GBS and BonzaiGBS
The South African National rugby shift boss…. errr sorry, coach appeared to have resigned in interviews in New Zealand, only to then deny that he had resigned upon arrival in South Africa. Whatever the situation, his 4-year contract comes to an end at the end of December 2011 anyway, which leaves the process open for a replacement to be appointed.
There has already been wide-spread speculation as to who the right candidates might be…. but that’s not why I am writing this Article!
The reason why I am writing this is to warn SARU, and possibly teach them a few things about simple Contract Law in South Africa, to be able to avoid the new coach spinning us all the yarn of “Judge me at the World Cup”.
The current and previous coaches, going back to Rudolph Steauli all used the same mantra, and in the process Springbok results were sacrificed at the expense of chasing the supposed Holy Grail of rugby.
If you ask South Africans in general and the rugby-mad supporters populace, I have no doubt that most, if not nearly all, will be in favour of winning every Test in between World Cups rather than having a bad win / loss ratio and barganing on winning the William Webb-Ellis knock out Tournament once every four long years.
We certainly do not suffer the World Cup choke anxiety plagueing the New Zealand populace, but we suffer something far worse…
… mediocrity has become an accepted norm to judge the Springboks, the Springbok coaches, SARU, Provincial Presidents, referees… and players.
There should only be ONE Rule, ONE Measure, ONE Goal… and that is WE WANT THE BEST!
That means we definately want THE BEST of the following:
- We want the best National Rugby Adminastrative Rugby Body in the World, bar none!
- We want the best National Rugby Coach, bar none and the best Assistants and Supporting staff!
- We want the best Player management in the World!
- We want the best National Captain who is the best player in his position by a country mile!
- We want the best Players playing IN South Africa, IN our Domestic and Cross-border Competitions!
- We want the best Professional Provincial and Franchise Structures in the World!
- We want the best Rugby Academies in the World!
- We want the best Referees in the World!
- We want the best young talent gravitating naturally to the top, free from interference, irrespective of colour, creed, culture, background!
- We want to have seemless integration between Schools and / or Club Rugby through to Provincial, Franchise and National levels
- We want South Africa to be undoubtably the best Rugby Nation in the World!
Is that asking too much?
Is that over-reaching our hand?
Is that at all possible?
Well, here’s what I think!
- We already know we have the player base in South Africa to achieve these goals, and on top of that we have the recipy and the key at our disposal to unlock a vast source of yet unexplored talent in this country. It is time we started using what we have at our disposal, there are no excuses not to.
- We already know we have some brilliant Business Leaders who love rugby and we know we have the collective Rugby Passion in this country to be able to appoint, select and elect far superior Administrators than is currently the norm.
- We already know and have identified Rugby Coaches and supporting staff who apply their trade in South Africa and Overseas who clearly stand back for nobody. Think about Heyneke Meyer, Gert Smal, Nick Mallett, Cherel Calder, Os du Randt, Tim Noakes… the list goes on and on…
- We already know we have to curb the influence of the strong currencies which lure our players to Europe, Japan, UK, Italy & Australia.
- We already know and have examples of Provincial Structures which work and operate from the basis of sound Business Principles, operating in South Africa.
- We already have the blueprints of the best Rugby Academies at our disposal.
- We already have some of the World’s best referees and the capacity to produce more of the best.
- We have started to unearth more natural talent and have made some strides in bringing talent through, and have an ever increasing mass participation by the South Africa’s populace in supporting Rugby.
- We already have the core material at our disposal to be and become the best Rugby Nation in the World.
So, what is stopping us?
Do we have the simple capacity to root out the weak and to replace them with better candidates, better players, coaches, administrators?
I think this is where the taxi crashes in South Africa, where the handles fall off, where the lift does not manage to reach the top floor. We are a nation scared to make decisions, scared to make healthy choices, to take calculated chances, to shake hands… and above all to work together as one.
I say again… mediocrity has become an accepted norm in South Africa, in South African society, in judging general behaviour – whether it is in the home, the work place, the sports fields, the Springboks, the Springbok coaches, SARU, Provincial Presidents, referees… and players and teams.
