Three former Springboks on whether national coach Heyneke Meyer should be offered a contract extension or not.

Gaffie du Toit (former Bok flyhalf)

‘Yes, he should. Heyneke is a good coach, who knows what he wants and where he wants to take the Boks. In all honesty, he’s the best coach we’ve got in the country. There's no one else with the same proficiency to do the job. From a political point of view, there’ll probably be a few raised eyebrows if Saru extends his contract, but going forward it’ll be in the Springboks' best interests. I do get the feeling Meyer’s fate will probably be decided after the World Cup, which I think should not be the case.’

Garry Pagel (former Bok prop)

‘Meyer’s position has to be re-evaluated post World Cup. The Boks’ success rate during his tenure is not good enough and it ultimately cost us in the world rankings. Being the fifth best team in the world should be seen as digression. With the calibre of players South Africa produce and at his disposal, the Springboks should never have lost to Ireland and Wales, not to mention Argentina. If the Boks fail at the World Cup, I don’t see why he should stay on as head coach.’

Krynauw Otto (former Bok lock)

‘If not Heyneke Meyer, who else should take over as coach? There are no other contenders that stand out in this country. The only other possibility is Jake White and that ship has sailed long ago. Heyneke should be given more time at the helm. He's the right man to take the Boks forward, regardless of what happens at the World Cup. And if his position is under threat, Saru should at least first earmark prospective successors and hone their skills. For now, Heyneke Meyer is the best we have and deserves a contract extension.'

‘Meyer’s taken Boks into the gutters’

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