Sharp as a tack

Rugby 356

By Jan de Koning

You can accuse Stormers coach Allister Coetzee of many things, but witless he is certainly NOT!

The former Springbok assistant coach is a real treat at press conferences and his witty manner when dealing with prickly posers from the media or even just bird-brained questions often has his audience in stitches.

At the weekend, after his team beat the Rebels 26-21 at Newlands to top of the Super Rugby standings and claimed the South African conference for a second successive year, he was hounded by the media over all sorts of issues.

Then one 'bright spark' wanted to know if Coetzee would make use of the services of former Bok coach Peter de Villiers.

Coetzee's answer was as brilliant as it was funny. It shut the poor sod right up!

The question: "With Peter de Villiers in your region now [appointed as Director of Rugby at the University of the Western Cape] is there any talks of getting him on board as a former Springbok coach?"

Coetzee's answer: "The Varsity Cup starts next year February!"

End of story!

Its funny hey...

When Coetzee was Jakes assistant, he was identified as a weak link in the Bok coaching staff.

Now all of a sudden he has a good year at the Stormers and he decides to find his tongue.

Poor form from a man who was shifted into the baggage section of the SAA airplane during the 2007 RWC flight to France, to make space for Eddie Jones.

 Everything irrelevant, as this is about his humour guys:) I must say they have a point i do enjoy him when he speaks to the Media. He comes over okay plus has the odd joke that people actually get:)

He has been progressively involved more in the last 3 years. 2010-2nd on the log, 2011-2nd and this year 3rd. Not too bad for a coach I would say. He was Jake's choice as his replacement and has not let any side down since, so I can't really fault him. Fleckkie seems to be the weakest link at the Stormers ATM.

@DB

Mate... you said "2010-2nd on the log, 2011-2nd and this year 3rd".

Im sure they were 1st this year? Or am i watching the wrong log?

 Chippo, Draad might have the details wrong, but he has a point. Jake must have seen something in alistair that some of us don't see. He really has not done badly at all. Apart from that he is a nice guy as well.

alot of semis and one final and no cups. the combination of allister and rassie has rebuilded the brand to a state were they are at least in the semis of most of the competitions but stil under his coaching the stormers has stil not taken any major silverware in 12 odd years. fleck is rubbish but the general overall gameplan does not allow backline play.

jake on many a time as said after he stepped down that he was basicly told who to employ as his backline coach. allister has done well and this year will maybe his turnaround year for actuallty winning something major.

 yeah Carpet, however fortunately we are not discussing alistairs achievements here, just his general good looks :)