It is an indictment against all of us, against the Rainbow Nation… against YOU and ME!
So, let me get off this galloping horse and get back to what I wanted to do in the first place… give SARU some lessons in the Art of Contracting in South Africa…
When a business-driven Company appoints directors, employees and representatives, the aim and often the result is a good choice, one which will keep the bank balance on the right side of positive, and if it does not prove to be the case, a swift change is expected and required and executed.
This is what needs to happen in the case of the appointment of the National coach, the resultant appointment needs to be the correct choice, it needs to check so many boxes and the resolve must at the same time be built into the structure to get rid of a sucker who does not deliver the desired results.
Some of these aspects appear to be in place already, but mostly these aspects have been sorely neglected or even blatantly ignored.
That means one must get a number of priorities clear:
- Firstly, ongoing performance, from day one must be sought and demanded. It must be made clear that the objective is World Rugby Dominance, from game ONE and for EVERY game thereafter.
- Secondly the appointee must be given the tools and assitance to make this objective achievable. In other words, he must be allowed to appoint his Management and Support structures and he must be backed both politically, financially, personally and publicly to reach that goal. Everything must be done to assist his cause, to enhance his methods and chances for success. One can have the best coach in the world, but with no backing, the failure will be massive.
- Thirdly there must be clear contractual structures in place upon his appointment, not a hap-hazard 4-year appointment, and a lick and promise attitude! Appoint this man for ONE YEAR ONLY, with the carrot dangling of possible extentions for another year at a time in the case of radical improvement from the current sad state of affairs. This implies performance clauses, making provision for termination and breach of agreement. It implies clauses detailing the support he will receive and the role he will play in current structures within SARU. It includes clear statements of rights and obligations and a clear understanding from SARU that performance is reciprocal, by both parties to the Agreement. Performance clauses in itself is problematic – should one connect it to a simple winning percentage and in that case what should that figure be? Is it not then better to rather define performance in great detail and have the overriding measurement being the IRB World Ranking No 1 spot?
- Fourthly there must be a collective buy-in regarding the objective, World Rugby Dominance.
- Fifthly SARU must take control of the resources and Nationally contract the top SA players, to be able to enforce player management of the highest order, and there must be a clear order of presidence of National Interests above Franchise and Provincial interests, with specially the 8 biggest Unions understanding and agreeing that their goals are only a stepping stone to the National Rugby objective.
- In Sixth place, strong leadership is a requirement for the National coach, not a happy-go-lucky rugby buddy bum-chum appointee, who gets along well with his mates, the players.
- The Seventh objective must be that the National coach needs to be a man of substance, with the ability to be a good spokesman, a worthy ambassador of the Nation. He needs to be intellectually sharp and precise, be the ultimate man-manager and have the ability to interact with the Media and the world and not have the propensity to have both feet in the mouth at any given time. There can certainly be no tollerance of the Media fiasco which was the departing coach and to a large extent his pre-decessor.
- In Eight place, the coach needs to be a man of principle, a man to be trusted, and a man of his word, a man who’s handshake is still his bond.
It sounds like I am cut out for the job, hahaha… but that’s besides the point, SARU can’t afford me.
I offer to assist SARU, in drafting 5 things, namely:
- The Contract of Employment and Co-operation between SARU and the National coach as well as the Contracts of the supporting staff.
- The National Contracts of the foremost players.
- The Agreement between SARU and it’s Provincial Unions detailing the Union’s responsibilities towards the National cause.
- The Multilateral Agreement between SARPA (South African Rugby Players Association) and SARU and ALL the Provincial Unions in South Africa.
- The formal Agreement between the National coaching Body (National coach and his staff) and the Provincial and Franchise coaches of the respective Test Unions.
Matfield captained the Boks on 17 occasions, has the 2007 World Cup winning medal, a British and Irish Lions series win, the Tri-Nations, three Super 14-titles and Currie Cup titles on his list of achievements.
He made his Springbok debut in 2001 when he came on as a replacement in the first Test against Italy in Port Elizabeth.
