South Africa - A State of Flux

Exodus of Coaches

We knew Allister Coetzee was leaving the Stormers and headed to Japan, and saw Naka Drotske and Os du Randt handing over the Cheetahs coaching to Franco Smith two weeks ago, but now we have Frans Ludeke and Pieter Rossouw leaving the Bulls, and Gary Gold moving from head coach to the Sharks Director of Rugby post (where he should have been all along), and Brad Macleod-Henderson also leaving the Sharks. Thus we face the disconcerting instability of four of the five Super Rugby teams having new head coaches next year. We don’t have a plethora of top coaches to take over. Will anyone commit to the length and expense of contracts John Mitchell and John Plumtree require?

Exodus of Captains

With Bismarck du Plessis withdrawing as captain of the Sharks mid-campaign, and Pierre Spies and Duane Vermeulen headed to France, three of the five appointed as 2015 Super Rugby captains are on their way out too. The lack of continuity cannot be of any benefit.

Exodus of the Junior Boks

Anything other than winning the final of the World Rugby under 20 Championship in Italy represents a failed campaign for the Baby Boks, and their semi-final loss to England is a sad end for a group of players and coaches with exciting talent, a big budget and massive resources, and near perfect facilities for preparation.