New era looms as Kafer lands Wallabies role
RESTORING Australia’s reputation as the clever country of rugby and ridding its players of a Kiwi inferiority complex.
Those are two of Rod Kafer’s goals after the respected former Wallaby was hired by the ARU to help rebuild the badly flagging fortunes of Australian rugby.
Kafer was unveiled yesterday as the new head of national coaching development.
Kafer will facilitate a national system to improve coaches at all levels, from juniors to pros, and also to establish a national coaching panel to harness the leading minds.
His recruitment is aimed at reversing the steep downward trajectory of Aussie rugby this year. Australia’s Super Rugby teams did not beat a New Zealand side in 25 attempts.
“There are a collective group of people who want to make change, and recognise the need for change,” he said.
“Every day I turn up I will be thinking, ‘ How can we win more often?’ That’s what will drive me. Clearly, we haven’t won enough.”
Kafer’s plan to revive Aussie rugby is to build better players at all levels – and hence a better talent pipeline – by delivering best-practice “informational, tools and resources” to coaches.
“Beating New Zealand and beating them consistently is going to
Kafer said.
“It’s not going to be done overnight. But our challenge is every day trying to find ways to improve that prospect.”
Australians have begun to “self-perpetuate” the perception that Kiwis are superhuman on a rugby pitch, Kafer believes. be generational,”