Share

Ollie: Bok coach Allister knows nothing!

Cape Town - Former Springbok prop Ollie le Roux has launched another scathing attack on Allister Coetzee, indicating that the Bok mentor is out of his depth coaching the national team.

Le Roux, who played 54 Tests for the Springboks between 1994 and 2002, was speaking to the Irish Independent when he voiced his concerns about the current state of the South African game.

Le Roux is of the opinion that a Springbok coach should have played for the team himself.

"What does Allister Coetzee know about Springboks? Nothing. He's got no right to even mention the word Springbok, because he's not a Springbok. He's got no right to even have an opinion about the Springboks,” Le Roux said in an interview with the newspaper's Ruaidhri O'Connor in Bloemfontein last week.

"Same with Heyneke Meyer, Jake White. Ja, he won a World Cup by hook or by crook, but Gert Smal played for the Springboks, someone like that comes and says something, he's been there... for Rassie (Erasmus - SA Rugby's new director of rugby) to build that culture, he must get those guys working at grassroots level."

This was not the first time that Le Roux has had a go at Coetzee.

Following South Africa’s 27-13 loss to Wales in Cardiff last year, Le Roux said Coetzee was “just not good enough at the highest level”.

He said South African rugby did not have a talent problem, but “definitely a coaching one”.

Erasmus is on his way back to South Africa but Le Roux feels his job will be “very tough”.

“Our problems need a five-year period to fix and it needs all the right guys," Le Roux said. “He's coming into a culture where our forwards are coached by guys who never played for the national team. How is he going to tell the players how to play for the Springboks?

"Rassie can tell you, because he played for the Springboks - he was phenomenal. But these guys can't tell the Springboks what our ethos is, what our character is. That's his problem.”

In his new job, Erasmus will oversee South African rugby’s eight national teams and the participation and management of 20 competitions, as well as the development of players, coaches and referees.

READ Ollie le Roux's full interview with the Irish Independent


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% - 1271 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
30% - 1469 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2239 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