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Powerful Springboks coaching setup on horizon?

Roar Guru
16th January, 2012
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Roar Guru
16th January, 2012
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1903 Reads

With many South Africans hoping for an international coach to take over the reins, there is always a very strong drive to keep it local.

If the rumours are true the best possible local setup looks promising. Rassie Erasmus is set to become the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) new full-time technical adviser after resigning with the Stormers, and Heyneke Meyer being tipped to take the head coach role.

It’s a double loss for the Stormers with Erasmus poaching defence coach Jacques Nienaber.

The other rumoured candidate for head coach is Ireland’s forwards coach Gert Small, but he could fit into the coaching squad as forwards coach leaving only the back coach open. Most would agree this is one area where the Boks could use some international attention, possibly an Aussie or a Kiwi backline coach.

With countless player stocks and no competition from other sport codes, it seems all the Springboks need is good leadership and out of the box thinking. SARU’s gamble with Peter de Villiers was a failure and had he not had the luxury of an experienced senior players group, it might have been far more embarrassing.

The right thing to do now is get the right men for the job, revolutionise and get the Boks up to speed, something this (possible) coaching setup is capable of.

Nienaber has shown with the Stormers that he had the best defence in Super Rugby last season and is a good choice for defence coach. The others have good resumes and have achieved a lot in their careers – Rassie with the low budget Cheethas and Mayer with the Bulls, while both had advisory roles at international level.

With so many top stars like Matfield, Du Preeze and Habanna retiring from international rugby, it has left some experience gaps but it also creates an opportunity for a new direction.

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