Allister Coetzee
Long-serving DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has chosen not to extend his contract at Western Province Rugby and will, instead, take up an opportunity abroad at the end of this year.
Coetzee, 51, will join Japanese club, Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers, having decided to put pen to paper this week.
“I have always said that I would make an announcement once I had made a decision about my future and my decision has now been made and communicated properly,” said Coetzee on the official DHL Stormers website.
“I’ve had eight fantastic years at Western Province Rugby and would like to thank my fellow coaches, players, the leadership of WP Rugby and, of course, the supporters here in Cape Town and across the country. My family and I have always been made to feel very welcome in Cape Town, but we have now been presented with a great opportunity and some exciting times await us in a very new and different environment.
“I will miss the DHL Stormers and some great people that I have come into contact with here,” added Coetzee, “but we still have a very long and challenging Super Rugby campaign ahead of us and that is my only focus at present as it has been during our pre-season build-up.”
WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield confirmed Coetzee’s departure, saying: “Allister must be congratulated on what he has achieved during his time in charge of both the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province, he has been an asset to Western Province Rugby and he will be missed.
“I wish him and his family well, but we will say goodbye properly when the time comes. Allister still has a few big months ahead of him and I know that he will be doing his utmost to leave Cape Town on a high and add to his already impressive record as head coach of the DHL Stormers.”
Under the guidance of Coetzee, who has been head coach of DHL WP since 2008 and the DHL Stormers since 2010, the DHL Stormers have become one of the most consistent Vodacom Super Rugby teams on the circuit.
After losing an epic Super 14 Final to the Bulls in Soweto in 2010, Coetzee then coached the DHL Stormers to successive South African Conference titles in the extended Super Rugby competition in 2011 and 2012, the latter tournament seeing the team also top the overall log – to date, the only South African team to achieve that feat.
At ABSA Currie Cup level, meanwhile, DHL Western Province have won two titles under Coetzee’s leadership – in 2012 and 2014 – having, in total, contested four finals in the past five seasons, with two of those finals being at home and in succession.
WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal added: “We tried our best to keep Allister. Not only is he a fantastic coach but we have a great relationship – on and off the field.
“I am very sad to be losing him, but I can understand that he is seeking a new challenge – something which is close to my heart as I believe in empowering and constantly challenging coaches.”
Coetzee’s final release date has not been confirmed as yet (he will at least see out the 2015 Super Rugby season), but Smal has also announced that there will be a change in the management group of the DHL Western Province ABSA Currie Cup team.
Senior forwards coach Matt Proudfoot and senior backline coach Robbie Fleck, Coetzee’s long-time assistant coaches, will continue in their respective roles with the DHL Stormers at Vodacom Super Rugby level but Smal will be utilising them elsewhere during the 2015 ABSA Currie Cup season.
Proudfoot will head up a brand new project at WP Rugby, the self-explained ‘Tight Five Factory’, whilst Fleck will become the DHL Western Province Under 21 head coach in the second half of the season – all aimed at player development and, importantly, keeping the senior professional coaches fresh and allowing them to develop their own skills too in a different coaching environment.
John Dobson (head coach) and Dawie Snyman (assistant coach – backline) will, in turn, be promoted to ABSA Currie Cup level after five successful seasons in charge of both the DHL WP Under 21 and Vodacom Cup sides, all of which falls in line with Smal’s vision to empower all the professional coaches at the union.
Smal explained: “John Dobson and Dawie Snyman have both impressed me with their vision and, of course, their records speak for themselves – having won three trophies in five seasons and produced countless players who have moved into our Super Rugby and Currie Cup teams (and beyond).
“It was always my intention to give John and Dawie an opportunity at a higher level this season and I am positive that they will reward my faith in them and continue their progression as talented coaches. At the same time, Matt and Fleckie can spread their specialised knowledge from the bottom up – and thereby get a first-hand experience of our young talent within the union – and also develop their coaching in a new environment.
“Over the last few months we have now integrated the likes of Paul Treu, Hanyani Shimange and Rito Hlungwani into our coaching set-ups, plus we are able to use Allister Coetzee, Robbie Fleck and Matt Proudfoot in new, wider roles in the latter half of the season and, of course, (we are) set to give the likes of John and Dawie a deserved opportunity at a higher level.
“It’s an exciting time for all of our coaches, who will continue to be stimulated throughout the year, but with all of this news (and movement) now confirmed we can move into the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby season without any off-field distractions and concentrate on the job at hand.”
The DHL Stormers will open their 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby campaign against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday 14 February (Kick-Off 19:10 SA Time). Their first home game – against the Blues at DHL Newlands – will take place the following Saturday 21 February, at 17:05 SA Time.
WP & Stormers Media Release
Matthew Proudfoot
Forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot might be joining Allister Coetzee at the departure desk of Cape Town International Airport at the end of Super Rugby. It is believed that Proudfoot will be headed for Argentina, where he will form part of the management of the new Super Rugby side from that country in 2016.
Coetzee and his assistants were said to be put out at the recent recruitment of former Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu to the management, something that was announced in December but which took the incumbent coaches by surprise as there had been no consultation on the appointment.
WP director of rugby Gert Smal, effectively the head honcho when it comes to rugby related matters at the Cape union and the man who does the hiring and firing, has expressed his disappointment at the attitude towards the Treu appointment.
“I think Paul Treu is going to be a huge asset to WP rugby so people who are saying that it is a bad move probably don’t want to see us do well,” said Coetzee.
Smal has apparently told the management that he will be recruiting the replacement head coach from outside of the current group, which could also have been a factor in prompting Proudfoot to look for alternative employment.
Former Wallaby coach and Bok assistant Eddie Jones, who worked with Smal at the Boks during the 2007 World Cup, has been mooted as a possible replacement for Coetzee and the Japan coach was spotted in Cape Town last week. However a coach of Jones’ caliber would come at huge expense and it is difficult to see how WP can afford it, or why Jones would want to abandon his Japanese gig just as the four year cycle to the 2019 World Cup in that country begins.
It is understood that apart from the unilateral appointment of Treu, losing the Currie Cup job was another factor in Coetzee’s decision to move to Japan, where he will take up the coaching reigns of the Kobelco Steelers, effectively replacing new Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold.
SuperSport
Allister Coetzee reportedly told the Stormers players that he would be joining Japanese side Kobe Steelers after this year’s Super Rugby competition.
According to reports, Coetzee addressed his players during a meeting at the High Performance Centre in Bellville on Monday where he revealed his future plans.
29 @ nortie:
Thanks for clearing it up Nortier
@ MacroBull:
Sover ek weet is Nienaber Defence coach van die Bokke.
Seker tot na die WB
@ nortie:
So Nienaber sluit seker die jaar aan by die bokke, flippet dit is ook maar op die nippertjie, Meyer vry al van die begin af na hom.
@ MacroBull:
Ek was onder die indruk dat hy al tydens die EYT saam met hulle was. Hy was al tydens die CC nie meer by die WP
@ MacroBull:
Op n ander noot, ek neem aan die Sharks is so verseker daarvan dat hulle die Cheetahs sal klop ( dink die Sharks op hulle eie het meer afrigters as wat die Cheetahs spelers het) dat hulle kon bekostig om vir Peyper vir julle te leen 😆
Ek glo Peyper sal weer uitdraf op sy tuisveld wanneer dit saak maak
@ nortie:
The Reports seems contradicting…
30-01-2015
“A potential crisis looms for a Stormers management that will be starting the Vodacom Super Rugby season without the defensive guru, Jacques Nienaber, that masterminded their team strength over the past seven years and with the knowledge that the head coach will be leaving at the end of the competition.”
“Time will tell what this could mean for the Stormers in the Super Rugby campaign that begins with a tough away derby against the Bulls at Loftus on 14 February. Apart from his role as head coach, Coetzee has to take on the additional role of defence coach as Jacques Nienaber has left to take up a position with the SARU High Performance unit.”
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Coetzee-on-his-way-to-Japan-20150130
So it appears Nienaber will help out at all the franchises like Gray
15/12/2015
“Meanwhile, defence coach Nienaber will join SA Rugby on a full-time basis after seven years of outstanding service to the Stormers and Western Province, with WP Rugby agreeing to SARU’s request to release him from his current three-year contract a year early.
Smal explained: “Jacques has not been involved in our last two Currie Cup campaigns, due to his dual commitments with SA Rugby, so, I guess, you could say we knew this day would come.
“I would like to thank Jacques for unyielding work ethic and incredible attention to detail – all of which will serve him well at SA Rugby and no doubt benefit the national set-up at the same time.
“The defence-coaching workload will continue to be shared between Allister Coetzee and Greg Hechter, as was the case during our last two Currie Cup campaigns, whilst, at the same time, Paul Treu will be phased into the Stormers coaching set-up and team culture during the Super Rugby competition.”
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/WP-anounce-Treu-coup-20141215
@ MacroBull:
Ok thanks, so hy is SARU toe, neem aan hy help net uit met die Bokke.
Ek het aangeneem hy is Bokke toe (sien nog steeds SARU en Bokke as dieselfde baas)
Goed vir hom, hy is een van die beter verdedigings afrigters in SA, goed dat ons hom hier hou
35 @ nortie:
haha Saru skuld ons n bietjie ‘n hometown ref 😉
ja die Sharks steel ook nou al die Cheetahs se afrigters ook 😆 Horak is darem nog so jong soos matfield so hy kan SP Marais bietjie aflos op heelagter.
@ nortie:
Rassie is mos die baas by die high performance unit of nie? Dis goed as Nienaber ook die franchises kan besoek om almal se verdediging op te skerp, ek dink die Ritchy Gray doen ook goeie werk. Ek dink daar gaan baie goed agter die skerms aan waarvoor Meyer en SARU nie krediet kry nie.
@ MacroBull:
Ek hoor SuperSport moes n extra 30 minute schedule vir die Sharks se after match interviews…..4 “kapteine” in die leierskorps en 6 afrigters gaan bietjie langer neem om almal hulle se te se.
39 @ MacroBull:
…wat lang termyn doelwitte betref. dink ek ons gaan rugby domineer van 2017-2019
nortie wrote:
😆
39 @ MacroBull:
Ja, Rassie is daar.
Dis goed om die kennis te deel, maar steeds speel meeste van ons spanne vervelige rugby.
Die Cheetahs kort hulp met verdediging, die Stormers met aanval, die Bulle met hoe om halftyd die lamoen te eet, die Sharks kort nie afrigting hulp nie, net n paar honderd sielkundige sessies oor hoe om nie te choke wanneer dit tel nie.
Dink die Lions is ok met hulle balans, en hulle het seker darem nog vir Berry op retainer
@ nortie:
Ja jong ek weet nie altyd hoe gewillig die provinsies is om saam te werk nie. Ek hoop die high performance unit konsentreer op skole rugby ook.
Man die bulle moet net leer om weg games te wen, so ons ouens kort seker ook sielkundiges 😆
@ nortie:
Ek dink as die Blues wees Berry kry gaan hulle staak en protesteer dat hulle “noord” gaan 😆
44 @ MacroBull:
Julle kort superglue op daai dikgat voorrye van julle se hande…..hoeveel balle het hulle verlede jaar 5m van die doellyn af laat val 😆
MacroBull wrote:
Ha ha
Ek neem hulle nie kwalik nie 😆
@ nortie:
haha Trevor her ook al n paar balle laat val
@ MacroBull:
Trevor veroorsaak dat die ander spelers oor sy boude val ook.
Ek sien nogal uit na wanneer hy sy eerste drie vir julle druk….fokkolie kwaito dance moves op Loftus, hy en Hougie gaan maar n two step langarm daar voor die Oos paviljoen moet kap
@ nortie:
“Fact is, AC has reached his ceiling a long time ago in SR.”
You know that I don’t disagree with you on this. I’ve been advocating it last two years or so. Get us Joshua as AC seemsto be our Moses. Only able to take us to the gates of the promised land but cannot lead us through. But to not give him credit for the reasonable success that we had since 2010, is just plain nonsense imo.
In two seasons as head coach, Rassie could not reach the play-offs. Are you suggesting that he had a bigger impact on the performance of the team while he was DOR than when he was head coach? I don’t deny that he played a role. But to suggest that he played the primary role in Stormers reaching the play-offs, is nonsense imo.
And no, I’m not accusing you of saying these things. It has been suggested by a lot of people of different forums.
In short, Rassie is responsible for the success of the Stormers in 2010, 2011 & 2012. It is also because of him that we won the CC in 2012.
AC is responsible for a kak SR in 2013 and 2014 while it is Gert Smal who is responsible for our success in the CC in 2014.
Utter nonsense.
On some of your other points eg AC being appointed for life, we’ll have to disagree.
@ nortie:
Haha trevor sal geliefd wees selfs op loftus dink nie iemand op die oos paviljoen sal omgee as ons vir n slag driee druk nie
50 @ Nama:
I rate AC as a coach, he has reached enough highs to prove he isn’t a bad coach.
But, he had “te veel hooi op sy vurk” for too long.
He was the one who coached SR, CC, was director, did the contracting etc.
So the buck stopped with him for a long time.
If we didn’t win the CC in 2012 I think he would have been sent packing because of his lack of success in SR.
I do however acknowledge that we just don’t have good enough players to win the SR, and not even Graham Henry would change that, but the players brought in were brought in by AC mostly
29 @ nortie:
“We might have a role to play in determining who makes the top 6 with a good win here and there, but I will be highly surprised if we even come close to the playoff spots.
Sharks and Bulls to compete for the coveted Conference Cup this year”
Jammer, ek kan weer nie saamstem nie. Ek dink ons het ‘n goeie kans om weer die konferensie te wen. (Onthou, Gert is mos daar. 😉 )
My voorspelling wat ek vir Macro gegee het oor ons moontlike vertoning die jaar, staan nog.
Derbies: 6/8 (4 tuis; 2 weg teen Bulle & Cheetahs)
Tuis teen oorsese spanne: 3/4 (Crusaders is ons bogey span)
Op toer: 2/4
11/16 met ‘n paar driee-, wen- en veloorbonuspunte behoort ons onder die top 3 te laat eindig.
Beker “halfvol”, Nortie…beker “halfvol”.
53 @ Nama:
Ha ha, ek kyk maar net realisties na die ding Nama.
Bulle op Loftus in die SR is nie die Bulle van die CC nie.
Kan nie sien hoe ons met die spelers wat ons het vir hulle daar gaan klop nie.
Cheetahs het ons nou al die laaste 2 jaar in Bloem geklop, so daai dae van ons gaan net soontoe om punte te gaan haal is verby.
Lions op Ellis Park het verlede jaar in SR en CC gewys hulle is daar beter as ons.
Ek kyk na ons spelers en kry net nie enigsins n gevoel van “wow” hulle is n great span nie.
As mens kyk na wat die Bulls en Sharks het, dan is dit n ander storie
@ Nama:
halwe glas brandewyn gemeng met coke ja 😀
54 @ nortie:
Die Bulle het maar hulle tekortkome, ek dink in total gaan SA spanne maar weer sukkel, die Waratahs gaan n beast wees die jaar (waar die bulle hulle laasjaar in sydney kon gewen het)
Dark horses is verseker die Hurricanes, en die impak wat Plumtree op hulle voorspelers gaan he.
