At long last came the email from SA Rugby to inform the nation about how the Springbok management team will look like in 2017.
It was a month late, but at least we knew for sure that Allister Coetzee held on to his job, and Franco Smith was replacing Mzwandile Stick as the backline coach.
Stick was hard done by, in many different respects. Now it seems as if he has been made the scapegoat for the entire Bok team’s shortcomings.
How did Coetzee keep his job when the Boks lost eight out of 12 Tests in 2016? Only those ‘wise men’ on the SA Rugby Executive Council can explain that decision.
It is hard to justify Coetzee’s retention. Not only do the numbers not stack up in terms of results, losing by 57-15 to the All Blacks on home soil, and then going down to Argentina, Italy and even Wales was just unacceptable.
The 20-18 reverse to Italy in Florence should’ve been the last straw – it was as bad as the 34-32 World Cup defeat to Japan that cost Heyneke Meyer his job.
Money wasn’t an issue either. I have it on good authority that there would not have been a need for a R13 million payout, which has been mooted in some circles, if SA Rugby had to fire Coetzee.
And let’s be frank – not even transformation dictates should’ve been the deciding factor. Of course it is desirable for our national team to have a person of colour as the head coach. But when that person is failing dismally, and it is playing a significant negative role on and off the field (lack of long-term sponsors), something has to give.
But whether you like it or not, Allister Coetzee is here to stay. So, what needs to change for the Springboks to become a feared opponent in world rugby once more?
One thing for sure is that Coetzee can’t continue like he did in 2016. He has already mentioned that his “background planning” has involved three indabas, planning training camps, looking at logistics and discussing matters with the SA Super Rugby coaches – something he couldn’t do last year as he was only appointed in April.
But while that is all good and well, the 53-year-old coach’s major shortcomings in 2016 were selection and tactics. And selection in particular had nothing to do with any lack of planning. Coetzee was all over the place in this regard.
We still don’t know who the best fullback is for the Boks. The only specialist chosen was Willie le Roux, who was discarded after a few iffy performances. Then Coetzee jumped to Johan Goosen, who was playing outside centre in France – and is now off the radar following his recent exit from Racing 92. Even Pat Lambie had to wear the No 15 jersey.
Coetzee stubbornly stuck with out-of-touch Damian de Allende at inside centre for most of 2016, and Juan de Jongh was in and out of the side. The same can be said of Elton Jantjies at flyhalf, a number of scrumhalf candidates, and the loose trio lacked a spark as Francois Louw was persevered with, and the blindside flank role was never sorted.
Worst of all was the persistence with Adriaan Strauss as captain and hooker, when he wasn’t the best option in either respect.
Coetzee needs to be bold, and quickly, if he is going to save the Springboks and his own job, as it seems as if he has just the three-Test June series against France to make a difference.
Super Rugby is just in week two, but the majority of the Bok squad has to be in-form players, not experienced ones who are there on reputation. The game has moved on from the slow, grinding forward-orientated style that won World Cups in 1995 and 2007 to a quicker, innovative game where a line-break and being able to do the unusual is as important as a functioning set-piece and organised defence.
You need X-factor players such as Warrick Gelant, Dillyn Leyds, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, RG Snyman (what skill for such a big man!) and Uzair Cassiem as much as you need the dependable, hard-working types like Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi and Tera Mtembu.
It’s time for Coetzee to break the shackles. He needs to open up his mind to new talent, and only involve overseas-based players who really want to be part of the Bok set-up and are still good enough for Test rugby.
The new Springbok captain needs to be someone who inspires, through his words and deeds.
And in terms of tactics and game plan, relying on your set-piece and kicking penalties won’t win Test matches. There is enough South African talent in the front row and among the locks to win possession. What the Boks will do with it is the question.
One of Coetzee’s most frustrating lines during his time as Stormers coach, following a defeat, is that he and the team would “learn lessons” from it.
After the horror show of 2016, has the Bok coach finally heeded the warning lights? Coetzee must do things differently this time around. Otherwise this second chance is going to be his last…
@ashfakmohamed