SA Rugby have taken the step to create a \u201cnational coaching forum\u201d in order to improve the links between coaches at the Springboks and the provincial unions.<\/b><\/p>\n
It comes after there was criticism over the decision to allow four national team coaches to help out at the Bulls following the Pretoria outfit\u2019s poor start to the season.<\/p>\n
Felix Jones, Duane Vermeulen, Jerry Flannery and Andy Edwards have been given permission to aid head honcho Johan Ackermann after two of his coaches, Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw, were axed.<\/p>\n
SA Rugby statement<\/p>\n
In a statement, SA Rugby said they \u201csupport\u201d Rassie Erasmus\u2019<\/a>\u00a0decision to offer assistance and insisted that other franchises \u201cmay request such collaboration\u201d.<\/p>\n The various coaches already liaise with each other over the schedules of their Springboks<\/a> \u2013 or Players of National Interest (PONI) \u2013 but SA Rugby hope that this \u201cformal structure\u201d will \u201cenhance these relationships\u201d between the respective teams.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe this kind of collaboration should be the norm in South African rugby. The Springbok coaching staff and our member unions must work together, sharing ideas and expertise to strengthen the playing of the game across all levels,\u201d SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.<\/p>\n \u201cThis process is well established in many progressive rugby nations, where collective delivery ensures both excellence and sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n Alexander claims that this latest move is not about establishing a uniform way of playing, adding: \u201cCollaboration is about support and shared learning, not uniformity \u2014 it is about elevating standards while respecting the autonomy of each union.\u201d<\/p>\n Planet Rugby\u2019s Top 50 men\u2019s players of 2025: \u2018Unstoppable force\u2019 takes top spot as Springboks dominate 10-1 selection<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n It should at least quell the slightly surprising furore which occurred in the aftermath of the Bulls\u2019<\/a> announcement that they would be receiving help from the Springboks.<\/p>\n Ackermann came out in his press conference ahead of their encounter with the Stormers to defend the collaboration between them and the national team.<\/p>\n Bulls\u2019 defence<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth is simple: I assessed everything and wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look at our defensive structures and bounce ideas off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI said [to Rassie Erasmus]: \u2018You\u2019ve always made your team of coaches available, and I\u2019d love it if someone like [coach] Jerry Flannery could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t expect the Bok coaches to put a plan together on how to win \u2013 that is my job as head coach.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I\u2019d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.<\/p>\n \u201cI would never ask Rassie for game-plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n