Springboks lock Victor Matfield supports Allister Coetzee for South African coaching role
The veteran lock for South Africa, Victor Matfield, has supported Allister Coetzee to be the new coach of the Springboks after Peter de Villiers' departure. Matfield declared Coetzee the best option among the available names and said that he has got tremendous
expertise to coach the Boks under the present scenario. He expressed these thoughts while talking to media on October 12.
The post of South African of head coach will be vacant at the end of 2011 as Peter de Villiers and his assistants are completing their tenures on December 31. The current head coach of South Africa was reported to have quit from his office shortly after
the lose at the hands of Wallabies in the quarter-final of the ongoing Rugby World Cup 2011. He later clarified his comments and put an end to the speculation.
The South African Rugby Union (SARU) chief executive told the media about the current status of the coach and his assistants this morning and said they will keep working until the end of this year and the new coach of the Springboks will be announced in
2012.
Coetzee has worked with the Boks earlier as an assistant coach back in 2007 along with Jake White. He was the part of coaching staff that secured the Webb Ellis Trophy for South Africa in the last global show.
Matfield praised Allister Coetzee’s coaching style and said that he could put the side on winning track. He added that, “Toetie [Coetzee] was a great coach when I was playing under him. He is also a wonderful person and probably a strong candidate. Maybe
guys from overseas like [former Springbok coach] Nick Mallett will also be interested.”
He further said that, “I don't know who is available, but I know someone like Heyneke [Meyer, Blue Bulls rugby head] will not apply because of his new role at the Bulls and I don't know if Rassie [Erasmus] will be interested.”
However, SARU has to take the final decision regarding the new coach of South Africa early next year. There has been no progress made in this regard so for.
Tags: