Now that we have Meyer....

I like most of what Heineke has said so far. Waiting to name a permanent captain, for example, is a smart choice. As long as that captain isn't  Spies! I also question if playing styles can be harmonized across S 15 franchizes. We need some experimentation, not one monolithic style.

But there is no doubt that Meyer is a huge step up. A real leader, tough, but smart.

Having said this, the fly in the ointment at the Bools has been creative back play. If the Bools had Crusader like capacity behind the pack, every S15 for the last 5 years would have gone to Pamplona. This has not been the case. While Habana was still there and potent....the Bools looked briefly dangerous. More recently it's been Wynand crash balling and being gassed by opposing props.

So we need imagination and some talent beyond the Bloo Bools model. I think we need a talented, world class backline coach.....like Eddie Jones. Jones lifted Bok back play at the 2007 RWC, which was a huge factor in our easy victories over the Poms in the pools and the Bargies in the semies.

Pure Bloo Bools wont cut it....even if superbly executed.

Totally!

As Ive been saying all along.... Meyer - Good....
But we need to get some open play specialists.

In my humble opinion... Id like Spencer to be involved.

....Yes Spencer.

I dont buy this Bok Style vs Kiwi style shit.

Look at what he, John Mitchell and Plumtree have done for SA rugby.

I have to disagree with you on one thing Mozart; the Bulls have been the best performing attacking side over the past five years. In 2008 though they did struggle to get to grips with the ELVs and Ludeke was in his first year as well. There were clearly tensions between him and the players but they did start building steam as the season went on. Here is the Bull's try counts with the Crusader's, that since 2007:

Bulls

'07: 45
'08: 34
'09: 37
'10: 47
'11: 40

Crusaders

'07: 47
'08: 49
'09: 27
'10: 43
'11: 46

Not that much between them, and 2010 was statisticallt the greatest attacking performance in Super rugby history by the Bulls. The reason the Bulls have been so successful is because each area of their game was very strong. They could vary their game. The only side that offered competition for the Bulls in South Africa were the Lions. Under Eloff they were a very exciting ball in hand side and that continued to a certain extent under Mitchell. So no, in short, if the Boks played more like the Bulls... they would have been a vastly more successful side over the past four years in particular! If you want bland and ineffective then take a very close look at a masterclass in one-dimensional and dinosaur rugby in the Cape and Durban.
 

I do agree the Bulls played some great attacking rugby when Todd Louden was coaching the backline but it has declined since then.

Can you break those stats down into tries by backline and tries by forwards fo rboth bull eand crustacians?

If you are quesioning their backline's capacity to score tries then again that is incorrect. I don't have the Saders try source info at hand, but I can say that the Bulls backline has been very good for all but last year. Pieter Roussouw has been doing very good work at the union and was the catalyst for the Bulls resurgence during the 2008 season. Louden is a highly astute coach, but Roussouw deserves credit for all from 2008 onwards.

@der Aristokrat. Even last year, when the Bulls had a relatively poor S15, they had back-line players among the top try scorers of the series. The Bulls had two back-line players with 6 or more tries, The Sharks and the Cheetahs also had two, the Lions and the Stormers had one each. The top try scorers were Bjorn Basson, Sarel Pretorius and Sean Maitland (Crusaders) with 9 tries each. Bear in mind that the Bulls, the Cheetahs and the Lions played one game less than the Sharks and the Stormers.

That's a very good point Ceradyne. I haven't had a chance to review last years Super 15, but I trust your judgement.

 At last a merit coach - with the young and experienced talent as his disposal, we cant go wrong

Very true Saffex! So long as he is not hounded like Jake he will go very far. The trouble is that once the Boks are doing well that is when the politicos step in and boldly make stupid decisions. The thought sticking a quota in after Jake would work, but Peter was another example that test rugby is not a job you can coast through in an arm chair.

Meyer has considerable charm and is generally well liked by everyone. I think that his personal decency will help folk trust him that he is being fair and doing the right thing. Also SARFU know that their finances are effected by how well the Boks do  - hence their bonuses etc. Hopefully SARFU will support him.

Agree fully Dave - at last  a real coach. I await his appointments with keen anticipation.