Bok coaches to provide support to Vodacom Bulls

Springbok assistant coaches Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery, SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen and Head of Athletic Performance Andy Edwards will provide short-term support to the Vodacom Bulls following a request from the franchise for assistance in specific technical areas.

The request was approved by SA Rugby and the Springbok management as part of the organisation’s ongoing collaboration with its member unions.

The Bok coaches will engage with the Bulls on a limited basis, both remotely and in person where required, in line with SA Rugby’s standard practice of sharing national coaching resources when requested.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the support reflected the existing working relationship between the Springboks and the franchises.

“We maintain regular engagement with our franchises and when they request input in specific areas, we assist within the normal scope of our roles,” said Erasmus.

“We understand the importance of a strong, collaborative relationship between our provincial teams and the Springboks, as it ultimately benefits South African rugby as a whole.”

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer welcomed the collaboration: “Our approach has always been to work collaboratively with our franchises where possible. We want to see all our teams perform to the best of their ability and we will continue to support them when they reach out for assistance.”

The support is short-term in nature and does not constitute any formal appointment with the franchise.

Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has moved to clarify recent media reports and social media speculation regarding his request to involve Springbok coaches in supporting the team.

Ackermann emphasised that the speculation suggesting Springbok assistant coaches would be helping the Vodacom Bulls during derby week is unfounded. “I never asked for that and Rassie also said it wouldn’t be ideal,” Ackermann explained. “The thought that they would be in camp this week is ridiculous and I challenge any press photographer to get a picture of a Bok coach at Loftus this week - it was never our intention.”

Ackermann expressed frustration at the misinformed reporting: “The story was spread without the facts and nobody bothered to speak to me. The truth is simple: I assessed everything and wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look at our defensive structures and bounce ideas off.”

He clarified the nature of his request, saying he called senior coach Johan Erasmus.

“I said, you’ve always made your team of coaches available and I’d love it if someone like (coach) Jerry Flanerry could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas. I don’t expect the Bok coaches to put a plan together on how to win - that is my job as head coach. I have my own system; it was never my idea to secure plans.”

Ackermann added that any collaboration would be practical and rotational: “You can’t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I’d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.”

He concluded: “I would never ask Rassie for game plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching.”

The Bulls, meanwhile, remain focused on their preparations for this weekend’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship showdown against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.