Share

Coetzee explains assistant coaches decision

Cape Town - It wasn't all about the indaba, and the big news from Thursday actually had nothing to do with the two-day think-tank in Cape Town. 

Earlier in the day, as around 50 delegates continued their rigorous debate about how South African rugby should move forward, news broke that Bok coach Allister Coetzee had added two new names to his management team. 

The first was Cheetahs coach Franco Smith, who will join as a skills and backline assistant for the tour, while the second came in the form of JP Ferreira from the Lions, who takes over from Chean Roux as defence coach.

The Bok defence has become a major concern throughout the Coetzee era, with the Boks having conceded 15 tries in their two matches against the All Blacks this year. 

Jacques Nienaber had been in charge of the Bok defence for Coetzee's first three Tests against Ireland, but he has since left the Mobi Unit, making Ferreira the third defence coach in the Coetzee era.

With Coetzee desperate for results in upcoming Tests against England, Italy and Wales, defence is an area where the Boks simply have to be clinical. 

Ferreira has the experience - he has been at the Lions since the Euegene Eloff era - but he now faces his first test at international level. 

"It was necessitated by the fact that Chean Roux was always just there for the Rugby Championship. He was an interim arrangement with Jacques (Nienabar) left," Coetzee explained.

"There was no Currie Cup coach or Super Rugby coach available during that period. 

"Now we are going on an end-of-year tour it’s going to be the third defensive coach which I have sort of requested to come on board. He might be the right guy and we would continue with him but that would be reviewed and assessed again after the end of year tour." 

Attack, though, and scoring tries remains the biggest challenge for the Boks. 

As a result, Coetzee has turned to Smith, who has guided his Free State Cheetahs side to nine straight wins in the Currie Cup this year ahead of this weekend's final.

"It’s important that we do, on a short term basis, look to improve our skill sets," Coetzee said.

"He’s a coach with a variety of aspects of the game that he’s coached overseas.

"He is a Springbok flyhalf. He’s coached scrums, he coached mauling in Italy where there was no expertise and he had to do that.

"He comes with a variety of skill sets and value that he can add. The immediate focus is to get those guys to come in and add value." 

Louis Koen will also have another stint as kicking coach for the tour. 

The Boks are set to name their squad after Saturday's Currie Cup final.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1118 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1284 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 1979 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE