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Bath appoint South African defence coach 19 days after urgent call
Bath have appointed Brent Janse van Rensburg as their new defence coach 19 days after an internal review at the Gallagher Premiership strugglers identified the urgent need for a specialist coach in that area to be recruited. Director Stuart Hooper came into the season happy for head coach Neal Hatley to double job and have responsibility for coaching the defence.
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However, that decision was a disaster as Bath went on to lose all nine of their matches so far in the 2021/22 Premiership, conceding 297 points and 38 tries in the process, and this malaise continued on into Europe last Saturday when they meekly coughed up 45 points and seven tries to Leinster in Dublin.
Bath have now acted, appointing ex-Sharks coach van Rensburg with immediate effect – although the South African won’t be able to get stuck in on the training ground just yet as he must isolate for ten days following his arrival in the UK.
The Sharks have responded by announcing Etienne Fynn as their Currie Cup head coach and he will be joined by Springbok legend JP Pietersen. What is most interesting, though, about the appointment of van Rensburg at Bath is that his deal lasts only until the end of the current season amid speculation that the Bath management ticket is in line for a major overhaul.
Munster boss Johann van Graan has recently been linked with taking charge for the 2022/23 season and it emerged on Tuesday morning that he had handed in his notice at Munster rather than accept their two-year contract offer extension.
'It’s ten Ls now on the bounce for the English side and six minutes of listening to Stuart Hooper and Charlie Ewels in Dublin left you wondering if this duo is in denial about the crisis their club is in' @heagneyl ???#BathRugby #LEIvBAT https://t.co/Gn6HlgJCxA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 12, 2021
A statement on the Bath website said: “Experienced coach Brent Janse van Rensburg has agreed to a short-term deal that will see him complete the 2021/22 season with Bath. Van Rensburg arrived in the UK this week and will isolate for ten days before joining the team. Van Rensburg acquired his knowledge of the game following a coaching career so far spanning over two decades.
“Starting from humble beginnings in high schools, 20 years on the field most recently culminated with the Sharks securing the runners up position in the 2021 Premier Currie Cup and finishing the pool stages of the Super Rugby top of their group in 2020 before cancellation due to Covid-19. At the Sharks, van Rensburg led as defence and kicking game coach and before that held the role of head coach at the Pumas, Griquas, Boland Cavaliers and EP Kings, respectively.”
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Bath boss Hooper added: “We made it clear following our review outcome that we intended to bring in a specific defence coach who could add to our group immediately. We are excited to welcome Brent to the club and look forward to the impact he can have on our defence.”
Van Rensburg said: “Bath is a great club with a clear vision and a lot of promise for great rewards to be seen in the future. I am grateful for the opportunity and all the incredible people and experiences that have added huge value to my growth and journey to date. I hope to make a positive contribution to Bath in return and forge some good friendships along the way.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Jordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
38 Go to comments