Rugby writers Zelim Nel and John Goliath share their views on what Allister Coetzee should do if he becomes the next Springbok coach.
ZELIM NEL says:
The general consensus is that Allister Coetzee is set to exercise the get-out clause in his contract with the Kobe Steelers and jet in from Japan to rebuild South Africa’s rugby reputation as Heyneke Meyer’s successor.
Under Meyer, the Springboks wandered in the no-man’s-land between rugby that wins games and rugby that wins style points.
Waning brand value is among issues that have since led to long-standing sponsors pulling the plug. The only thing that will extinguish the hot flames of discontent is a return to winning ways. As newly-appointed Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos said: “In South Africa, the audience is very dependent on the form of the team. Performance is a big key.”
WP won two Currie Cup titles under Coetzee, but the Stormers began to lose their way after Rassie Erasmus skipped Newlands, and Jacques Nienaber was marginalised in planning sessions.
Together, Coetzee, Erasmus and Nienaber are a formidable trio – in 2010, the Stormers hammered a Crusaders team featuring Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Dan Carter 42-14 at Newlands. If Coetzee gets a new green blazer, the trio will be reunited and the Boks will rediscover their identity.
JOHN GOLIATH says:
Does Allister Coetzee have the ability to pick the Springboks up off the canvas? Can he breathe new life into a wounded beast that had one of its worst years, which included shock defeats to Argentina – at home – and Japan?
Coetzee certainly has the experience of a top-class coach, having served on Jake White’s World Cup-winning management team before coaching the Stormers with some degree of success.
He won two Currie Cup titles with Western Province in 2012 and 2014, while WP also made the final in 2013. He also has one of the best transformation records of all the senior coaches in the country.
However, Coetzee, especially in Super Rugby, failed to take the Stormers to the next level, i.e. winning trophies, and also in terms of playing style.
While he is a good coach, he needs to break free of the shackles that could make him a great one. He needs to adopt a dynamic approach, which is something the Boks are crying out for at the moment.
The former Saru scrumhalf with that silky dive pass must now show that same vibrancy as a coach.
[email protected], @Zels77
[email protected], @JohnGoliath82