'I am signed until 2019' - Coetzee says he won't go
Allister Coetzee has passionately defended his record as South Africa head coach following reports Saturday's 24-22 defeat to Wales would be his last match at the helm, claiming his side are "on the up".
The Springboks trailed 21-3 shortly before half-time in Cardiff but mounted an epic fightback that almost earned them the win.
But Coetzee's tenure – which started after the 2015 Rugby World Cup – has been blighted by a number of humiliating defeats, including to Ireland earlier in the tour, and reports surfaced in the build-up to Saturday's match that Coetzee's days in the job could be numbered.
However, Coetzee seemed intent on seeing out his contract after watching his side narrowly miss out on a comeback victory.
"I am signed until 2019, that is what my contract is saying," he told a news conference.
"The team has really grown and there is a lot of improvement, and it's a really healthy team environment.
"Last year we didn't win a game on tour and [this year] we've won two, so there's progress.
"What needs to change? We need to cut out the individual errors. That is one massive thing.
"This is a young, young side. And already they've dominated tonight at the set-piece.
"We conceded three penalties tonight, one crucial one. But it shows how this team has grown over the years.
"And when a team only concedes three penalties, what more do you want to change?
"I think what needs to change is we need to get the result. I suppose if you look at outcomes only, you are missing the plot completely, because you have to create opportunity for development.
"If you want to look for superstars to come and win every Test match, then you are living in a fool's paradise.
"You've got to give players opportunities to grow and to develop. You cannot expect to build Rome in one day."
Reflecting on 2016, when the Springboks won only four of 12 Test matches, Coetzee added: "Last year was a fiasco. Definitely a fiasco. So we started from scratch this year. That's how I regard it: year one.
"We started with a new team and I've now got the best players in South Africa playing here.
"These players are much better conditioned than last year. So with a little bit of collaboration there's already progress and I'm positive about that.
"If you're going to continue to look at the negatives, then you'll get what you're looking for. You can write what you want to write about that.
"But this side is definitely on the up."
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Free to air is the key to fan expansion. I attended last weeks game at Suncorp (Reds v Blues) and the total cost is prohibitive to most people that wish to attend. Two tickets $130, parking (event day gouging) $75, road tolls $20, dinner beforehand $130, plus some petrol and a beer inside the stadium and a single game starts to cost $300-400. Who can afford that week in week out, I’d love to go more but could only afford this one game to see the Blues, I’d have loved to have seen more NZ teams here but I’d need to stop eating or sell a kidney.
Go to commentsBrumbies are looking good and if they keep their home form up a final is not beyond the realms of possibility. They showed against the Hurricanes exactly how clinical they can be as they absorbed pressure in that contest while also scoring points and applying their own pressure. Reds are well placed as well but need to find consistency. They are building a longer term project with a young side and plenty of quality players. Been surprising to see the strength of Aussie sides this year after the debacle of the world cup. Have NZ sides gotten weaker? Have Aussie sides gotten stronger? A bit of both I would say. Whatever the case its good to see some actual competition between NZ and Aus sides again and thats exactly what the fans wanted and is probably driving better viewership numbers. All of this can only be healthy for Aus and Super Rugby and I hope the Brumbies go all the way.
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