The SA Rugby Coaching Indaba had mapped out a new way forward for South African rugby, said acting president, Mr Mark Alexander, on Thursday.
The country’s six Vodacom Super Rugby franchises turned out in force with Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, his management team, referees, former national coaches and captains for the two-day workshop to address on-field performance by South African teams.
“These have been two of the best days in my time as a rugby administrator,†said Mr Alexander.
“The willingness of the coaches to share their insights and the energy they brought to the discussions was outstanding. We have built relationships and opened conversations over the past two days that have not been a traditional part of our very competitive and combative rugby landscape.
“We asked for collaboration on day one and we got it. But the proof of the pudding will be in the outcomes and I am glad to say it was very solutions-focused two days.â€
Coetzee said that he had been excited by the Indaba. It had broken new ground by mapping out a number of interventions at the elite level of the game.
“We shared ideas on where we are strong and where we can improve in all facets of the play,†he said.
“We will be producing a document as a result of the discussions we have had around different skill sets and the Vodacom Super Rugby coaches have agreed to allocate time each week in their schedules to focus on those elements.
“We will also be holding an Indaba solely on conditioning before the end of the year and having opened this conversation we are planning to hold a follow up session between the Springbok management and Vodacom Super Rugby coaches before the start of the 2017 Vodacom Super Rugby season.
“We know that the impact of a two-day Indaba won’t be felt immediately. But the work we did here was not the end of a process, it was the beginning of a new way forward.â€
The Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour will be named on Saturday.
(Statement supplied)
