New Stormers coach Eddie Jones has proved to be not quite as “in love with Tabletop Mountain” as he claimed to be just a week or two ago; the mastermind behind Japan’s stunning World Cup victory over the Springboks was today confirmed as England’s new coach, on a four-year deal that will see him leave the Cape franchise before ever having overseen a game.
“Of course it is not ideal to lose your coach before you have even begun your pre-season campaign in earnest … we are well aware of that,” said WPRU President Thelo Wakefield, known to his inner circle as “Captain Obvious”. While rumours regarding a replacement for Jones are rife (with John Mitchell’s name strongly linked), Gert Smal is the man who will take over the day-to-day coaching of the Super Rugby squad until a new Head Coach can be found.
Jones is said to have received an offer from the RFU that was “impossible to turn down”, hence his decision turn his back on the Stormers. He now adds “shortest serving Super Rugby coach, like, ever” to his list of achievements, which also include “first man to convince Jake White to try some running rugby” and “first man to beat the Springboks with a tier 2 side, while playing running rugby”.
There are some very interesting parallels here, of course. Whoever comes in to take over the Stormers for Super Rugby 2016 will face a situation not completely unlike the one in which Gary Gold found himself at the Sharks. Jones may not have been around long, but will have started to work with the players to an extent; their brains are thus likely to contain bits and pieces of rugby philosophy left over from Allister Coetzee, John Dobson and now Jones, with Smal sure to have some ideas of his own to impart over the next month or so.
Whichever coach comes in to take this job should have a little chat with Gold before doing so, lest he is under any illusions as to how difficult it is to “hit the ground running” in Super Rugby while taking over a team that has already been through a fair few coaching changes. Stormers fans aren’t any more likely to be charitable to their new coach than their Sharks counterparts have been regarding Gold, I assure you.
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hahahahahahahahahahahaha sorry for this comment but i just have to laugh at this after all the comments etc about how well WP did to get Jones and how the Sharks have done nothing. Then how Jones was making all the right noises at his press conferences and again moaning about the Sharks. And then…hahaha…their DOR now has to also handle the day to day coaching…hahahaha Sorry again this post adds very little value other than me having a good laugh at the noises Jones is making now…the noise of him counting his Pounds…
@Seth101 (Comment 1) : let me tell you from personal experience, they have those same £ signs on all the price tags here and they are NOT shy
@robdylan (Comment 3) : You missing your Rands Rob?
@SheldonK (Comment 2) :
Yeah – I am not one for schadenfreude, but in this case i must agree somewhat.
Well Jones may have the shortest time on record for coaching a Super Rugby team but he has certainly taught the Stormers a valuable lesson. How to sidestep and take a gap.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I spent 6 months there #KnowYourPain
@Caratacus (Comment 6) : Your picture is so fitting
Hard luck, Stormers, har… harharharhahahaha!!!
And THAT good Sir, is why I would rather have Robert Du Preez at the sharks than any so called International Coach.
Keine Schadenfreude, keine Schadenfreude, keine Schadenfreude…
(there is just no translation that does that phrase justice…I’m just trying to control myself not to feel satisfaction at the Stormers’ misfortune)…
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : I love it here, but the perception that “earning pounds” is an immediate guarantee of greater wealth is a fallacy
I take more “schadenfreudal pleasure” form the Ruan Botha signing than I do from this little misfortune. It’s a close thing, though.
…which is why it’s always safer/smarter to promote a coach, rather than getting an already established world class coach.
We need to really work hard at promoting and up-skilling coaches through the ranks here in SA…
@Big Fish (Comment 5) : I’m trying to reign myself in on the Schadenfreude front…
@robdylan (Comment 12) : haha that theory only works if you earn pounds and spend in Rands…
@pastorshark (Comment 15) : I’m only succeeding on a very inconsistent basis!
@robdylan (Comment 12) : If you want greater wealth, work in the middle east and stay in SA….but kiss your family life goodbye…
Now now boys, be nice.
Maybe JW will now coach Japan…
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
Neck on neck in my book…
@robdylan (Comment 12) :
Earning his type of pounds is surely a little different…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 14) :
Interesting you say that, I thought about exactly that a few days ago.
Think about Steve Hansen. Never a name you would throw into taking over the England job, never been in any type of scandal of any sort. Just a bloody good coach who came through the ranks and took his time to get the best job in his country.
I didn’t really even know the guy when he took over the NZ job, and look at where he is now, just doing his job and staying out of the press. 8 years in the same job in a top tier nation, that takes a bit of doing..
