The gospel according to Bok mentor

There’s one thing about spending time with the Springbok management team a week before the opening Test of a season – you hear one thing, but understand another.

When a colleague questioned Bok coach Allister Coetzee over whether he will replace the injured Duane Vermeulen with a similar kind of player, my fellow journo “understood” that he would indeed do so.

But instead Coetzee meant you can’t replace a player of the calibre of Vermeulen with a like-forlike loose forward, you have to look for someone who can bring different qualities to the side.

“There’s no perfect fit, no identical fit, so I’ll have to make sure we have the best of what Duane could’ve brought to the side,” said Coetzee. Talk about crossed lines. A new season obviously brings renewed expectations.

And Coetzee has brought a lot of promise, indicating with the more preparation time allowed this year, the team actually were ready to play their first game last weekend.

“We need to get out of the blocks and win Test matches and this is all this team needs – a bit of confidence.

“We could have been ready to play a Test last weekend already after the three camps and the week spent in Plettenberg Bay. I am happy with where we are,” stated Coetzee.

But talking about perceptions, when approaching Coetzee about the possible combinations stemming from Super Rugby similiarity, the Bok coach also had a different view on the issue.

“It’s not a coaching thing because combinations are built over a number of games you play together,” said Coetzee.

“Say, if you look at a (Lions) combination of Warren Whiteley, Courtnall Skosan and Elton Jantjies in general play at the back, because then they are already a combination.

“Your No 8 with us will stay back and your nine and 10 as well while your wings could be up depending on the situation,” he said.

Coetzee believes the harmony in the camp stemmed from holding a few camps as a team culture being built off the field often translates into good performances on the field.

“The attack started in camp one, the defence in camp two and the kicking in camp three and the blend at Plett for instance,” Coetzee said.

Expectations have returned.