Tigers: Meyer claws his way into lead
Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:24
Tigerish look: Leicester to welcome new coach Heyneke Meyer?
The former Super 14-winning mentor of the Bulls, Heyneke Meyer, is expected to be appointed as the new Leicester Tigers' new head coach at the weekend.
The Tigers brainstrust have been conducting extensive interviews in the past fortnight, after former Argentina head coach Marcelo Loffreda was sacked - following Leicester's loss in the Guinness Premiership Final to archrivals London Wasps.
Meyer, who quit coaching in South Africa after losing out on the Springbok job in controversial fashion in January, has clawed his way into the lead of an impressive queue that includes Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young Dai, All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith, as well as Tigers and England legend Neil Back.
Media reports in England claim that the Blues have blocked Tigers' bid to lure Young to Welford Road, with Smith reportedly turning down an offer to join the rush north in order to finish his tenure in New Zealand.
Back, meanwhile, will take up the coaching job at relegated Leeds to gain some experience, before returning 'home' to the Tigers.
That leaves Meyer as the best qualified candidate.
Meyer, despite being dumped by politically motivated officials at the South African Rugby Union (SARU) earlier this year, brings with him an impressive set of credentials - least of all his Super 14 triumph last year and three consecutive Currie Cup Final victories.
The 44-year-old quit the Bulls after they ended the 11-year domination of Super Rugby by New Zealand and Australian teams - when they beat the Sharks in the first-ever all-South African Final last year.
SARU's infamous President's Council voted in favour of Peter De Villiers, by a single vote, in January - when SARU President Oregan Hoskins acknowledged that it was a politically motivated decision in a country where the government is clamouring for 'transformation' appointments.
Although some officials still try to punt De Villiers as a "merit" selection, the fact that he won by a single vote makes it obvious his appointment was not a popular one.
If given the Tigers job, Meyer would be keen to bring in at least one member of his backroom staff.
Former England hooker Richard Cockerill has been tipped to stay on as forwards coach, while ex-Tigers centre Daryl Gibson could leave his role as player-coach at Glasgow Warriors to join Meyer as backs coach.
It has been reported that Meyer will bring along defence coach John McFarland from the Bulls.
Other reports suggest that Meyer will bring two Australians on board - former Australia Rugby League wing Les Kiss (the Waratahs defence coach), and former Wallaby centre Matt O'Connor, who was recently released as Brumbies backs coach.
