CARRY ON, COETZEE TOLD
CONTRACT: PERFORMANCE CLAUSE HAS BEEN INSERTED IN HIS NEW DEAL
Smith Bok backline coach as Stick gets moved to juniors.
Months of silence was finally broken yesterday when Allister Coetzee was confirmed as Springbok coach despite his poor 33% win record last year.
The executive council of SA Rugby yesterday reaffirmed its support for Coetzee, as it announced the coaching and management structure for eight na- tional teams.
However they have remained mum over the defence coach, said to be Brendan Venter, who is however contracted to Italy until 2019.
“We are very excited about the new defensive coach we have identified to address matters raised during the review and we expect to be able to confirm that appointment shortly,” said Saru president Mark Alexander.
Cheetahs and former Springbok back Franco Smith was confirmed as backline coach in the place of Mzwandile Stick, who has been named assistant coach of the SA Under-20s with former Bok defensive coach Chean Roux named coach of the Under-20s.
“I would like to apologise to our supporters for the delay in this announcement but assure them that it was necessitated not by a lack of clarity of intent, but by the need to first resolve all contractual issues,” said Alexander.
It is believed a performance clause had been added to Coetzee’s contract something that wasn’t the case last year.
The Boks apparently have to achieve success against the French in June otherwise Coetzee’s position could come under the spotlight yet again.
“We have no excuses for our poor performances of 2016 even though last year was an extremely challenging season. Our below par performances will never be acceptable and we will have to turn it around,” Coetzee said.
‘‘Although the review process had to run its course, I have continued with background planning.’’
Lions coach Johan Ackermann will continue as coach of the SA “A” team for the two match-tour by the French Barbarians in June.
Meanwhile, five promising players who are ‘‘earmarked for possible future Springbok involvement’’ have been included in an extended 41-man squad for the first Bok training camp of the year in Johannesburg from Sunday to Tuesday. They are Cheetahs prop Ox Nche and hooker Joseph Dweba, Bulls No 8 Hanro Liebenberg and fullback Warrick Gelant and Stormers prop Wilco Louw.