Loubscher ready to be thrown in deep end for Sharks big Challenge
THE Cell C Sharks XV coaches have a happy-go-lucky way of dealing with the vagaries that come with guiding a SuperSport Rugby Challenge side linked to a Super Rugby franchise.
Because their team trains with the Sharks, it has not been unusual for them to only get their hands on the charges today, which can complicate such routine things as working on match tactics.
“We joke that we should do the team selection on the plane to our matches and our lineout practice in the isle – which probably counts as altitude training – so we’ve got all our bases covered,” says their new coach, former Eastern Province, Sharks, Bulls and Springbok fullback Ricardo Loubscher with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
Loubscher was quick to add that their day-to-day obstacles were no excuse not to do their best in the tournament, but this season will be a challenge for him in more ways than one because it is his first as a head coach in first-class rugby.
Following his playing career, the 43-year-old has held a few assistant coaching jobs with the Bulls, the Sharks and the Boks, even helping out with the Pretoria Boys High U14A side after leaving SA Rugby’s employ with Heyneke Meyer.
“It’s been lovely to be back among familiar scenes and faces,” says Loubscher.
“But for the first time I’ll be a head coach now, which will be a massive learning curve for me. Fortunately I’ve got very good support staff [they include the Sharks’ former head coach in this competition last year, Paul Anthony].
“As assistant coach you just follow the head coach’s lead, as head coach you do all the leading.”
For all the challenges being head coach will pose, it’s still a damn sight better than what he was faced with after his contract as Bok assistant coach was not renewed along with Meyer and the rest of his coaching staff at the end of 2015.
“It was a tough six, seven months, I’ve got a family to look after,” he remembers.
Forget being head coach, the transition from being a player is another that has taken some doing: “As a player you’ve got more control over your performance because you can influence a game because you’re out there on the field.
“As a coach it’s almost like your hands are tied behind your back, you have to coach them as well as you can and leave it in their hands.”
In a way the time spent coaching juniors has added its bit to his coaching by way of clarity in dealing with players. “As an ex-teacher I understand how to deal with people, with juniors it’s 80% detail and with senior players it’s the other way around.”
Having already been involved in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge as an assistant coach, Loubscher looks forward to its second instalment: “What I like about it is it takes the game back to the communities, and kids look up to these guys. There’s also a good mix of senior and junior players. It’s about giving game time to senior players and bringing in guys like Courtney Winnaar, Ilunga Mukendi and Aphelele Fassi.”
Even after a pre-season he says he was happy with, he is bracing himself for a tough introduction to the head coaching ranks in the opening game against last year’s finalists, Griquas.
His starting line-up for that game? We’ll have to wait until they get off the plane in Kimberley. —