@pastorshark (Comment 15) : That word has really taken off around this place since you joined….now I also know what it means…
@robdylan (Comment 12) : Thing is what the UK lacks in affordability it makes up for in quality of life. (Work on averages of course).
@FireTheLooser (Comment 18) : Or just live and work in Switzerland
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 22) : I totally agree, problem we have in SA is no one actually wants to coach the Boks due to political interference, That said, we had the perfect chance of doing a similar thing with Coetzee after JW, however Snor had to be the coach.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 23) : We aim to serve…
@pastorshark (Comment 15) :
It’s just a nice and novel experience to NOT be the team with a coaching disaster for once.
And it’s also nice to have a bit of a laugh after all the “why can’t we be like the Stormers” comments.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 25) : 100%. After JW…Coetzee should have taken over with Snor as assistant with Heyneke Meyer (just an example). The after Coetzee 1 could have take over and other either stayed on or left and a new assistant picked with long term goal. Hansen was assistant before HC. Ian Foster been long term assistant…will he take over from Hansen? Perhaps Jamie Mackintosh will be a new assistant. There is merit to their production line system
Shit….
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : ja boet wonder if Eddie is going to get the same sort of love from WP fans that some Sharks fans are giving to the unmentionable one!?!?!?!?
John Mitchell and Thelo Wakefield,thats like Han Solo working with Jabba the Hut,never work in a month of Sundays,a disaster in the making.
Gert Smal should take charge,or my prediction Bredan Venter will sneak in the back door.
@robdylan (Comment 13) : they can always call PDiv he’s most close to them already so relocation cost will be minimal!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahaha
Both Eddie and the Stormers will have fat bank accounts after this saga.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 21) : @robdylan (Comment 3) : ja boet but I do think there will be a lot of zeros after his £ !!!!!!!!!! Not to mention all the other perks I’m sure will be included in his contract.
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : Like.
Surely PDivvy must be given a shot at coaching the Stormers now.
I think its time the grass root supporters start pushing for this.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 22) : Hansen is boring. I like his type of boring.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 37) : The coach or the band?
@SheldonK (Comment 38) : Mostly the coach.
Do Jake White and Eddie Jones have some sort of ongoing bet? Jones has clearly just won.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 22) : get your point but I’m sure he’s only been Head Coach for four years. Was only assistant coach at the previous World cup.
@Big Fish (Comment 27) : Exactly…
@JD (Comment 41) : Yup…spot on…
@Ben (Comment 33) : They still haven’t confirmed what was paid, have they? And will they even? I read one report today that said it may only be R2 mil instead of the R15 that was touted…
@pastorshark (Comment 44) : Even so. It’s 2 million Rand that they didn’t have before.
@Ben (Comment 45) : Fair enough…I just wouldn’t view it as a bargain if I was a Stormers supporter. All this isn’t worth 2 million bucks…
Aaahh Eddie that move is so PSDT of you!!
Sounds like eddie jones will assist gert smal during december.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 48) : Akin to slicing a guy open with a katana and offering him a band-aid ‘for any inconvenience caused’
Now I am suddenly glad he was not available and we by some chance managed to sign him. Dodged a bullet.
@vanmartin (Comment 49) :
Better it happens now and save them one year later
@pastorshark (Comment 44) : guess the only people who will know will be the receiver of revenue in south africa and england.
Well I suppose Eddie did was right considering his current value and status he would be stupid not to capitalize. Players do it all the time. The window of value is only so big. So good luck to you Eddie. The game seems to be losing honourability a lot in this modern Era. Sadly.
@coolfusion (Comment 54) : so seems like there was no escape clause then?
Will be interesting to see if the Stormers can replace him with another top name. Mitchell and Mallet already linked (but then they’re linked to every coaching job going in SA). Just that the Sharks seemed unable to replace the most useless Gold with a heavyweight, something which shocked me and the appointment of Jones to the Stormers only made a mockery of that inability…
@50shadesofshark (Comment 55) : Well as with any contract money is the escape clause.
