It has started with new coaches of the Awesome Bulls and the Mighty Springboks. Both leave me feeling somewhat nervous.
Frans Ludeke has super rugby experience with the Cats, and we all know how poorly he did with that job. He is cut from the same cloth as Heyneke Meyer, and has inherited a winning culture and great group of players. The loss of some key players will show us what he can do.
Peter DeVilliers on the other hand is an interesting selection. A transformation selection as we all know. My heart goes out to Heyneke Meyer, a man who deserves to be Springbok coach. But he is unfortunately a victim of a country who needs to make a statement.
DeVilliers has very little SA provincial experience which is what concerns me. What sort of coaching pathway do we have in place? However in saying that he has similar credentials to one Jake White.
DeVilliers has promised transparency. Weekly player rankings from the Super 14 is an interesting innovation. Why not let players know where they stand? He has also stated that players must be role models and willing to stay after games and sign autographs and spend time with the kids. I think that is great. As is opening up the captains practice to the public before test matches, and trying to get kids along. I always feel you don’t have to hide anything from the opposition at that stage, the key is executing it so well the opposition can’t stop you.
As the first black coach of the Boks, I hope DeVilliers succeeds as he has the vision. Time will tell if he has the courage and conviction to successfully implement his blueprint on the rugby world…
Meanwhile the All Blanks have retained Graham Henry as their coach. Will he continue his rotation policy and his brand of attacking rugby? If he thought he had pressure the first time around, he is going to experience it ten fold from herein as half the country have no tolerance left for him.
The Wobblies have taken a different path and appointed a Kiwi, Robbie Deans as their coach. Can he turn their fortunes around? First he needs a decent tight five. The loss of Gregan and Larkham will hurt them most. They won’t have the halfback pairing to seriously threaten consistently at the top level. Look out for the Boks to wipe the floor with these goons and put them in their place!
Next week I shall preview the Super 14 for 2008…the warm up matches have begun and the season is almost upon us…
