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Cape Town - Lions and South Africa 'A' coach Johan Ackermann has lauded Springbok coach Allister Coetzee and his training methods this week.
Ackermann, who will meet up on Sunday with the SA 'A' side that will take on the English Saxons on June 10, has been in Stellenbosch with Coetzee and the Boks this week where a new dawn of South African rugby has been born.
Ackermann has been credited with evolving the Lions into South Africa's most dangerous attacking side over the past three-and-a-half years, and he believes that the Boks are on the right track.
"It was amazing here. It’s an exciting time for Springbok rugby to see a lot of energy and new faces and some quality players," Ackermann said on Thursday.
"It was the best four days of training I’ve seen in a long, long time. I haven’t been at Springbok training in a while but this was quality training."
Ackermann added that it was great to see so many Lions players in the Springbok set-up.
"It’s credit to the players for a lot of work that they’ve put in for the past few years and also the guys who assist them," he said.
"They look in place and train well. They look normal as I know them … running with the ball in hand. So it’s good to see them here."
The SA 'A' squad is expected to be bolstered by four players who drop out of the Springbok side before next weekend.
"It’s great for players to know that they’re not far away from the Springbok side," said Ackermann.
"The only thing I would like to see is that when you get a tour with an SA ‘A’ side that you play against top opposition. If it’s international ‘A’ side that’s better."
