adminDubai — Will he stay or will he go? That’s the R5 million — literally — question regarding Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. Weekend reports suggested Meyer has already signed a new four-year Bok deal believed to be worth R5m a year. However, this is not cast in stone and still needs to be approved by Saru’s general council which will meet in early December.
Should Meyer fall on his sword after in indifferent World Cup campaign — or if Saru give him the boot —South Africa bookies Sportingbet suggest New Zealand’s John Plumtree is the favourite to take over.
Plumtree has been installed as the early favourite for the role — at evens — followed by his compatriot and former Lions coach John Mitchell (5/2). Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett can be backed at 5/1, with ex-Stormers boss Allister Coetzee on offer at 8/1.
Current coach of the Currie Cup champion Golden Lions, Johan Ackermann, looks an attractive bet at 10/1, while Western Province Director of Rugby Gert Smal is at 16/1.
Another former Springbok coach, Jake White, is an outsider at 33/1, but not as much of a long-shot as former Wallaby wing David Campese (100/1).
Meanwhile, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and coach Steve Hansen will be offered knighthoods following New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup triumph, but the timing will depend on when they retire, Prime Minister John Key said yesterday.
McCaw, 34, has already turned down the honour once, after New Zealand’s 2011 tournament win, saying he did not feel it was right to accept while he was still playing.
Key was asked if the inspirational skipper would be approached again about putting a “Sir” before his name in the wake of the 34-17 Cup final win over Australia and told the New Zealand Herald: “That’s right.”— Sport24.
Online Reporter