England turn to Boks’ World Cup forwards coach
ENGLAND’S World Cup crusade unravelled in the face of a scrum onslaught by the Springboks last month, so Eddie Jones is seeking to hire their setpiece guru in an overhaul of his coaching staff.
Matt Proudfoot played four Tests for Scotland, but he is a former South African front-rower and served as the Bok forwards coach under Rassie Erasmus.
His sterling work culminated in the World Cup final in Yokohama on November 2 when Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira and Co won six scrum penalties to inspire a 32-12 victory over England.
Jones can’t sign the Beast, so he is poised to do the next best thing by bringing in the man who revived his destructive instincts to devastating effect. Proudfoot (below) has coached at the Stormers in Cape Town and briefly at Kobe Steelers in Japan, before taking up a role with South Africa, his contract expired after the World Cup. His signing is not thought to be a done deal yet, but the RFU should be able to make him an offer he cannot refuse.
It will not be the only coaching appointment made by Jones as he refreshes his management team. Sportsmail understands that candidates have been identified and terms agreed.
Newcomers to the set-up are due to be formally announced late next month. If Proudfoot is one of the additions, there will be at least one other.
England’s scrum coach at the World Cup, Neal Hatley, has returned to Bath and forwards coach Steve Borthwick is due to join Leicester by the end of the season — although his move to Welford Road could even happen before the Six Nations.
That might be possible if Proudfoot is brought in or if Jones’ senior assistant, John Mitchell, is given extra responsibilities having so far been acting as a defence and breakdown specialist.
Scott Wisemantel has returned to his native Australia after being head-hunted by the Wallabies, so the attack coach needs replacing.
Exeter’s Ali Hepher led the national ‘A’ team on a tour of South Africa in 2016, while Sam Vesty is impressing at Northampton. Saints are not keen to let him go.
With an Australian head coach supported by a New Zealander and possibly a South African, there must be room for at least one native coach.