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No PDV return - how the new Springbok coaching ticket is actually shaping up
By Alex Shaw
The rumour mill surrounding Alistair Coetzee’s future as the head coach of the Springboks whirred back into action yesterday, as his side lost their final match of the November series, falling 24-22 to an under-strength Wales in Cardiff.
Coetzee has seemingly been on a hot seat as coach of the national side ever since his appointment in 2016, but the recent hiring of Rassie Erasmus, as well as a 38-3 humbling at the hands of Ireland in Dublin, have both poured further fuel on the fire.
Several reports in South Africa over the weekend have linked Peter de Villiers with a sensational return to the national team, but RugbyPass understands this to be a misunderstanding by those sources, with the Boks actually hunting Pieter de Villiers to be their new scrum coach.
He is not the only coaching change believed to be planned by the South African Rugby Union (SARU), either, with Jacques Nienaber, who SARU lured away from Munster along with Erasmus, lined up as defence coach and Western Province’s Dawie Snyman shortlisted for an attack/backs coach role.
Perhaps the most interesting addition, however, could be that of Deon Davids, the current head coach of the Southern Kings.
The Kings may have failed to set Super Rugby and the Guinness PRO14 alight, but Erasmus is believed to be a big admirer of Davids and played an important role in his hiring at the Kings in 2016.
Davids operated with limited resources in his two Super Rugby seasons with the Port Elizabeth-based side and has had to build an almost completely new squad for the current PRO14 campaign. It is believed that this has done nothing to diminish the regard that Erasmus holds him in.
As RugbyPass understands it, Davids would take charge of the forwards and be given the title of head coach, but with Erasmus in overall charge of the new-look coaching staff, in a working relationship that would be similar to that of the director of rugby and head coach dynamic that many club sides employ.
With shortlists drawn up and conversations seemingly at an advanced stage with prospective new coaches, Coetzee’s job security looks perilous to say the least, but the former Stormers coach is still committed to the role.
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Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
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