Saved by the French?
THIS was the series that was meant to sink Springbok coach Allister Coetzee and usher in a new Springbok coach.
However, things have not gone according to the script for many of Coetzee’s critics and detractors and instead of being given his marching orders, it is the Incoming Series against France that has not only saved Coetzee’s head from the proverbial guillotine, it has instead strengthened his position to lead the side to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Prior to the Springboks facing the French and subsequently winning the series with a Test to spare, speculation was rife that Coetzee was already walking the plank and that his employers in Plattekloof were banking on the disaster of last year to continue so they could show him the door.
But as the rugby gods would have it, Coetzee’s moment of self-reflection and correction would yield a different outcome to what many of his critics had predicted and has now entrenched him in the hot seat to the conclusion of his contract, at least.
What Coetzee mastered through the turbulent and threatening Tests of last year – as his team sank from being third in the world to seventh after losing eight of 12 matches – was his stubbornness not to listen to the voices of dissent against his tenure and instead looked inwards to sort relief from the strains and pressures of his job.
Coetzee forced the door shut on 2016 and followed that by appointing a new captain in Warren Whiteley, adding the meticulous rugby brilliance of Brendan Venter and going with his gut on which players would fit into his new plan.
According to Coetzee, it was his belief and accountability to one man that saved him and his job in seeing his team gain an unassailable 2-0 series lead against a formidable French side that has been one of the most improved teams of 2017.
“I don’t have critics,” quipped Coetzee yesterday.
“There is only one person’s approval I want and would like to have, it is the Almighty and no one else’s approval. I’ve got a contract with SA Rugby until 2019. A national coach knows when he signs that you judged on a few things. I am pleased that 2016 is dead and buried now and we’ve moved on.” Vata Ngobeni
While Coetzee continues to live with a fatal moving target on his back and will ultimately be the fall guy for any of the Springbok woes, he credits his players for the swift and fast moving feeling of optimism in the team after their 37-15 win against a much stronger French team in the second Test in Durban on Saturday.
Coetzee may have come full circle in his short but emotionally and physically sapping tenure as Bok coach, after watching his team capitulate and suffer an almighty record defeat at the hands of the All Blacks just eight months before at the same venue.
For Coetzee it may have been vindication to his inner belief that he is the right man for the job, but the man they call Toetie has not made this job-saving series about himself, and strongly believes his fate and that of the team lies in the hands of the players, not his detractors.
“It is great to see what is happening now and it is not to prove anyone but it is to make sure that our hard work is paying off at the moment.
“Yes mistakes were made but it is the ability to rectify those mistakes and the ability to set them right. We’ve got a great team environment, fantastic leadership group, great captain and a willingness that everyone has bought into the plan. Eight months ago people booed us off the field and on the very same field the players got a standing ovation. A lot of credit must go to the players for being able to unselfishly buy into our value system in creating this brilliant team environment, obviously with our management team as well,” Coetzee said.
With his critics silenced and his job saved, it is now up to Coetzee and his team to fulfill the path to glory and answer the calling of the one Man that he says he listens to.