Victor Matfield names his preferred next Springboks head coach
Former Springboks captain Victor Matfield has named his preferred candidates to take over from Jacques Nienaber as Springboks head coach from 2024 onwards.
Nienaber, who was an assistant previously under Rassie Erasmus, has landed a new gig with United Rugby Championship powerhouse Leinster and will step down from international duty after the Rugby World Cup.
The 127-Test veteran lock wouldn't pick any of the head coaches currently in South Africa or any of Nienaber's assistants, instead preferring ex-pat South Africans currently overseas.
Former Emirate Lions head coach Johan Ackermann, who took the Super Rugby side to two consecutive finals before leaving for Gloucester, was at the top of his list.
“I think there are three very strong candidates," Matfield told SA Rugby Magazine.
"Johan Ackermann was very successful with the Lions, Franco Smith has done well in a few places and then you have Johann van Graan, who coached Munster and was an assistant coach in many Springbok tests,”
“If I had to choose, it would be between Van Graan and Ackermann.”
Van Graan spent five years in Munster, replacing Erasmus at the Irish club in 2017, before joining Bath as head coach in the Gallagher Premiership last year.
World Cup-winning coach Rassie Erasmus is still the Director or Rugby until 2025, so the Springboks' new head coach would have to have his stamp of approval.
Matfield implored the decision-makers to employ a South African who knows what style works for them.
“There is a specific style that works for South Africa. We’re never going to play like Leinster. If we do that, we won’t win a trophy," he said.
“South African players’ thought processes are different. You have to create a different environment for them to be at their best.”
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The author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
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