Another bad break for Moody
Since the All Blacks won the 2015 Rugby World Cup under the guidance of Steve Hansen, the Springboks have parted ways with two head coaches – Heyneke Meyer and Allister Coetzee. They are now onto their third coach Rassie Erasmus, who doubles as director of rugby.
As much as we want to blame Meyer and Coetzee for the Springboks’ slump in recent times – losing to Japan and suffering a record defeat to the All Blacks – we can’t cast them as scapegoats because Erasmus is now also struggling. And if he keeps on chopping and changing, because all he is looking at is results and winning at all costs, he will follow the same path as his predecessors.
The powers that be need to be patient with Erasmus, so that he can buck the trend and implement a long-term vision. The fact the Springboks have slipped to their joint-lowest world ranking of seventh doesn’t bother me. My issue is not with rankings and results because I measure progress and performance.
I live my life as a coach and doctor based on simple principles. The trick is to follow the process and be performance-driven.
Had the Springboks kept continuity with Meyer and Coetzee there is a chance that they would have proved successful because they are both good coaches. Meyer’s side came close to beating the All Blacks in the World Cup semifinal and there was massive progress in Coetzee’s second year at the helm. We only lost four matches from 13 in 2017 but the 57-0 drubbing in Albany was too much for the South African Rugby Union to stomach. The one thing we are very good at in South Africa is not keeping people – coaches and players – together for a length of time. Joe Moody suffered yet another injury blow that means the All Blacks loosehead will miss the remainder of the Rugby Championship.
The 29-year-old Crusaders prop broke a thumb in last Saturday’s 40-12 triumph over the Wallabies at Eden Park as the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup.
Chiefs tighthead Angus Ta’avao has been called up to the squad for the first time as his replacement with Jeff Toomaga-Allen carrying a knee injury.
Karl Tu’inukuafe will now cover the loosehead with Moody expected to
At the moment, the most continuity in the rugby world lies with the All Blacks and their success isn’t coincidental. They know their coaches are safe and that the majority of their players are going to play. They can take their money and spend it on keeping their premier players in the country.
The Springboks need to learn from said approach and have their best players in the same environment for at least four years. Only after that fouryear cycle, can you evaluate the success or failure of South African rugby. When you throw the baby out with the bathwater, which has been the case because Springbok supporters want instant gratification, it’s virtually impossible to achieve success.
After our 27-27 draw against Australia in the Rugby Championship last year, I was absolutely lambasted for saying that if winning is all you see, stop watching. I then realised that the philosophy of performance over results will never work in a South African context because we are used to winning, having claimed the William Webb Ellis trophy twice.
Erasmus is a very good coach, with strong pedigree but he was naı¨ve by stating publicly that he must be judged solely on results and transformation, which are purely numbers-driven. return in time for the tour to Japan and Europe, which starts with the third Bledisloe test against Australia in Tokyo on October 27.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s only other specialist loosehead in the squad is prop Tim Perry, although Blues tighthead Ofa Tu’ungafasi can cover both sides of the front row.
‘‘Moods has had an X-ray which has revealed a fracture in his left thumb,’’ Hansen said. ‘‘He doesn’t need surgery but will be in a cast for six weeks and, unfortunately, will miss the rest of the Rugby Championship.
South African Brendan Venter is a 1995 Rugby World Cup winner and a former assistant coach of the Springboks.
‘‘Angus had a big season for the Chiefs during the Super Rugby season, was part of a very good Chiefs pack and has made big strides on the technical aspects of his position. We look forward to him joining the squad.’’
Ta’avao, who is eligible to play for Australia through his mother, captained Taranaki in their 26-19 victory over Counties Manukau in Pukekohe on Wednesday.
The All Blacks squad will reassemble in Nelson on Sunday to prepare for the Rugby Championship test against Argentina on September 8.