Meyer tipped to be next Bok coach

[Burgs]

Can't believe they are letting politics and a slip in protocol stand in the way of reappointing the out of work Jake White!!!
Mob of little Hitlers

Meyer tipped to be next Bok coach

From correspondents in Johannesburg
January 05, 2008

FORMER Super 14 championship winning coach Heyneke Meyer is the favourite to succeed World Cup winning boss Jake White as the new South Africa coach next week.

White stepped down as the Springboks' coach at the end of last year after his four-year contract with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) had run its course.

He never re-applied for his job after leading the Boks to the World Cup title in France in October.

White's relationship with his employers soured in his final months in charge of the national team and it came to a head during the World Cup when, on the eve of the Boks' semi-final showdown with Argentina, his position was advertised in the South African press.

Meyer and three others – Peter de Villiers, Chester Williams and Alliser Coetzee – made the final shortlist of candidates.

SARU's appointed committee to oversee the appointment of the new coach will conduct interviews with all four candidates on Monday and Tuesday before naming White's successor by January 12.

Bulls man Meyer appears the front-runner for the job, but political pressure to see a black coach get the job may sway the decision the way of one of the other three candidates.

Meyer resigned his position as Bulls Super 14 coach in the latter stages of last year after leading the franchise to their, and South Africa's, first win in the competition in May.

He has long been thought of as a Bok coach and also threw his name into the hat in 2004 when a successor for Rudolf Straeuli was sought.

He eventually withdrew his application, paving the way for White to take up the position.

Meyer, a specialist forwards coach, took the Bulls to four Currie Cup titles in his time with the team.

He has also served as a Bok assistant coach before and there was talk during the World Cup that he'd been asked to apply for the Bok job by the SARU hierarchy, a sign that those who matter are keen to see him in the position.

White, however, has openly stated his Bok assistant coach of the last four years – Coetzee – should get the job.

"The players know him, he knows the structures of the team and he knows what works and what doesn't at Test level," said White in December.

Coetzee, like Meyer, is highly regarded and his involvement with the World Cup winners would ensure continuity – something SARU have not taken seriously in appointing coaches in the past.

Counting against Coetzee though is the fact he's never coached at Super 14 level.

De Villiers, currently employed as the South Africa Under-21 coach, and a successful one at that, is deemed as the dark horse in the race for the top job.

Like White, most of his successes have come at a junior level, but he has lots of experience coaching at Currie Cup level.

Williams, a folk hero from the 1995 World Cup winning team, is unlikely to get the nod. While he achieved plenty of success as SA's Sevens coach, he's battled in the 15-man game.

Williams is the least experienced of the candidates and was sacked as Cats Super 14 coach just three years ago.

Agence France-Presse

[Thequeerone]

Going to sound racist here but my money is on a non white candidate - which one of these peps is not white ?

[GIGS20]

political pressure to see a black coach get the job may sway the decision the way of one of the other three candidates.

What makes you say that TQ1, do you think political pressure is the ONLY thing in SA rugby?

[Burgs]

Bok coach candidates interviewed

January 8, 2008 - 10:59AM

The task of finding a new South Africa rugby coach has shifted up a gear when the first two candidates for the vacant position were interviewed by the country's rugby bosses.

The favourite for the position, former Bulls boss Heyneke Meyer, and South African Under-21 coach Peter de Villiers were subjected to lengthy interviews on Monday.

The other two candidates - Allister Coetzee and Chester Williams - were to be interviewed on Tuesday.

Meyer appears to be the first choice candidate to get the job after his successful six-year term with the Bulls, which led to them lifting the Super 14 crown last season.

The Bulls also won four domestic Currie Cup titles while Meyer was in charge. He resigned as the Bulls' coach in the latter stages of last year.

De Villiers has also got an impressive CV after leading the national under-21 team to the world championship title last year, while many, including World Cup winning coach White, believe Coetzee is the man for the job.

He played a critical role in the Springbok side over the last four years, culminating in the team winning the World Cup in France in October last season.

Williams is the outsider after failing to make any kind of impact in the 15-man game once he'd hung up his playing boots.

He was, however, a very successful winger in his day, winning a gold medal at the 1995 World Cup, while he also achieved plenty of success as national Sevens coach.

The Boks coaching position became vacant at the end of last year when White opted not to reapply for the position.

South African Rugby Union boss Oregan Hoskins said on Monday: "It is crucial that we appoint the right man ... this is a critical week for SA rugby."

The committee interviewing the four candidates will submit their recommendation to SARU's main decision-making body, the Presidents Council, on Wednesday for approval.

While the new Bok boss is expected to be known by Friday, the Presidents Council might well announce White's successor on Wednesday.

AFP

[travelling_gerry]

I'm with TQ1.....Chester Williams.....shoe in

[GIGS20]

Did you see the results of the player's poll though?

94% want Meyer, that's his death knell right there. He hasn't got a shot with that much player support.

I think Williams ran at 4% didn't he? that's more like SARU!