After his first seven tests in charge, Heyneke Meyer has a 42% win ratio. This is the worst return of any Springbok coach since Carel du Plessis in 1997 with 37%. By comparison, Peter de Villiers boasted a win ratio of 71% after his first seven games in charge, having beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time since 1998.
Meyer’s draw against England was the first time the Boks had failed to beat them since 2006, while the draw against Argentina was the first time in history that the Springboks had failed to beat the Pumas. Not only did De Villiers have a much better start, but he kept us entertained at press conferences.
Peter de Villiers’ first 7 games
Played 7 Won 5 Lost 2 – Win percentage of 71%
Wales (Bloemfontein): WON 43-17
Wales (Pretoria): WON 37-21
Italy (Cape Town): WON 26-00
All Blacks (Wellington): LOST 08-19
All Blacks (Dunedin): WON 30-28
Wallabies (Perth): LOST 09-16
Argentina (Johannesburg): WON 63-09
Heyneke Meyer’s first 7 games
Played 7 Won 3 Draws 2 Losses 2 – Win percentage 42%
England (Durban): WON 22-17
England (Johannesburg): WON 36-27
England (Port Elizabeth): DRAW 14-14
Argentina (Cape Town): WON 27-06
Argentina (Mendoza): DRAW 16-16
Wallabies (Perth): LOST 19-26
All Blacks (Dunedin): LOST 11-21
Peter de Villiers’ next 15 games
Played 15 Won 11 Lost 4 – Win percentage of 73%
New Zealand (Cape Town): LOST 00-19
Australia (Durban): LOST 15-27
Australia (Johannesburg): WON 53-08
Wales (Cardiff): WON 20-15
Scotland (Murrayfield): WON 14-10
England (Twickenham): WON 42-06
British & Irish Lions (Durban): WON 26-21
British & Irish Lions (Pretoria): WON 28-25
British & Irish Lions (Johannesburg): LOST 09-28
New Zealand (Bloemfontein): WON 28-19
New Zealand (Durban): WON 31-19
Australia (Cape Town): WON 29-17
Australia (Perth): WON 25-32
Australia (Brisbane): LOST 21-06
New Zealand (Hamilton): WON 29-32
Give P-Divvy his job back, he was/is a damn good coach, in spite of, or maybe because of how his mind works. Maybe just do it on the condition that Bob Skindstadt (since he obviously has the gift of the gab) is hired to make all his public statements. Alternatively, just make the most of the added entertainment value.
Meyer seems completely lacking in creativity and flair. He just keeps doing the same thing over and over, and as coach, is teaching what was, and should be, a very good Springbok team, to be much worse than they actually are.
One definition describes insanity as “doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result”. By that definition, Heyneke Meyer is insane. However, by any definition, he is not a sufficiently creative or innovative coach to be coaching at Springbok (& probably not even Super15) level.
The stats shown above, tell the story beautifully.
PDivvy had superstars to his disposal, that group of players should have walked the World Cup. It was always going to be difficult after the big names retired. Give Meyer a chance, the current players have not played together and he is obviously sticking to the game plan to limit the damage….
@Jack
The all blacks have lost a few superstars as well though – like Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino, and Mils Muliaina; However, they have the benefit of their coach having been with the All Blacks for the last 8 years so they have a bit of flow.
@Robin
I AGREE: P-Divvy was a great coach: his overall record against the ABs is one of the best in Springboks history. Here in NZ he is very likeable and respected.
This up and coming game against the ABs is going to be a cracker – a real test of what each team is made of. (Go the AB’s – sry)