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Cape Town - Head coach Allister Coetzee should not be blamed for the Springboks’ current woes, two former national team coaches believe.
Coetzee, who was earlier this year named South Africa’s 12th coach since readmission, has copped heavy criticism for the team’s performances.
The Boks stuttered to a 2-1 home series win over an injury-depleted Ireland and started the Rugby Championship on a low note against Argentina.
They won the first Test in unconvincing fashion (30-23) in Nelspruit, before going down 26-24 in Salta last weekend.
“It’s 2016 and we still don’t have uniformity among our Super Rugby franchises, we can’t decide how many teams should play in the Currie Cup competition and then we also have a shortage of experienced coaches,” Andre Markgraaff, who coached the Boks in 1996, told Netwerk24.
“What we’re seeing now at the Springboks is simply the end product of it all. It won’t help criticising the Bok coach, because South African rugby has a string of problems.”
Carel du Plessis, who was Springbok coach in 1997, said SA Rugby waited too long to move away from its obsession with “power”.
“We neglected our skills and while our decision making is already better, it’s not close to that of the All Blacks. We’re not bothering other teams’ defences because for too long we depended on instructions on muscle mass. It will take time to again empower our players. Unfortunately, time is not a luxury for a Springbok coach," said Du Plessis.
