BLUEPRINT TO UPSKILL SPRINGBOKS PRESENTED
SA step closer to applying uniform rugby fundamentals after indaba
SOUTH African Rugby has taken a step closer to implementing uniform rugby fundamentals after the third coach’s indaba was held in Kempton Park in Gauteng yesterday‚ and a draft blueprint presented.
The outcome of the meeting‚ which included coaches from the six Super Rugby franchises and the Springboks‚ was to identify skills that players need to develop to not only become national team players‚ but to become excellent Boks.
Improvements in basic skills such as catching and passing and better defence were identified as vital over the course of the three indabas.
But more technical skills such as contact evasion‚ ball retention in both attack and defence and aerial technique were also covered.
Agreement was reached on ways to improve these skills.
In simple terms‚ South Africa’s players need upskilling‚ a process which should begin at school.
Fundamental skills have been overlooked for so long in the pursuit of results‚ even at schoolboy level‚ that it is now incumbent on the Super Rugby franchises to take on a more basic coaching role.
The blueprint that was presented will immediately be implemented at Super Rugby level but will eventually filter down to lower levels where the foundation work needs to be done.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander‚ his deputy, Francois Davids, and vice-president James Stoffberg‚ joined the coaches at the meeting.
Yesterday’s gathering was a resumption of the coaches’ indaba first held in Cape Town in December‚ with the main aim of designing a new direction for Springbok rugby and to address on-field performance by South African teams.
The draft version of the SA Rugby Blueprint was presented at the meeting, following the two previous coaches’ gatherings.
According to some of the outcomes‚ the identification and implementation of key rugby fundamentals will be done at franchise and Springbok level – and the blueprint will now be shared with all national teams and franchises.
There is also a much clearer understanding on the resting and playing time of Springboks‚ while a national conditioning strategy will be finalised within the next two weeks.
“We have the guiding principles of a much-needed blueprint for SA rugby and the draft is the result of excellent collaboration between the franchise coaches and the Springbok coaching staff‚” Alexander said.
“Cooperation and collective action is key for the implementation and success of this blueprint. We are not expecting all our teams to play exactly the same game‚ but it will be good to see our Super Rugby teams use similar fundamentals when it comes to the basics of the game‚ and from there use their own unique style in their gameplans.
“SA rugby can only prosper if our unions and coaches collaborate with one another in the implementation of our collective plan,” Alexander said.
“This blueprint does not dictate your provincial or franchise gameplan‚ but it is a necessary strategic framework for our rugby.
“It is my firm belief that the coming together of coaching experts and their sharing of knowledge‚ added by their desire to improve our game‚ will put the Springboks in a better position in terms of preparation for their June series against France and the rest of the international season.
“Some of the important topics discussed during the three indabas included learnings from the last few seasons‚ player contracting‚ player retention and succession planning, as well as the development and retention of local coaches.”