Matfield lists the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup victory together with the 2009 Tri-Nations season where the Boks beat the All Blacks three times in one season, as highlights of his career.
Sunday’s exit from the World Cup in New Zealand, though, was one of the saddest moments in his career.
“We did everything to win. We won everything except on the scoreboard, which is what counts at the end of the day,” said Matfield.
“I am still proud of the guys, there is nothing that I believe we should have differently.
“We gave everything, we were prepared and on the day we played one of our best games in a long time.”
superBul wrote:
OK i know players wont really say anything else but if a great champion like Victor says that they did things right and the game stats prove that i would rather believe him than anyone else…..
grootblousmile wrote:
I agree i also want the high 80% record that the All Blacks reach.
We have had many coaches only one gets to 70%+, why?
For many years a spend on blogs it is always down to The Laws, the Rules, the understanding of the rules. Why are we always so stupid, everyone else knows the Laws and we not.
Since 1995 we played 72 Tri-Nation matches
We won 28
38.9%
Can someone explain to me why?
superBul wrote:
36 away games in the Tri-Nations and we can show 6 wins and a draw abroad
If the fault lies solely with administration how come we have highs like 2 WC,s , Tri Nations wins and a Lions win.
In this time frame we had 7 coaches all of them hated at some time by some of us.
So alhoewel n mens altyd self ondersoek moet doen en veranderings aanbring moet n mens darem ook erken dat meeste van al die goed in hierdie artikel wel korrek gedoen was deur SARU. Wie van julle het die SARU survey gekry en ingevul? Ek het laas week n Market Survey gekry wat honderde vrae oor SARU gevra het(wel dit was n lang survey, seker nie honderd) sal bietjie uitkyk waneer die uitslag kom van daardie mark navorsing.
Oor die Afrigter se klousules, JA ek vra ook altyd daarvoor , maar hoe bepaal jy werklik waneer is dit tyd om hom te vervang.
Dink aan Jake , hy het 66% behaal op die ou einde en vir ons die Wereldbeker huis toe gebring. Voor die Wereldbeker was hy bykans so laag as 50% suksesvol. Hy het sy laaste 10 wedstryde gewen maar nie een keer teen Australie en New Zealand in daardie 10 wedstryde gespeel nie.
Peter het begin met 9 wenne uit 13 , wat se agterent gered het is die Dunedin toets( Rickie Januarie se toets) en ook die 53-8 wen teen Australie in Johannesburg.
In die laaste 16 jaar het ons al alle tipe rugby probeer, skop, verdedig, hardloop maar steeds rol NZ en AUS ons vir n mielie.
Ek kan baie stats uithaal en selfs bewys dat Mallet wat darem 71% gewen het ook maar net 50% teen Aus/NZ behaal het. Die feit is die fout le op n ander plek en almal skram weg daarvan.
REELS, LAWS en die toepassing en verstaan daarvan
superBul wrote:
SARU Expectation & Performance Audit – Public
SARU is undertaking a research study among the game’s most important stakeholders. We need to better understand the needs of the public and would really like you to share your views, opinions and expectations with us, in order for us to continuously strive to improve SARU’s offering to all South Africans.
For your valuable time completing this survey you stand a chance to WIN ONE OF FIVE SPRINGBOK REPLICA JERSEYS. A representative from SARU will be in contact with you should you win one of these five fantastic prizes.
It would be of enormous assistance in improving SARU’s performance if you would give up some of your valuable time to complete this questionnaire.
Important Notes;
– The survey will take some time and does require some thought
Please contact Repucom SA at survey@repucom.co.za should you have any problems completing this survey.
Thank you once again for your time. Press the NEXT button below to begin the survey!
http://216.34.99.33/survey/386322/181e//?logo=1
31@ grootblousmile:
That’s better then regarding talent available than I’ve been thinking, was just going on how the last number of Junior World Cups have gone and thought about the mid to long term future of NZ being much brighter than Sa’s as a result. But you have mentioned the Varsity Cup which could be a breeding ground for future stars that I hadn’t taken into account. Lots of good backline youngsters names keep popping up but my concern is fewer forwards are being touted in the same way, but for the short term I guess there are enough tough forwards still in the mix.
