The twenty one turbulent, record breaking months of Allister Coetzee
Allister Coetzee is no longer the Springbok coach after twenty-one turbulent months in the job. It was an inevitable ending after a string of poor results as well as the recently leaked letter to SA Rugby’s CEO Jurie Roux in the press last weekend.
SA Rugby released a statement on Friday, which read “SA Rugby had reached an agreement with Allister Coetzee to part ways with immediate effect. The Rugby Department of SA Rugby will manage the responsibilities of the Bok coach until the coaching and management group for 2018 is confirmed later this month.”
Coetzee had been up against it from the start and the South African public has been baying for his blood for some time. His reign got off to an inauspicious start with a first ever-home defeat to Ireland 26-20 at Newlands in Cape Town. This defeat came despite Ireland playing with 14 men for 60 minutes after a CJ Stander red card for his clash with Patrick Lambie.
After consecutive victories in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, the Springboks registered a series win against an under-strength Irish side however there was genuine concern from the get-go. The former Western Province and Stormers coach was originally appointed on a four-year contract but an agreed parting of ways means that Coetzee will not be in charge for the 2018 season.
Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby stated, “First and foremost we had to assess what is in the best interests of the Springboks. We’d like to thank Allister for his passion and dedication to the Springbok cause and wish him every success in his next role.”
Allister Coetzee's 2-year reign as Springbok coach came to an end yesterday. Here's his overall record from when he took charge. pic.twitter.com/Iizccp9LYA
— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) February 3, 2018
While it all seems very civil on the face of it, there have been some rumblings of discontent, which were further backed up by a leaked letter to the press, which was supposedly written by Coetzee’s legal team to SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux. In the letter the World Cup winning assistant-coach claimed he was offered a “ceremonial role” as the Springbok coach in 2018 and would have to report to Rassie Erasmus who would be in charge of the team. On top of this various allegations were supposedly made against Rassie Erasmus and if these were true this would have made their relationship untenable.
Rassie Erasmus who returned from a successful spell at Munster to take on the role of SA Director of Rugby in November 2017 has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get SA Rugby’s house in order. It was always going to be interesting to see how the relationship would unfold between Coetzee and Erasmus once the former Springbok flanker was employed.
The SA Director of Rugby has been engaging with the various franchises and stakeholders within SA Rugby and has been planning with great attention to detail the way forward for SA Rugby.
The 54 year-old Coetzee who was appointed in April 2016 has the fourth worst record as a Springbok coach since readmission in 1992, his stats left a lot to be desired boasting a 44% win record with 11 wins, 12 losses and 2 draws from his 25 games in charge.
The three previous coaches from 2004 – Jake White, Peter De Villiers and Heyneke Meyer all boasted win-records higher than 60 percent.
The Springboks who are currently ranked sixth in the IRB rankings below Scotland among others were ranked third in the global pecking order when Coetzee took over from Meyer after the World Cup in 2015.
The passionate South African public has seen a number of records broken while he has been in charge including a first-ever defeat to Italy in Firenze, a record 57-0 defeat to New Zealand in the eight-try rout in Albany, as well as a first ever home defeat to Ireland. It was however the end of year tour in 2017 where another record defeat, this time to Ireland 38-3 and a loss to a Wales “B” side at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff which seemed to have proved to be the final nail in the coffin.
In 2016 the South African sides results were extremely poor however these were forgiven due to the Bok coach stating he had a lack of preparation time even though Eddie Jones had a similar amount of time with his England charges. The enforcement of Coetzee’s support staff was another gripe however these details should have been sorted out up front with SA Rugby during contract negotiations.
His second year in charge saw Coetzee get his required support staff of choice and a great amount of assistance was given to him and allowed him every opportunity to be successful.
In 2017 there was a much better start to the season with a 3-0 whitewash of an exhausted and poor French side that had just finished their season. This was followed by home and away victories against a struggling Argentina side. In fairness to Coetzee he could only play what was in front of him and five from five was a much-improved start from the year before.
The wheels well and truly came off in Albany and a tough end of year tour results- wise always meant that questions were going to be asked and led to a parting of ways. A few issues arose under his tenure, which didn’t help his cause. Firstly he kept faith in underperforming players – especially in the back three. While continuity is important it is vital that the players are performing for continued selection, this wasn’t always the case.
His clear desire to select locally-based players was to be admired and there is no doubt that the player drain to Europe with over 300 South Africans playing professionally abroad is effecting SA rugby. However, the 30-cap eligibility ruling allowed him to select among others Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Bismarck Du Plessis, Willie Le Roux, which he declined
to do. When eventually selecting Vermeulen and Louw the impact was immediate.
These players would have added a massive amount of value to the Springbok set-up whether starting or in the squad. There was an expectancy to see an improvement in transformation. Players like Nizaam Carr who had a very successful stint at Wasps recently, Lukhanyo Am and Warrick Gelant were continually over-looked whilst displaying all the necessary talent and attributes to take the step-up to the Test arena.
It must be said, Allister Coetzee is a true rugby man and he has performed in various provincial roles and as the World Cup winning assistant-coach with aplomb. He is highly thought of and is renowned to have a great relationship with his players but his role as Head Coach of the Springboks proved to be unsuccessful.
On the news of the parting of ways Coetzee said “I have always held Springbok rugby dear to my heart and will continue to do so and for that reason I think now is the time the team and me strike out in new directions. I wish Springbok rugby every success in the future – as I have always done.”
It remains to be seen what next for SA Rugby but it all points to Rassie Erasmus taking the Springboks through to the World Cup in Japan. There are only approximately 18 Test matches and 20 months to turn the once mighty Springboks around.
The former Munster boss has already recruited Jacques Nienaber to the SA Rugby set up in what should be an interesting time for SA Rugby. The new coaching set up doesn’t have an easy start with a three match series against high-flying England starting in June. SA Rugby and its faithful supporters will be hoping Rassie Erasmus can replicate his Munster achievements with the Springboks.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments