It's a bit like seeing a giraffe join a penguin colony. Former towering Cheetahs lock, Izak van der Westhuizen, is set to spice things up in Japan as he steps into an assistant coaching role with Honda Heat. The team, which rather tepidly stumbled to second-last place last season, is clearly in dire need of some fresh tactics and towering inspiration.
Honda Heat, which managed a meager four wins out of 18 matches last season, is betting big on van der Westhuizen's rugby smarts to help reverse their fortunes. Turning up the Heat will be no small task, but with van der Westhuizen teaming up with head coach, the mood in the camp is optimistic.
"It's a challenge I relish, and I'm eager to contribute to the team's success in any way I can," said van der Westhuizen.
The South African isn't the only powerhouse in the club's arsenal. The team also boasts Springbok enforcer Franco Mostert and has recently roped in Argentinian tough guy Pablo Matera along with fresh face Tevita Ikanivere. This international brigade underlines Honda's ambition to climb out of the league's lower echelons and start throwing some serious heat.
Before taking up the whistle in Japan, van der Westhuizen honed his coaching chops with the Cheetahs, leading them until earlier this year before passing the baton to another rugby stalwart, Frans Steyn. His transition from player to coach has been watched with keen interest and now, the rugby world will be watching to see if his tall order in Japan pays off.
The new League One season is set to kick off on December 13, and all eyes will be on Honda Heat to see if the new coaching setup can ignite a fire under a team that's been too cold for comfort. With van der Westhuizen at the helm, alongside a seasoned head coach and a roster brimming with talent, the Heat might just be ready to turn up the thermostat.
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It's a bit like seeing a giraffe join a penguin colony. Former towering Cheetahs lock, Izak van der Westhuizen, is set to spice things up in Japan as he steps into an assistant coaching role with Honda Heat. The team, which rather tepidly stumbled to second-last place last season, is clearly in dire need of some fresh tactics and towering inspiration.
Honda Heat, which managed a meager four wins out of 18 matches last season, is betting big on van der Westhuizen's rugby smarts to help reverse their fortunes. Turning up the Heat will be no small task, but with van der Westhuizen teaming up with head coach, the mood in the camp is optimistic.
"It's a challenge I relish, and I'm eager to contribute to the team's success in any way I can," said van der Westhuizen.
The South African isn't the only powerhouse in the club's arsenal. The team also boasts Springbok enforcer Franco Mostert and has recently roped in Argentinian tough guy Pablo Matera along with fresh face Tevita Ikanivere. This international brigade underlines Honda's ambition to climb out of the league's lower echelons and start throwing some serious heat.
Before taking up the whistle in Japan, van der Westhuizen honed his coaching chops with the Cheetahs, leading them until earlier this year before passing the baton to another rugby stalwart, Frans Steyn. His transition from player to coach has been watched with keen interest and now, the rugby world will be watching to see if his tall order in Japan pays off.
The new League One season is set to kick off on December 13, and all eyes will be on Honda Heat to see if the new coaching setup can ignite a fire under a team that's been too cold for comfort. With van der Westhuizen at the helm, alongside a seasoned head coach and a roster brimming with talent, the Heat might just be ready to turn up the thermostat.