@Ben (Comment 33) : heres the thing though
I dont believe the pound or the length of contract he got from england was what drew jones to jump ship barely having landed in cape town
though those things are a factor
Jones hasnt won a wc, so he looks at the players england can select and he thinks to himself theres untapped potential there, and i have idea’s on how to get that squad to gel and maybe even go all the way
england like any national team not named new zealand have flaws, but they sure do have good players
the oke wants a challenge
its sorta disappointing that when you ask people about this just about everyone talks about the exchange rate
think deeper
hafing said that, stormers/wp supporters seem to believe that cause of 2015 their team can do no wrong, forgetting how crap they were in the first half of 2014 super rugby
many of them all to happy to pick apart the Sharks, also forgetting how we set the standard in 2014
so it brings a smile to my face to see the stormers in such disarray
they have a good squad, but lets see how they do in 2016 with out duane vermualen there to save them every so often
@Gold_Must_Go (Comment 56) : The rest of the world is looking for the best coach regardless of where they come from. SARU just wants HM…clowns. If the events of the last few days gave them a wake up call, they would have already approached Mitchell.
Gert Smal amazes me all the time. Saying and doing all the right things. Says he wants a foreign coach that is going to bring something different that will energise players and coaching staff. He wants an experienced foreign coach with at least 7 years SR experience and has international experience. He has already had 6 coaches call him. He has insisted that the Stormers are going to play an attacking quick ball in hand style. Wow that is just amazing. Really is. Stormers fans shouldn’t worry, they are in good hands. We’ve taken some steps in the right direction. I think a top 9 finish will be a difficult pill to swallow for fans but a realistic result if you consider all the factors. Let’s just not have another 2015. Please!
@revolverocelot (Comment 58) : As much as you are enjoying the Stormers misfortune, I think you should consider the following:
Stormers have the money to hunt a top notch coach, and are willing to search for it.
Whilst they search, Gert Smal and Robbie Fleck will be taking charge, and that is not a bad team.
Stormers have a very good pool to select from for their set pieces, and the only real area of concern for them is the half backs.
LH: JC Janse van Rensburg, Oli Kebble
Hkr: Mbonambi, Ntubeni
TH: Malherbe, Koch, Wilco Louw
Locks: Eben, Jean Klein, PSDT, Jan de Klerk
Loosies: Schalk, Elstadt, Notshe, Kolisi, Carr
SH: Jano Vermaak, Groom, Maximal
FH: du Preez, Coleman, Brandon Thomson
Centre: de Allende, Huw jones, Juan de Jongh
Wings: Cornal Hendricks, Leyds, van Wyk, Pat Howard
FB: Taute, Kolbe
I am sure there will be some names added, but that is not a bad team at all.
@KingCheetah (Comment 61) : They may have some money bit not all the money. The next top notch should one even be available now, can just as easily be snapped up like Eddie was. But first they must find one at that same caliber available right now and at the same price or less. Nope they still have a raw deal there. But maybe Heineke will be available after December?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 60) : that criteria for new coach sounds like either deans or plumtree?
@KingCheetah (Comment 61) : eddie jones reported to be involved at stormers till end dec.not so bad.
@coolfusion (Comment 62) : would you pay £10K for one month to have eddie jones coaching the coaches and players at the sharks?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 65) : assisting with possible game plans,moves to use against opposition,assessing the squad?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 65) : No. I think small and Co are capable enough why have him come in make no real difference and then go on with someone else’s style and plan for the rest of the time. I say save the money and walk away. What can he do in December that will forever change them?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 64) : Agreed. Think the Stormers are not in a bad space. Yes they don’t have a head coach, but Gert Smal is no mug, he can co-ordinate the forwards coaching, and Fleck can take the backline. Fleck had a good year with the u/21′s
Their big headache will be their half backs. Jaco is a certain starter, but if he goes down, they are back to Groom. If I was coach, I would certainly bring Brandon Thomson in to the group.
@coolfusion (Comment 67) : Nothing that will forever change them, but he has a lot of knowledge he can impart. No harm done either way.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 66) : The current coaches can do that too. Eddie is good but he is not light years ahead. Save the money.
@KingCheetah (Comment 69) : If they already paid sure but otherwise no.
Besides it’s December how much “real” time could there actually be 2 or 3 meetings?
@coolfusion (Comment 72) : Think they train full time except the week of Christmas and New Year. Quite a bit can be achieved.
This could just be a huge blessing in disguise for my Stormers…..IF SMAL GETS MITCHELL! Rumours are Mitchell is super keen and its just about tying down a package deal……
My personal choice was always Mallet, Mitchell, Plumtree, B Venter then Jones, in that order……..
This lemon could become a really good lemonade…..over to you Gert Smal…..!!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 36) : Personally I would have PDV ahead of Heyneke Meyer…..by a country mile.
@grant10 (Comment 74) : having eddie jones involved till end of dec is a positive.just looking at the criteria smal put forward re: head coach,i thought deans or plumtree?
