Old traps loom for coach Heyneke Meyer

The more things change, the more they stay the same and history is set to repeat itself in 2012 if Heyneke Meyer, the new Springbok rugby coach, does not learn from the disasters of the 1999 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. Who he will appoint as his Springbok captain might just set the tone for, and the success of, his tenure as coach.

In 1999 Springbok captain Gary Teichmann was relieved of his duties and replaced by Bob Skinstad before that year’s Rugby World Cup. It is looked back on as one of the gravest of then-coach Nick Mallett’s mistakes. Indeed, Mallett later admitted that he was in error.

Last year, Peter de Villiers regularly used John Smit as hooker and captain, although many critics believed that Bismarck du Plessis was simply superior in that position and should have been in the starting lineup.

According to Rapport newspaper, Meyer is toying with the idea of fielding Fourie du Preez as captain and short-term leader in order to smoothe the transition into the new era.

Du Preez is a Springbok legend, but he retired at the end of last year and has decided to play in Japan in 2012. He was also not at his best during the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Some observers believe that Francois Hougaard was a breath of fresh air every time he was introduced from the bench.

Du Preez was also not a magnificent captain when the Bulls used him in that role during the 2008 Super 14 competition. Afterwards, Du Preez admitted as much. According to him,  the Bulls performed much better with Victor Matfield as captain.

Hopefully Meyer will be true to his promise that he will only select a captain once the best players in each position have been decided.

At this stage, Francois Hougaard must be seen as the incumbent at number nine, and Du Preez will have to be magnificent to outclass him.

Du Preez is 29 and it is not impossible that he could still return to his best form. Yet plucking players out of virtual obscurity for one last season must surely raise some concerns. South Africa boasts so much experience in the pack and in the backline that it is unnecessary to convince retired players to return to the fold.

According to Rapport, Meyer is also contemplating the use of Rassie Erasmus as technical advisor and Paul Treu as backline coach. Treu is the coach of the Springbok Sevens team and enjoys a lot of support. Among the reasons for his popularity are his scientific approach to the game and his work ethic. From a skills-development perspective, it might be advantageous to the Springbok cause that Treu is seen by Meyer as a possible future coach. However, one or two questions will be raised about Treu, as he is not used to the format of Springbok rugby.

In addition, Johann van Graan and John McFarland are shortlisted to move from the Bulls to the Boks as forwards coach as defensive coach respectively.

Ultimately, the question is how Meyer will manage the transition to the new era.

Both Australia and Wales have recently demonstrated the importance of embracing youth, and the principle that a new broom sweeps clean. Both teams used very young players in the 2011 Rugby World Cup and, with a bit of luck, Wales could have reached the final against New Zealand.

South Africa might have erred by not introducing young, talented players earlier, since De Villiers was petrified of repeating Mallett’s mistakes. He was also intent on using the Jake White blueprint of success that contributed to the World Cup glory of 2007.

But some of the Springboks who won in 2007 simply did not have the spring in the step they had in 2011. Bakkies Botha was past his sell-by date at the start of the Rugby World Cup, while Smit should have contemplated retirement after the 2010 season. If Meyer falls into the same trap in 2012 by holding onto players who are past their prime, he could delay a new dawn in Springbok rugby.

It would be very tempting to persist with the expertise and talent of legendary veterans. But, instead of a blessing, it could prove to be a massive and fatal mistake.

Meyer has many gifts, but his one blind spot is his conservatism.

The next week or two will be important for the Springboks, as Meyer will show his hand and announce his plans for the new season. The fact that the Southern Kings are promised a starting position in the 2013 Super Rugby season at the possible expense of one of the SA teams in the current lineup, and that local derbies are seen as virtual knockout games, could rob Meyer of some injured senior Springboks even before the series against England in June.

So he could hardly afford to overplay his hand by hanging onto the old guard when there should have been a changing of the guard already.