@ superBul:
ek vra bitterlik om verskoning Superbul. Div se snor is nie te erg nie. En hy is nie ‘n sot nie. Hy is ‘n halwe een, want ‘n heel een kan mens darem sekerlik bietjie gebruik…
Ek dink om hom en sy spelers te verdedig is lagwekkend. Dis ‘n skande om ‘n span (met ‘n paniekbevange losskakel) so te domineer, nie te wen nie en dan die ref te blameer. Ja, hy was absoluut onbeholpe en moet nooit ooit weer met ‘n fluitjie in die mond gevang word nie. Maar om Matfield en sy makkers op die skouer te klop vir hul goeie game, karakter en veggees is teleurstellend. Niemand gee om nie. Looks at the scoreboard. 9-11. Dis so eenvoudig soos dit. Punt. Wie onthou hoe goed die Bokke gespeel het in die 1ste toets in 1955? Maar almal kan sien ons het verloor 22-23 wat gelei het dat ons nie die reeks gewen het nie.
Ons rugbytrots in hierdie WB was ‘n teleurstelling. En om ‘n kwarteindstryd-koebaai goed te praat is om die kwaal te dokter, nie die siekte. Laat my dink aan die CWC 99 semi toe die almal Donald wou kruisig oor die uithardloop, maar so maklik en gerieflik vergeet het dat hy 4 paaltjies vroeer geneem het, en dat Kirsten, Gibbs, Cullinan, Slang Hansie en Jonty almal misluk het met die kolf.
Lees dit weer hardop :GERIEFLIK VERGEET.
Lots of agreeing to disagree and still argueing the toss going on, but all in all everyone agreeing that our results against our long time antipodean foes are consistently crap for the most part, and many valid arguements from both sides.
superBul, yes our players are (for the most part) stupid when on the field and are incapable of adapting a gameplan or sussing out what the ref is allowing and playing accordingly. I’m convinced we coach all creativity, and with it the ability to think on the park out of our players at a young age. Perhaps not by design, but we do.
Sure there are certain players that will NEVER be creative or have the ability to read an opposition and adapt. but certain key positions MUST have that ability or you are always going to struggle.
Scrummie, Flyhalf and Fullback absolutely must be able to read a game and change a teams game plan mid stream if necessary. The person organising the defensive lines on the field (Mossie in the Boks case?) must similarly be able to see any opposition deviations from what has previously been observed and call for change if required.
In the forwards, the line out is the same. At this Victor is a master, and yet he’s uncapable of getting his team together on the field and saying “guys, this isn’t working. Let’s try a, b or c.”
GBS, as for SARU amd the coaches and management, I think I’ve said enough in the past about the subject for everyone to know that I think SARU are not quite up to the task, and as for the coaches, well we haven’t moved forward one millimeter since 2003 IMO.
McLook speaks about continual change and adopting of new things. The Japaneze call it Kaizen, and MANY big businesses live by it. If you don’t continually move forward those coming up behind WILL CATCH YOU AND OVERTAKE YOU.
We need look no further than when we tour the NH at the EOYT’s where we continually eek out wins by a handfull of points only against opposition like Scotland and Wales, and also see how we struggled against a team like Samoa, and even Wales in the group stages. We are better Rugby players, and have a far larger player base, yet we struggle. Why? Because we’re still playing yesterday’s game plan with absolutely no improvements or changes whatsoever.
Let’s take your game as an example. IT changes almost monthly, and if you don’t keep up, you get left behind. Why should Rugby be any different?
The Boks are using a Nokia 1610, the rest are all using I-phones!
Enough said now about the Boks, the World Cup, SARU and the coaches.
I’m going to do some work and earn a couple of Buffels so that I can afford to go and watch the CC final at the Coke Tin in 3 weeks time.
As for the WC. Stel nie meer belang nie. All the games can end in 0-0 draws and be decided on the toss of a coin, and if the coin lands on it’s edge and gets stuck in the grass, they can give the Webb Ellis cup to the ref’. Hopefully his initials are not BL!
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