Do SA need a Director of Rugby?
2008-08-29 08:00
Rob Houwing
It is a relatively modern - and supposedly also futuristic-thinking - trend for certain rugby nations to favour the creation of a 'Director of Rugby' post... usually a respected former Test-player-turned-suit who oversees critical playing and other matters and also has jurisdiction over the national coach.
In England, for example, Martin Johnson is the new "manager" of the national side and reports to the established director, Rob Andrew.
The issue has been mooted in South Africa for some time and, in fact, a few franchises already have the concept well installed: Allister Coetzee, for example, is Western Province coach in the Currie Cup with Rassie Erasmus in the more elevated position. Nick Mallett held a similar, lofty position at Newlands during the coaching tenure of Kobus van der Merwe.
The jury is out on whether it works in the Cape, of course, because Province have not exactly been setting the premier domestic competition alight - sometimes it is feared that a director can make life rather difficult and "compromised" for the supposed coach.
On a Springbok level, the matter is inevitably back in the spotlight again with the national team suddenly very light on Tri-Nations wins under the coaching charge of Peter de Villiers.
It may increase calls for a director to be appointed, and it is interesting that a certain Jake White appears to be rumbling gradually back from the relative rugby wilderness after overseeing the Boks' Rugby World Cup triumph last year.
Would he be an asset, maybe, as SA director of rugby? Or are his best skills reserved for the track suit? Who else might have the credentials? Would such a post be to the benefit of embattled De Villiers?
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