Cape Town - New Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says he is in no hurry to announce a permanent captain for the national side.

"I'm not going to appoint a long-term captain immediately. I want to pick a short-term captain, get to know the players and then make an informed decision," Meyer told the Rapport newspaper.

"The task of the Bok captaincy is not something that should be made cheap. It's a huge task and an unbelievable honour.

"Therefore I don't want to appoint someone for the long-term and then later realise that I've made the wrong decision.

"I will monitor it on a daily basis," said Meyer.

Meyer also stated he will make the decision on merit.

Previous coach Peter de Villiers came under fire for continuing to select John Smit as captain while many critics believed Bismarck du Plessis was the better hooker.

"It's a fine balance but I think your captain has to be chosen on merit.

"It also depends on what you want from a captain. I think it's important that he conducts himself well with the media and carries out the right image towards the world.

"He needs to be strategic on the field, because I'm not there. He therefore has to be an extension of my personality and know exactly where on the field I would do what," said Meyer.