Rassie Erasmus will form part of the Springbok coaching staff as the new technical advisor to all South African Rugby Union (Saru) teams – a newly created full time position at the union …
This according to Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Rapport …
His shock resignation last week as Western Province’s director of rugby comes after one too many disputes with the interfering amateur blazer brigade, and Saru seem set to benefit from the move ..
Erasmus’ appointment will probably be announced fairly soon – perhaps even on January 27, when the new Springbok coach is appointed.
It seems consensus has not been reached as to who will take the top job, it being a two horse race between Heyneke Meyer and Gert Smal.
Rapport’s sources suggest that Meyer is the preferred candidate, but that Smal also enjoys considerable support amongst some of the Council – made up of two representatives from each provincial unions. One can only imagine the horse trading going on amongst that lot!
In this pro era, you would have hoped that the call would have been made a while back and that it was indeed just going to be ratified by this gravy stained Council … But no, in SA it is still the amateur arm that has far too much say in the actual goings on of the union …
In a fairly exciting development, though, it seems the period of the new coach’s contract will be limited to two years instead of the usual four years, and that the new coach will be subject to a few strict performance clauses … So no more of this “judge me on my performance at the World Cup” crap …
It was speculated that Erasmus was off to France to chat to Biarritz about a coaching position this week, but the trip also involves trying to flog a computer program he created which aims to give coaches a better analysis of the game.
The other interesting snippet of information to come from the article is that WP defence coach Jacques Nienaber, and Blitzbok coach Paul Treu are also set to resign their current positions to join Erasmus as part of the Springbok coaching set up as permanent employees of Saru …
Upon making contact with Erasmus by SMS, he was quick to deny the above, saying that the Rapport story is pure speculation. He went on to say that there has been no approach from Saru.
The Rapport sport staff are a well connected lot though, and I am of the belief that there must be a little fire under this smoke …
Tank do you think that the assistants need to be full time? I know it’s done like that, but it seems silly when the likes of Nienaber are still learning and perfecting trade at Stomers. Dick and Gary got long rides with very little option to change.
Primate, I reckon a full-time team of assistants is the answer, especially if it works out the way it is explained. I.e. “Technical Advisor” – across all SA teams. So for example, Rassie (and the rest of the team) would be a comprehsive (and LIVE) report together for all NZ and Aus teams for Super Rugby and all SA franchises can tap into that info if they want to and it is their choice … use it, don’t use it.
Greenman sounds good if that’s way it is implemented.
I got the feeling under the last regime that it was a particularly well paid long holiday. Of course I could be mistaken.
I must say – the one thing I liked about Div’s reign was his introduction of consultants that were brought into the team environment on an ad hoc basis. So would agree that all appointments need not be permanent. But a defence coach, backline coach, and skills coach would need to be permanent in my book …
I don’t buy this. Rapport are well known for hearing one opinion and reporting it as established fact.
First of all, it’s the executive (Jurie Roux by himself if he’s got any sense) that choose the coach, then get it ratified by the council or whatever they’re called these days. They don’t have a big show of hands of X for Heyneke and Y for Gert.
Secondly, why is Rassie travelling in Europe to try and get a new job if he’s going to be the SARU full time technical advisor – that doesn’t make sense.
Thirdly, surely the head coach has to appointed first so he can choose his assistants. Or at least have a say in the matter.
If it happens, I like the move to assistants being forward/attack/defence instead of the outdated forwards/backs configuration. I recall Paul Treu saying recently that modern rugby teams need to learn that from NFL.
Sadly, slider, it actually can come down to a vote on the Council … So if Heyneke were to promise the Pumas a new scrumming machine, that could secure his vote as Bok coach from the Pumas … Not saying it is going to happen, but this horse trading definitely exists …
What a dream this would be. I won’t get my hopes up though till announcements have been made.
One thing in particular that I am absolutely game for is performance clauses because I firmly believe no Bok team should be set up to lose ANY test. Always the best available team, with the ability to blood new talent. Caps will then no longer be dished our willy nilly!
The answer is simple … The coach will be judged on the World Cup … And EVERY game in between!
Greenman, with the time the S15 is taking up this year, the new coaching staff will have only 1 weeks to prepare his for the first test against England. How do you suggest a new coach will do with only Monday until the Friday with a new squad? There is no ways one can implement a new game plan, so expect the old stalwarts..that is unless some kind of never seen before arrangement can be made between SARU and the S15 franchises to release the Boks a few weeks prior.
Not much time to prepare for the 4 Nations either, exactly 2 weeks from the S15 final to the first match vs Argentina. I just don’t see how any coach can do anything new with a side within 3 weeks of practice.
Yep – seriously brutal on the new coach. Hence the need for central contracting to be implemented asap … Look out for my first Sports Illustrated column – i call for exactly that!!
Yep, I like the idea of a two year contract. of course it means the coach might forego future planning in return for immediate results, but then he will fail further down the road, and there has to be an element of trust
If Treu gets the nod who will be his likely Sevens successor?
Good point. No real succession plan seems to be in place. That player who lost his eye (apologies, but cannot remember his name) is coaching the Academy side, and might be the man. Marius Schoeman has recently been employed to run the Sevens Academy … he could be an option …
It seems rather odd to me that Rassie Erasmus is said to be linked to the job while Heyneke Meyer and Gert Smal are the “favourites” and then, as also mentioned above, Rassie was off to France (not sure of his whereabouts at this time).
Then I also get the feeling that PDV will definitely get the nod for the short-term, however I would like for SARU to have then stated this from the beginning and not set a definite date for the appointment of the new coach.