Jake calls in overseas coaches
2006-01-02 21:34
Pretoria - Two of rugby's top international coaches will help South Africa's most talented rugby players in the next few days to hone their skills.
With the help of Castle Lager, Springbok coach Jake White has compiled a high performance training squad that will work with the former English fullback Jonathan Callard and the former Gaelic player, Mickey O'Sullivan until Friday.
The group, comprising mostly black players, will join up with the South African Super 14 training squads where they will be trained by the international coaches.
The programme begins in Johannesburg on Tuesday when Callard and O' Sullivan will assist the Cats and the Cheetahs.
The internationals will hone the skills of the Bulls in Pretoria on Wednesday, the Sharks in Durban on Thursday and the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday.
White hit on the idea of the high performance training group to eliminate any problems identifying and developing black players. They will get the support and training to help develop their talent to their true potential.
Special attention will be given to kicking and catching skills this week.
Other aspects that will receive attention are skills at the breakdown points, diet, visual skills, psychology, conditioning, passing, throwing the ball into lineouts and injury prevention.
Meanwhile Hendrik Cronje reports from Bloemfontein that the Cheetahs will know on Tuesday if Springbok tighthead CJ van der Linde will be ready in time to play the Bulls in the first round of the Super 14 series on February 10.
Van der Linde apparently injured his left foot when the Boks toured Europe and Argentina in November last year.
He will consult a doctor on Tuesday and a decision will then be taken if an operation is necessary.
Van der Linde says he will be out of action for up to six weeks if he has to undergo an operation.
If he is unable to play, the promising Jannie du Plessis will probably be called up to show what he can do in the Super 14 series.