Coaches on the block in a critical year for their sides
SA’s Super Rugby coaches have to succeed and the extra demands of a Rugby World Cup won’t make their lives any easier.
SHARKS coach Robert du Preez isn’t the most eloquent of coaches but two weeks ago, his words were short but telling.
“With the talent that we have‚ we’d be running out of excuses. We have to do it this year,” he said.
He’s far from wrong. The Sharks have gone about their pre-season quietly and efficiently.
Barring the addition of David Williams as a skills and attack coach, the Sharks have had a settled unit for the last two years.
They have the talent and in some positions the depth to go all the way.
Their backline is platinum standard with the likes of Curwin Bosch, Robert du Preez, S’bu Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi, Lwazi Mvovo, Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi.
If there’s a backline weakness, it is at 12 where Marius Louw and Andre Esterhuizen are defensive bastions without the requisite distribution skills.
The Sharks are well stocked from a forward perspective, though they’re rather thin at lock and prop.
Rubin van Heerden and Gideon Koegelenberg (locks) are talented but untested, with the same applying to Mzamo Majola and Khuthazani Mchunu (props).
BULLS coach Pote Human isn’t new to Super Rugby but a headcoaching gig is different from being an assistant.
With Pine Pienaar (defence), Anton Leonard (lineouts), Daan Human (scrum) and Hayden Groepes (skills and kicking), it’s a coaching team that understands the John Mitchell-flavoured Bulls rugby.
The Bulls have the playing personnel to mount a credible challenge but the adequacy of their coaching staff will be put to the test, especially in the front row.
They’re not well stocked in this department outside of Lizo Gqoboka and Trevor Nyakane.
The same is also applicable at hooker where the barrel is rather empty outside of Schalk Brits and Edgar Marutlulle while Jaco Visagie is injured.
The Bulls will also need Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok to be fit and firing as depth in the flyhalf department is also thin. The Bulls coaching staff face their ultimate test at scrumhalf.
Embrose Papier is highly rated by Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus but Ivan van Zyl and Andre Warner pose credible threats. Human though faces a big task in getting the Bulls scrum to be, at best, a functional unit.
For all their skill and endeavour last year, the Bulls scrum was an Achilles heel that was repeatedly exposed.
If this aspect is sorted out the Bulls may become a problem for opposing teams.
LIONS coach Swys de Bruin enters his second Super Rugby season in charge of the franchise. Apart from taking the reins of a settled unit, the experience he gained last season in the Springbok coaching structure will only serve the Lions well as they go in search of an elusive Super Rugby title.
Last year De Bruin silenced critics by continuing the Lions’ momentum by guiding them to another final. They again got there in style by scoring the most tries in the league stages. It still rankles with De Bruin that the Crusaders overtook their tally in the final.
The accent will again be on attack and while the Lions know how to break down defences, they probably let too many in for their own good. Still, that is a methodology that has worked for them.
De Bruin has kept changes to a minimum with the addition of former Paarl Boys High director of coaching Sean Erasmus.
However, in April that may change when the verdict will be announced in assistant coach Joey Mongalo’s indecent assault charge in Sydney. That has the potential of throwing a spanner in the works but if there is one thing the Lions have done well over the last few years, it is to absorb losses.
STORMERS coach Robbie Fleck’s four-year tenure comes to an end with a promise to deliver the title. Fleck guided the team to two playoffs in his first two seasons, but the flawed conference system devalued the achievements slightly.
Fleck has always maintained his Stormers stint should be judged on year four — effectively year three as he never planned or prepared the teams in the wake of Eddie Jones’ escape in 2016.
Well, we are here and Fleck has the finest group of players imaginable assembled for that elusive shot at the title, though a fixture list with six away games in their first eight matches is a tough way to build momentum. Last year the Stormers, despite their considerable Springbok contingent, failed to win on the road but they were formidable at Newlands.
On paper the Stormers are capable of winning the title, but Super Rugby is played between four lines.