@KingCheetah (Comment 61) : hendricks,de allende,kolbe could all be playing 7s this season.could open the door for some of their youngsters to come into the squad.johnny kotze is also still there?
Sharks might be smart to have a look at frans van wyk during pre-season training?
@50shadesofshark (Comment 77) : Yes, forgot about Johnny Kotze. Don’t think de Allende will cut it at 7′s unless they use him as a forward. Kolbe…. Hmmmm maybe, think he will battle to make the cut too. He needs to be way more physical than what he is. Guys like Branco du Preez are just as nimble, and way more physical. Just my opinion.Think guys like Jaco Kriel, Whitely and Houghaard can be sensations at 7′s
@50shadesofshark (Comment 76) : Mitchell is word on the street
@KingCheetah (Comment 78) : de Allende will definitely be a forward in 7′s. Guys coming from 15′s will have one major stumbling block FITNESS!!!!!
So the Stormers are placing emphasis on getting a foreign coach. Good for them. At least they have identified the fact that SA coaches are miles behind their Antipodean counterparts.
And we are still lumped with Gary Gold after the disaster that was his first year in charge
@Gold_Must_Go (Comment 81) : Lol…Gary Gold at the Sharks and HM at Bok level. Hahaha. On a serious note. GG is the coach. I will support him going forward. If come the 5th round we don’t have at least a 60% winning percentage I will be all over his arse like a bad nappy rash.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 82) : ja think I will also wait an see how the Sharks play before calling for changes! Just hope the new players and coaches can make the difference the Sharks needs!!
@JD (Comment 83) : Look at least we can see management making an effort towards change. Which is what we called for. So now that they are I’m happy to see where it goes before shooting it down. I must say also that many of my comments were made in anger or angst but I don’t know about half the things gold and Co have to work around before revolutionizing things at the sharks. Surely they have their own challenges too.
@coolfusion (Comment 84) : imo we should look at this as a 2-year campaign.making the play-offs as a wild card next season would be great.that argentina side is looking tough to beat.group favourites.then the lions.
Sharks are playing 7 home and 8 away.playing all the nz teams.have the strange situation of going on a 3 match tour of nz,back in dbn for 1 match,and then off to argentina for one match.
@50shadesofshark (Comment 85) : The Argies are playing some really sublime rugby. They now have scintillating backs, to add to an already impressive forwards game. Oddly enough, the bulls are beginning to get a useful squad together. With Gcoboqa signing, they now have a decent pack again.
Gcoboqa/Nyakane, Strauss, Marcel vd Merwe,
RG Snyman/Orie, Hattingh, Lappies/Roelof Smit, Arno Both/Jacques Engelbrecht, Hanro Liebenberg.
Lots of excitement machines in the backline, and Piet van Zyl back from long term injury with Paige there too
@KingCheetah (Comment 86) : sanchez and cordero! Re: rio olympics why isn’t cordero going back to 7s next season ?
@KingCheetah (Comment 86) : sharks have plenty options at loosehead prop: beast,thomas,majola,schoeman,potgieter (u21s),chadwick.and coenie.
At tighthead prop looking a bit thin: coenie,adriaanse,engelbrecht.and thomas,though i would rather look at beast and thomas to alternate starts and bench at loosehead.develop thomas at 1 and try to get wilco louw for 2017.also see how kramer and moloi (both u21s) go next season.
I’ve been following European rugby for the last few weeks. We really have nothing to complain about when it comes to referees in the southern hemisphere, the referees in Europe are bloody hopeless!
@coolfusion (Comment 84) : @50shadesofshark (Comment 85) : @KingCheetah (Comment 86) : next year will be interesting as most SA teams made changes for the better and should perform better next year!!
@50shadesofshark (Comment 85) Apparently the team that played the Baabaas on Saturday will be pretty much the Argentinian super rugby team. That is a real scary prospect.
@Bokhoring (Comment 91) : If that’s how they play in Super Rugby then they and the Lions will be my second teams after the Sharks in Super Rugby.
It was a real pleasure to watch that game, and Lambie was a beaut at 12, the commentators went on about how he gave shape and structure to the backline and how he distributed so well.
@StevieS (Comment 92) : Yes. That’s why a 12 is so important if you want your backline to have options on attack therefore increase their chance of scoring lots of tries. Hence I’ve been punting Rob du Preez. With the right coach he can offer so much from there..distribution, quick off the mark, step, kick, crash ball, good hands, good rugby brain.