Stommers het inderdaad n goeie span en die verlies van JDV en Brock kan selfs n bate wees vir die agterlyn, dis nou net of Kitchoff n breuk kan vat van loskakel.
33 @ MacroBull:
Met Nienaber ou ook voltyds by die Bokke, hoe groot is sy ondersteuningspan nou? 20? 21?
Laat die Sharks na amateurs lyk.
Wat gaan John Mac Farland se rol nou wees noudat daar twee verdedigingsafrigters is?
@ Nama:
MAcfarland is seker nog by die bokke, Nienaber is by die high performance unit wat oor die land toer en nie voltyds by die bokke is nie 😉
56 @ MacroBull:
Ek voorspel dat die Chiefs die jaar gaan wen, maar die NZRU se besluit om hulle sleutel AB spelers te rus wanneer hulle so se kan teen die NZ tel.
So die Waratahs staan n goeie kans om weer te wen
57 @ Nama:
http://www.sarugby.net/article.aspx?id=1755964
A new high performance ‘think-tank’ of top rugby coaches has been established by the South African Rugby Union (SARU) to assist elite teams at all age levels of the game.
The ground-breaking initiative for South African rugby will see a contracted team of specialist coaches in the ‘HP Mobi-Unit’ visit franchises, SARU national teams and even schools teams to share cutting-edge rugby knowledge.
“We are very excited about this new initiative,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SARU. “Historically, SARU have taken a ‘hands off’ approach to coaching interventions at the elite level. That was exclusively left to the provincial unions.
“But times have changed and as the game has become more technical and more analytical, the resources required to keep up to date have exploded. SARU can pool the resources we have in our national coaching panels as well as offer access to the considerable rugby knowledge we have on our staff.”
The HP Mobi-Unit is the brainchild of Rassie Erasmus, who was appointed as SARU’s General Manager of High Performance in 2012.
He has contracted specialist consultants into the Mobi-Unit to cover key areas of play:
• Pieter de Villiers, the former French international prop, will concentrate on scrumming
• Louis Koen, former Springbok flyhalf, will be responsible for the tactics and practice of kicking play
• Chean Roux, former Stormers looseforward and title-winning University of Stellenbosch coach, will be responsible for technical analysis
• Jacques Nienaber, the highly-regarded DHL Stormers defensive coach, will advise on defensive play. Nienaber’s involvement will, however, only be outside of the DHL Stormers’ Vodacom Super Rugby commitments.
• Rassie Erasmus, former Springbok looseforward and Absa Currie Cup-winning Free State Cheetahs coach, will concentrate on lineouts, gameplan and performance analysis.
“We have a massive amount of rugby expertise contracted to SARU through our national teams and in our offices, but it has been under utilised in the past,” said Erasmus.
“What we’re now offering is a back up to coaches in the form of a pool of consultants in specialist areas who can share their considerable experience as well as pass on the latest thinking.
“This is a three-year project, which we hope will broaden the base of rugby knowledge at the elite level by opening a two-way conversation.
“Critically, by establishing a common approach to play at the elite level, we hope it will ultimately assist the Springbok coach in getting maximum value out of the short time he has to prepare teams for Test matches.”
The HP Mobi-Unit was in action this week at the Junior Springbok training camp with Koen, De Villiers, Roux and Erasmus all working with players and the coach Dawie Theron’s management team.
Other Springbok coaching and medical staff will be utilised on an ad hoc basis, Springbok commitments permitting.
Erasmus said that the Unit’s technical analysis of matches throughout the competition would be pooled with franchises.
“One of the criticisms of SARU in the past among franchise coaches was that they didn’t receive much technical rugby input from us,” said Roux.
“By establishing this unit we have created a vehicle for a knowledge transfer in two directions at once which will be for the benefit of all our teams and, most importantly, for the Springboks.”
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