Super Rugby coaches to have bigger say

South Africa’s Super Rugby coaches will have a bigger say in the selection of the Springbok team in future.

They will discuss their players’ form with Allister Coetzee (who is yet to be formally announced as the new Bok coach) and selector Peter Jooste on a weekly basis. Due to his position as chief of rugby of the SA Rugby Union (Saru), Rassie Erasmus will serve as a sounding board for the selection process.

Saru on Thursday confirmed the reappointment of Jooste as senior selector after the meeting of its executive committee. The executive committee meets again in May, after which the governing body will also announce the names of a junior and Sevens coach.

Jooste has been serving as senior selector since 2004. His term has been extended after his previous term lapsed with that of Ian McIntosh after last year’s World Cup tournament.

Saru decided to intentionally move away from the traditionally bigger selection committees to give coaches Nollis Marais, Franco Smith, Johan Ackermann, Gary Gold, Deon Davids and Robbie Fleck the opportunity to make meaningful contributions. Saru regards them as a subcommittee for Coetzee and his team.

Coetzee will, however, have the final and biggest say in the selection of his team.

Saru’s decision to involve the Super Rugby coaches is a step in the right direction and their contributions could affect the new Bok coach’s choices for his team.

Not only are the coaches well informed about every player’s statistics, injuries and strong and weak points, but their involvement should also improve the communication between the Bok coach and his national counterparts, which has been a huge problem for years.

Good communication between Saru, Coetzee and the other coaches is now more important than ever due to the mutual contracts that have been awarded to about 20 of the best players in the Bok team.

According to these contracts, Saru pays about 70% of the players’ contracts and the various unions contribute about 30% to these Boks’ salaries.

Although it would be a popular choice to appoint Nick Mallett as one of the Bok selectors, he has previously said he is not available for such a position. – Rapport