Nollis believes he’s best man for the Bulls

PRETORIA: Outgoing Bulls Super Rugby coach Nollis Marais, pictured, believes he is still the right man to take the franchise back to the top, but it will have to be his way or nothing.

Marais was shown the door last Thursday by the Blue Bulls Company Board of Directors after they confirmed former All Black coach John Mitchell would be taking over the team as Executive of Rugby at Loftus Versfeld.

However, Marais will be afforded the Bulls remaining matches in the competition to be at the helm before taking over the Blue Bulls Currie Cup side.

Marais’ axing comes on the back of the Bulls’ worst season in the competition since 2002. They have lost nine of their 12 matches so far, including becoming the first South African side to lose to the Sunwolves.

After sinking to a 34-20 defeat to the Hurricanes at home, Marais was left lamenting the errors of his team’s ways.

Marais was a surprise appointment to take over from Frans Ludeke at the end of 2015 and while many saw it as a natural progression to the main job at Loftus after Marais had coached every other team at the Bulls, the former loose forward was given very little room to manouevre, especially in picking his own management team.

“I know exactly what I wouldn’t do next time. I’ve learnt a lot about off the field management, player management and how to do things so I can get the best of my personality out there. I can only get better from there.

“I’m looking forward and I’m going to work hard for the next two to three years. I still believe I was the right man for the job but I’ve made mistakes, we all make mistakes and we can only get better from that,” said Marais.

Marais will continue working closely with Mitchell when the New Zealander takes up his position midway through July and it seems as though Marais will do away with some of his coaching staff, including former Bulls captain Anton Leonard (forwards coach), former Bok hooker Gary Botha (scrum coach) and even backline coach David Manuel.

The Bulls will now go on a three week break but will participate at the World Club 10’s competition in Mauritius before finishing off their disastrous Super Rugby campaign with local derbies against the Sharks, Kings and Stormers.