SINCE winning the World Cup with the Springboks in 2007, Jake White has hovered over South African rugby like an age-old wisdom tree, casting a day-long shadow over his successors as Bok coach.
This time he has declared that Bok coach Heyneke Meyer need not look abroad for an openside flanker because Marcell Coetzee has been doing a good enough job right here at home.
Coetzee is one of the leading flankers in Super Rugby at the moment but will have to prove he indeed deserves national honours when he lines up against South Africa’s former lord of turnovers, Heinrich Brussow.
The Sharks host the Cheetahs at Kings Park in Durban today in a game that will zoom in on discovering whether White’s estimation proves to be true or is another bit of gamesmanship by the wily former Brumbies coach.
Either way, Coetzee has to prove he is ready to take up the crown as South Africa’s chief breakdown exponent and that there is indeed no need to call back England-based incumbent Francois Louw.
The best way to do that would be a clean sweep on the floor against the maligned Brussow, who went rogue after falling out of Springbok favour by signing with Japanese club Red Hurricanes. “There is no doubt that when Brussow’s name is read out on the team sheet, there’s a level of confidence the team derives from that,” said White.
“But we’ve played against the Michael Hoopers, Liam Gills and Deon Stegmanns, so we’ve got to make sure that we look after whoever plays in that openside role.
“We’ve got Coetzee and that will give the Cheetahs, too, a lot to think about in terms of getting him off their breakdown ball.
“The more Coetzee plays, the more he sends a message to the national team selectors that they do not have to look abroad for an openside flanker, when he’s doing the job week-in and week-out in Super Rugby. I’d be very surprised if Marcell is not seen as a player who can do the job as well as anyone based outside the country. It will be very difficult for someone to overlook his performances.”
The Cheetahs have pressed the self-destruct button far too often this season chasing their open-attacking game, something they might pay dearly for with Tonderai Chavhanga starting for the Sharks.
Chavhanga has been rewarded by White for patience and resilience in getting himself back to full fitness and will start at 5pm in Odwa Ndungane’s right wing position.
If the Zimbabwean still has the pace, there could be hell to pay for sloppy play, especially with JP Pietersen on the other wing, Sbura Sithole at outside centre and fullback Lwazi Movo all acting as supporting runners.
White expects an open game but not an open slugfest and pointed to the shifting of the more defensively adept Hennie Daniller to fullback and Willie le Roux to left wing. The Sharks are after two home wins, starting with the Cheetahs this weekend then the Highlanders next Friday, before they embark on their gruelling Australasia tour.
Lords of turnovers square up
This time he has declared that Bok coach Heyneke Meyer need not look abroad for an openside flanker because Marcell Coetzee has been doing a good enough job right here at home.
Coetzee is one of the leading flankers in Super Rugby at the moment but will have to prove he indeed deserves national honours when he lines up against South Africa’s former lord of turnovers, Heinrich Brussow.
The Sharks host the Cheetahs at Kings Park in Durban today in a game that will zoom in on discovering whether White’s estimation proves to be true or is another bit of gamesmanship by the wily former Brumbies coach.
Either way, Coetzee has to prove he is ready to take up the crown as South Africa’s chief breakdown exponent and that there is indeed no need to call back England-based incumbent Francois Louw.
The best way to do that would be a clean sweep on the floor against the maligned Brussow, who went rogue after falling out of Springbok favour by signing with Japanese club Red Hurricanes. “There is no doubt that when Brussow’s name is read out on the team sheet, there’s a level of confidence the team derives from that,” said White.
“But we’ve played against the Michael Hoopers, Liam Gills and Deon Stegmanns, so we’ve got to make sure that we look after whoever plays in that openside role.
“We’ve got Coetzee and that will give the Cheetahs, too, a lot to think about in terms of getting him off their breakdown ball.
“The more Coetzee plays, the more he sends a message to the national team selectors that they do not have to look abroad for an openside flanker, when he’s doing the job week-in and week-out in Super Rugby. I’d be very surprised if Marcell is not seen as a player who can do the job as well as anyone based outside the country. It will be very difficult for someone to overlook his performances.”
The Cheetahs have pressed the self-destruct button far too often this season chasing their open-attacking game, something they might pay dearly for with Tonderai Chavhanga starting for the Sharks.
Chavhanga has been rewarded by White for patience and resilience in getting himself back to full fitness and will start at 5pm in Odwa Ndungane’s right wing position.
If the Zimbabwean still has the pace, there could be hell to pay for sloppy play, especially with JP Pietersen on the other wing, Sbura Sithole at outside centre and fullback Lwazi Movo all acting as supporting runners.
White expects an open game but not an open slugfest and pointed to the shifting of the more defensively adept Hennie Daniller to fullback and Willie le Roux to left wing. The Sharks are after two home wins, starting with the Cheetahs this weekend then the Highlanders next Friday, before they embark on their gruelling Australasia tour.
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