion of the Rugby Championship, a look at the Springboks' first nine Test results under Jake White, Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer:
Jake White
June 12, 2004: South Africa v Ireland, Bloemfontein - WON 31-17
June 19, 2004: South Africa v Ireland, Cape Town - WON 26-17
June 26, 2004: South Africa v Wales, Pretoria - WON 53-18
July 17, 2004: Pacific Islanders v South Africa, Sydney - WON 38-24
July 24, 2004: All Blacks v South Africa, Christchurch - LOST 23-21
July 31, 2004: South Africa v Australia, Perth - LOST 30-26
August 14, 2004: South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg - WON 40-26
August 21, 2004: South Africa v Australia, Durban - WON 23-19
November 6, 2004: Wales v South Africa, Cardiff – WON 38-36
7 wins, 2 losses – Win Ratio of 77,7%
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
August 16, 2008: South Africa v All Blacks, Cape Town - LOST 0-19
August 23, 2008: South Africa v Australia, Durban - LOST 15-27
6 wins, 3 losses – Win Ratio of 55.5%
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
September 29, 2012: South Africa v Australia, Pretoria - WON 31-8
October 6, 2012: South Africa v All Blacks, Soweto - LOST 16-32
4 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses – Win Ratio of 44.4%
Meyer's appointment by SARU in January 2012 was hailed by rugby pundits and 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.
When he was appointed, Meyer targeted performance between World Cups and making home victories non-negotiable as two key factors he wished to improve on during his reign.
“There are only two kinds of rugby - winning rugby and losing rugby, and I subscribe to the first type,” said Meyer when asked what style the Boks would employ with him as coach.
“The World Cup is very important, but you cannot build at Springbok level. The building has to be done at Super Rugby, Currie Cup and the lower levels. Every single game the Springboks play is extremely important, and the mission is to win every game we play. I believe we have to choose the best available team to win every game. I want to see the Springboks back at No 1 in the world, which is where we belong,” Meyer said.
Meyer has, however, been hindered by a young squad, injuries to key players and an inexplicable loss of form from several Springbok stalwarts.
Following the conclusion of the Rugby Championship, a look at the Springboks' first nine Test results under Jake White, Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer:
Jake White
June 12, 2004: South Africa v Ireland, Bloemfontein - WON 31-17
June 19, 2004: South Africa v Ireland, Cape Town - WON 26-17
June 26, 2004: South Africa v Wales, Pretoria - WON 53-18
July 17, 2004: Pacific Islanders v South Africa, Sydney - WON 38-24
July 24, 2004: All Blacks v South Africa, Christchurch - LOST 23-21
July 31, 2004: South Africa v Australia, Perth - LOST 30-26
August 14, 2004: South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg - WON 40-26
August 21, 2004: South Africa v Australia, Durban - WON 23-19
November 6, 2004: Wales v South Africa, Cardiff – WON 38-36
7 wins, 2 losses – Win Ratio of 77,7%
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
August 16, 2008: South Africa v All Blacks, Cape Town - LOST 0-19
August 23, 2008: South Africa v Australia, Durban - LOST 15-27
6 wins, 3 losses – Win Ratio of 55.5%
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
September 29, 2012: South Africa v Australia, Pretoria - WON 31-8
October 6, 2012: South Africa v All Blacks, Soweto - LOST 16-32
4 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses – Win Ratio of 44.4%
