Bob: I never called Meyer a 'dictator'
Former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad has described as 'pathetic journalism' newspaper reports claiming he called Heyneke Meyer a dictator.
According to the Afrikaans daily, Beeld, Skinstad and his former World Cup-winning Bok coach, Jake White were very critical of current national team coach, Meyer.
Skinstad, who was the MC, and White were speaking at a function at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
White, who now coaches the Brumbies in Super Rugby, said Meyer's style isn't one which is going to help the Boks achieve success.
The same article quoted Skinstad as having called Meyer a 'dictator'.
An angry Skinstad described the report as "absolute bullsh#t", out of context and slanderous.
"I was the MC," Skinstad told this website, adding: "I was asking questions, not giving answers.
"I asked Jake [White] about the role of an Under-20 coach, made reference to a friend of mine at Natal U20 and asked about Jake's role at the Brumbies."
Skinstad, now a television analyst, revealed that he had already been contacted by the Bok coach.
"I had a text message from Heyneke," Skinstad told this website, adding: "He understands the context of what was said and we have sorted this out."
Skinstad revealed that the journalist who dropped the clanger has now gone underground.
"It is pathetic journalism," he said, adding: "I have phoned the office of the journalist and the person in question has now taken the phone of the hook."
Skinstad's revelation also puts into question the context of White's criticism of Meyer.
According to the report White says Heyneke Meyer's game plan for the Springboks is not a winning one.
"Heyneke's coaching style is not a style that will help the Boks to win," the Burger quotes White as saying.
"If you can't score at least four tries against Argentina, then there is a big problem."
White reportedly said Meyer's long stint with the Bulls had inevitably influenced his approach at Test level.
"Heyneke was always going to get criticism because of his background with the Bulls. He was chosen as [Bok] coach because of the success he achieved as Bulls coach and it will naturally play a role in the way he coaches the Boks."
White said that the more pressure Meyer was put under, the more he would revert to what worked for him at the Bulls.
"If, for example, he must choose between Gio Aplon and Zane Kirchner, he will choose Kirchner every time," he said.
By Jan de Koning
* What Bob Skinstad really said:
