There was a moment on Tuesday morning when Allister Coetzee mentioned his family at his unveiling as the new Springbok coach that he had a frog in the throat.
It looked like the 52-year-old was going to shed a tear, as he has walked a long road to get to this point, having had two stints as a Bok assistant coach, and eight years at the Stormers as an assistant and head coach. He even made a turn in Japan at the Kobelco Steelers over the last eight months.
He had missed out on the Bok job in 2008 to Peter de Villiers and 2012 to Heyneke Meyer, when he was the clear favourite on each occasion.
But Coetzee’s big day finally arrived on Tuesday. “I think it’s an important day in my life, personally. But first of all, it’s a humbling experience for the opportunity that’s been afforded – massive honour. I am very grateful to SA Rugby for having the confidence in me,” the new Bok coach said at a press conference at SuperSport’s Randburg studios.
“Grateful to Kobelco Steelers for giving me the opportunity to come back to my country and coach. And obviously, to my family, and the people who have played a massive role – who have passed on – in my career.
“And obviously, South Africans in general. They have been good to me. While I was coaching at the Stormers, coming up to Pretoria and even to Joburg, I have always had good experiences with rugby-loving people.
“It has been a roller-coaster emotionally, but I am happy that it’s out now and that we can start with business at hand.”
Asked if he thought that the Bok job had passed him by previously, Coetzee said: “To be quite honest, I’ve never been the person who really played myself into a position. I thought I would focus on the current job at hand and do my best. If it was meant to be, it will happen. That has been my philosophy all my life.
“I’ve really walked the walk, and I heard the president say that – I started out in Grahamstown, to PE, PE to Cape Town, I’ve been in Joburg, I’ve been in Durban with the Sharks as well. I’ve been to Japan and back home, and I am just grateful that I can sit here today as the Springbok coach.”
Coetzee’s first task at hand is a three-Test series against Ireland, which starts at Newlands on June 11. That leaves him with almost exactly two months to identify the best possible team, and a new captain, but he is undaunted by the challenge.
“If it’s six or 12 weeks, you have time to prepare, it doesn’t matter. The bottom line is that we have to be ready come June. Sometimes it’s too easy when you have too much time, over-thinking things. I know that the big thing in terms of readiness and preparedness is to have your best 23 players ready for that series,” he said.
“As South Africans, we do put unnecessary pressure on our captain. It is important for me to meet players inside and outside the country, and look to see if he fits into what I previously mentioned. But also to make sure that our captain becomes instrumental in making sure that we win Test matches, and that the captain is not just there to have some good media interviews.”
Coetzee said that the status quo remains with regards to overseas-based players, who can be selected for the Boks, but that Bryan Habana will miss the Ireland series to commitments with the Springbok Sevens side.
The former Saru captain and scrumhalf also named his full management team, which, as expected, includes Mzwandile Stick as the backline coach, with Johann van Graan in charge of the forwards. There are new faces in the medical staff, while there is no defence coach, with Coetzee saying he will be making use of SA Rugby’s Mobi-Unit, which includes defence guru Jacques Nienaber.
Springbok Team Management
Head coach: Allister Coetzee
Assistant coach (backline): Mzwandile Stick
Assistant coach (forwards): Johann van Graan
Team manager: Ian Schwartz
Team doctor: Dr Jerome Mampane / Dr Conrad von Hagen (Southern Kings, for Ireland series only)
Strength and Conditioning coach: Dr Warren Adams
Physiotherapists: Vivian Verwant, Tanushree Pillay
Logistics manager: JJ Fredericks
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