Don't be embarrassed, Heyneke . . .

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer was recently asked about his passionate and emotional reactions in the coaches box and his reply was rather typical of the man . . . he says he's a bit embarrassed by it and he wishes the TV camera would focus on the game . . . but I suspect I'm not the only one who enjoys seeing a Springbok coach get that excited when his team does well!

I don't always agree with Heyneke Meyer's selections or his strategy and I was a member of the chorus who criticised his Bulls-centric selections early on in his career but, whatever I say about his coaching abilities, I do like him as a person. Seeing Meyer wearing his heart on his sleeve in the coaches box during a game is a breath of fresh air compared to predecessors like Pieter de Villiers who had a permanently glazed and confused look on his face or Jake White who used to look sullen and sulky or else smug and supercilious depending on the match situation.

Heyneke Meyer is not a pretentious man and his exuberant celebrations when the Bokke score a try are something that us supporters can identify with because we celebrate the same way, whether we're in the stands or in front of our TV sets. You don't have to be a lip-reader to know that he's shouting the same kind of things we're shouting . . . "Go Willie, go Willie . . . GO WILLIE!"

I like Heyneke Meyer. I wish he'd dump plodders like Zane Kirchner, I wish he'd stop picking overseas-based players and I wish his game plan was more focussed on retaining possession . . . but I do like him a lot . . . and I'm glad we have the kind of coach who wants to stand on the sideline on Saturday and get as close to the haka as he possibly can.

Go Bokke!!! 

watching meyer go crazy had me LMAO, not laughing at him, but because as a rugby nut we can all understand the emotions ionvolved in the sport we love so much.

i also like how he likes to get close to the haka and just embrace the moment, being with ur team in spirit really does work IMO, knowing that even though ur in hostile waters, u adopt a band of brothers mentality and that all helps with keeping up the teams morale.

off topic but regarding emi=otions in rugby
in the 2007 RWC quaterfinal loss to france, my brother and i were watching it in the early hours of sunday morning, my mum just woke up and walked into the lounge as the last min of the game was playing, she took one look at us and burst into a hysterical laughter, she said shes never seen anyone look as depressed we did that morning.
at the time we didnt laugh and just ignored her, but time heals all wounds (do does the 85.3% winning streak weve been on since) and now i can look back at that and just laugh, :oD

Thats so strange Sas because myself and my family were watching that same game, albeit in the evening rather than morning, and my mom says she has never seen us look so happy. I need to send her a msg today and let her know that if she thinks we were happy that day, wait to see us at about 9.20pm on Saturday night ;-)

Sas, at least when you support the AB's, you can be happy and depressed in the same game. With the Boks, if we dont start well, it sets the tone for the rest of the match and we can be flat and we have to endure an 80min error ridden, frustration. We dont usually pull ourselves out of it in the game which AB's can. I can imagine you would have been depressed/ecstatic in Soweto that year McCaw and Dagg scored late. I for one had already kissed the Springbok badge on my jersey and thanked the AB's for coming!! Fat John Smit!! ;-(

Agreed Rooi, loved his passion and emotion...........cant help but like the guy.................quite the opposite to White who came accross as arrogant and smug........and frequently putting his foot in it.

His selections sell the Boks short, his game plan is improving.............if he gets the selections right, he will get there

Trust you to bring up 2007 Sas!

I had booked to fly to London to meet up with a mate and then we were getting the Eurostar to Paris for both Semis as he had managed to burgle 2 corporate tickets for each match.

The further that game in Cardiff got, the more dark my mood became and by the end of the match, I was watching it alone in the lounge whilst my wife and 3 kids watched in a bedroom at the other end of the house!

So I spat the dummy and cancelled my trip. I was due to fly out from Akld on the Wednesday but couldn't bear the thought of watching 2 semis with the ABs out.

Dark days indeed but 2011 made up for it!

 Nice Rooi - love the sentiment. No doubting him as a genuine man, genuine fan. Love that he stays on the field to accept the challenge of the haka. Little wonder that it seems the players really like playing for him.

Great read Rooinek, enjoyed it as much as Brendan Nel's piece on our main oak & wholeheartedly agree on thethe Euro/Yen brigade ........ if they want to go on their OE then, jawellnofine, but they forego the opportunity to play for the Bokke . Players who stay behind & help build our game deserve to be rewarded.

But in the nation's interest I would bend the rules for a superstar at RWC time .

Nice man …!!!!

I must admit his antics in the coach’s box have swayed me. Showing passion and emotion like that had me covered in gooseflesh.  The man sleeps, eats, drinks and lives Bok rugby.

I can support that very easily. I can also look past his shortcomings and hold thumbs he’ll see the light eventually.

A breath of fresh air, as you said.