An interesting point and forgive me if this has been done to death but my discussion is about the managment of coaches and furthermore the development of arguably our most important commodity away from the players?
If we look at the models around the world at the moment most of the nations bar probably the Gaelic nations maintain their own nationality citizen as a head coach for their national team. However what is interesting is how many nations are now using foreign coaches to lead many of their competition teams.
SA do it, Aus do it, France do it, England do it, etc etc etc ....so where the hell am I going with this you ask!
There is only one nation on earth that hasn't bought into any of this and it is probably no accident that they are not only RWC champions but have been world's best and most consistent team in the modern area.
There 7's team is and has been the best as with most of their Age group teams and thats without throwing in the Maoris, There A team which I dont think lost a game when it was devised and their Womens team.
My key point here and it is concerning that we as a nation have not really followed this model and put all our eggs into one basket and develop, maintain and then standby our coaches.
Its interesting that the top 5 coaches in the world at the moment would probably have 3 if not 4 kiwis sitting at the very top. These include, Hansen, Gatland, Henry, they also have Deans, Cotter whom is doing some great work in France apparently and now they are changing the gaurd and bringing through coaches that have been managed through their systems. For gods sake when would you of ever seen a kiwi coach a wallaby side
The other key point here is that due to the fact that other nationalities have used kiwi coaches over the last 10 - 15 years, Henry, Hansen, Kirwan, Deans etc that knowledge and IP now sits within the confines of New Zealand.
What have we done in SA to develop, encourage, give continuity, provide consistent programmes and most importantly live and stand by our coaches????????
Jake White still rates as one of our better coaches but let's not forget that we won the 07 RWC with the aid of another foreign cach and a bloody good one at that in Eddie Jones. His support and impact on that 07 RWC win can not be underestimated. Though I do get sick of being reminded that it was a clayton's win as we didnt get to play any of the major nations to take the cup that year
Anyway I will finish on the point that if we are going to develop our players and become the force that we all so much want us to be and more importantly to be consistently the best, and not "hot and cold" but also travel globally and beat the very best on their own turf.
This will happen when we can have a base of dynamic, loyal, focused and long term oriented approach to our coaches as much as too our players.
Come on SA lets start getting smarter. Imgaine a Rugby environment in SA that is aligned with both player and coach and administration coming together for the domination of world rugby!!!!!!!!!!.
I say this as we are amazingly good to be where we are through the years with all the turmoil, shit and fragmentation that has occurred. Imagine what we can become if one!