@StevieS (Comment 92) : As with most Argie teams they definitely can produce on the day…its whether they can do it consistently and when injuries strike that will determine their success. But def a good foundation. I also thought Lambie did well at 12 and provided a lot of continuity. Just interesting that nobody has yet crucified Cheika for not playing him at 10 to start and then bringing him on at 12. Cheika is ruining Lambie
@StevieS (Comment 92) : so willie at 10 and lambie at 12 from second phase play and even first phase at times ?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 93) : which is why in a way ,for sa rugby,it is disappointing not to have eddie jones involved at the sormers for a year?or two?or however long that contract was for?
@SheldonK (Comment 94) : well im sure there are people on this forum who will remember that after lambie made his superrugby debut at fullback,he was moved to inside centre.then to flyhalf.
@SheldonK (Comment 94) : Lambie at 12? That didn’t go down well the last time we suggested it. Now Cheika steals our idea and he’ll probably be praised as a genius
@vanmartin (Comment 98) : That bladdy sneaky Aussie…
@50shadesofshark (Comment 97) : Wasnt his first appearance at 12 against Griquas? My memory isnt great so dont bank on it haha. But yes he did a lot of good at 12
@SheldonK (Comment 100) : yes it is correct.dont worry,neither is mine.just remembered to have my bioplus this morning!
@SheldonK (Comment 100) : Lambie at 12 is only an option if there is a beter player at 10,Sopanga is probably going to eclipse Dan Carter,he already has a Super Rugby winners medal at 24.
There is no other 10 at least in South Africa that could justify Lambie at 12.
@The hound (Comment 102) : So then is playing players in other positions perfectly fine if there is a god player in their ‘preferred position’? A lot of people say SA coaches ruin players by playing them in different positions. Yet Aussies and New Zealanders do it all the time.
@SheldonK (Comment 94) : I was disappointed Lambie didn’t start at 10 lol
Just happy he had a good game. I’m a fan of having a flyhalf at 10 and 12. I have considered Lambie at 10 with Pollard at 12 for the Boks, or the other way around. Interesting possibilities.
Onto your other point, the Argies seem to be getting more and more consistent with their play. They will be a force next year.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 93) : He could be a great 12, but with De Allende at the Stormers his chances are limited.
@The hound (Comment 102) : not saying play lambie as a 12,but mix it up in the backline between him and willie at 10 and 12 on attack.
@SheldonK (Comment 103) : No you play the best player in the position he is best in.The AB’S always pick the 10 first then the rest of the backline.They tend to bracket 10 and 12 ,we bracket 12 and 13.
But never mind the Boks and the biased and addled mind of Meyer.For the Sharks Lambie will always be 10 as long as he is on the field.
@The hound (Comment 106) : And the best 10 at that. I don’t think people appreciate what a great 10 he actually is. He is calm beyond his years and his distribution is pure class.
Having said that, I’m keen to see what we have in Radebe and Bosch as well.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 93) : You’re punting a player that isn’t with the Sharks anymore. I’m punting Inny to be a future prospect at 12 for the Sharks.
@SheldonK (Comment 94) : Too small to be picked at 12 in SA….not built like a 7 flank
@StevieS (Comment 104) : At the Sharks. Players have asked for early releases from their contracts. Still hoping his dad can persuade him. If not now then next year. Let’s give Deysel a chance.
@The hound (Comment 106) : Interesting point you make there about bracketing the 10/12 as opposed to 12/13, The OZ/NZ guys def pick there 10/12 in tandem and consider their 13 an outside back with the wings/fullback. And yeh at the Sharks Lambie will only play 10. Although if we want to give Radebe/April a run at 10,then Lambie at 12 with them would be a good idea.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 109) : Dammit you right. When will the little guys have an equal chance. #bigcentresmustfall
Thomas du Toit had a huge game on Saturday,up against probably the best front row in the world,and with Victor’s powder puff scrumming behind him that boy more than held his own,what a prospect for the future.
I just hope sanity reins and the powers to be play him in the position he is best in ,not the one he can conveiniently play.
We need an Os duRandt or someone of that calibre to really study this guy and work out on which side he is best.,for himself not for the team,then play Coennie on the other side
I fear that Gold is not the man to be given responsibilty for this.
@SheldonK (Comment 112) : I’d like to see the big backline players at 11/14/15….9/10/12/13 to be the quick footed well skilled players…..not giant behemoths.
