Ackermann: Boks on the right track
Ackermann, speaking to the media on day four of the first Bok training camp of the year, was full of praise for Allister Coetzee – the new coach of the senior national team.
While many so-called pundits have suggested the Boks will play the same dour game that the Stormers played under Coetzee's reign in Cape Town, Ackermann is optimistic that the national team will move closer to his Lions' current expansive game.
He spoke of "exciting times for the Springboks", based on "four of the best days of training I have seen in a long time" in Stellenbosch this week.
"This was quality training," Ackermann told the media gathering at the Markötter Fields.
Ackermann said people should not expect an instant switch to the exciting brad the Lions play every week.
However, he has no doubt Coetzee and his training staff are "on the right track".
"The freedom the players have, the opportunities to run, the options they have when they run with the ball is the same that is happening at us [the Lions]," Ackermann said.
"It is exciting times for South African rugby ahead," adding a note of caution: "There will have to be a balance, but the skills are here [at the Boks] and the opportunities will be there.
"We all know that at Test level the pressure is more, the time to execute is a bit less.
"However, I feel if you can do it at Super Rugby level, where you have lots of international players, you will be able to use most of those opportunities."
Ackerman admitted that the Boks are short on time, given that it took the Lions nearly four years to perfect their expansive game.
"It is only four days and a bunch of new faces," he said, adding: "However, the enthusiasm is here, the energy is here, the skills are certainly here.
"Also the way the players interact is great.
"However, at Test level there is additional pressure and you are up against the best of the best, so it will take some time.
"People just have to be patient. The vision of Allister [Coetzee], and with the people around him, I truly believe they are on the night track.
"They also have the right group of players to play the [type of] game they want to play.
"We have to be a bit patient, because we are playing against teams that have been together for a while longer – but it will come."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