So in essence, I’d like to see (in 2017)
10 – Lambie/Innie/Bosch
12 – Lambie/Innie/Bosch
13 – Jordaan
15 – Esterhuizen
@The hound (Comment 113) : imo play him at loosehead prop and look to get wilco louw for 2017 at tighthead .also have a look at how kramer and moloi (u21s) progress next year.perhaps try and get frans van wyk as tighthead for the 2016 superrugby season?he is sitting behind malherbe,koch and louw at the stormers.we are looking thin at 3.he is a former baby bok (will be 22 next season) 1.89/90m 125/128kg.
@The hound (Comment 113) : With DuToit’s height and build…longish legs and arms loosehead is is best bet. With Beast as the no.1 at the Sharks i think we can expect DuToit to be playing quite a few games at TH though
@FireTheLooser (Comment 114) : Id be happy with that as it would be something different from the Sharks and not just the same old stuff we have been playing for years and years. So throw into that mix a big tight 5 with a mobile loose trio and we would start to see something a bit new
EWN reports that Mitchell is about to sign a 4 year contract with the Stormers. Any bets that this contract will end before that time.
Another slap in Pdivvy’s face by his “own” union.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 118) : Im def keen for the betting to open once he signs to see who he will punch first…a player, a wp official, an other….im sure id get good odds? I think will be short odds on him filing a law suit before the end of the 4yrs though…
@SheldonK (Comment 119) : It cant end any other way. He has apparently mellowed though.
@SheldonK (Comment 119) : The fun will start in the first game when he kicks Schalk’s arse out of the fly half channel,Schalk has never had a coach with the balls to do that.
This has all the hall marks of a very unhappy marriage,Fleck will be the next casualty,with a New Zealand backline coach installed.
Anyway wish them luck couldn’t happeb to nicer people.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 120) : Aah that would be boring then…
@The hound (Comment 121) : haha yeh look he will obviously want things done his way etc. If he signs for 4yrs i just wonder what would happened if he has a fall out with Gert Smal…who wud be asked to leave? His history shows he does well with a team in year 1 and 2…but then things turn and teams often left picking up the pieces. But hey maybe this time different. I see too that Coetzee is favoured to get the Bok job..WP taking over…
@SheldonK (Comment 123) : I for one wont really be happy if Coetzee takes over, even though I think he should have after 2007, this time around I am worried that we end up with the same one dimensional rugby that the Stormers played under him, well thinking about that he would actually suit being the Bok coach, maybe HM can be his DOR…
@SheldonK (Comment 123) : He is going on a three year contract,he wanted four because Smal is only on a 2 year contract and he is the only one he trusts at the Union.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 124) : Coetzee would only work if he got good assistants co as you say the Stormers play under him was pretty much defense and kick the penalties.
@The hound (Comment 125) : I thought he wanted 4 or nix as he wouldnt relocate for less…guess will see. They must be throwing serious money at him
@SheldonK (Comment 123) : Coetzee may have been WP but his appointment as Bok coach, especailly after Meyer, will leave them fuming. Many couldnt wait for him to be on his way with his defense based game plan.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 128) : Yeh i kno many WP guys that feel that way
Gavin Rich, who wrote Mitchells book, on Cape Talk, says there were always extenuating circumstances (of which none were Mitchells fault) that caused his stay at the different unions to be so rocky.
How did the youngsters that he coached for the Varsity Shield perceive him, anybody?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 130) : amazing that the same damn thing just kept happening to him wherever he went!
Gavin Rich…. snigger.
Why anyone would want to be the Springbok coach is just beyond me.
Unparalleled political tip toeing and meddling, guaranteed persistent vitriol from the 80%+ of the nation, lack of support from the unions playing key players into the ground. Game plans and selection criticised even after wins.
Virtually zero chance of a graceful ridicule less exit.
Interesting that the WP criteria for a Superrugby coach requires him to be substantially more experienced than SARU’s criteria for a Bok coach.
@gregkaos (Comment 133) : Exactly… And with our Exhange rate the guy can probably earn more coaching a Japanese club team with far less pressure… Ego getting in the way of sanity perhaps?
@CS (Comment 134) : must say I’m happy with the Sharks coaching team for next year. Could it have been better I suppose so but then it could have been a lot worse. For me there is enough continuity but also some fresh
@JD (Comment 136) : meant to add: with some fresh faces with new ideas!
@robdylan (Comment 132) : ja some people just have the worst luck with that sort of thing.
@gregkaos (Comment 133) : But you get a cool Blazer and get free tickets to Bok tests