Bulls land French kicking coach for All Black match
It will be the proverbial full circle for renowned kicking coach Nicolaas ‘Vlok’ Cilliers when the Bulls face off against the All Blacks in the third match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Cilliers, 58, earned his only Springbok cap as a replacement against New Zealand at Kings Park, in Durban, on 17 August 1996.
Now, 30 years on, he will face the feared Kiwis as the Bulls’ kicking coach.
Having completed his stint with the French national team (where he coached from 2019 to 2026), Cilliers took up his new position as a kicking consultant in Pretoria this past Monday.
His contract runs through to the end of the year.
“It is a massive occasion,” Cilliers told Jan de Koning, adding: “Making it even more unique is that in the week that I rejoin the Bulls, they are playing the All Blacks.”
Cilliers has been a specialist kicking consultant and coach for major teams in South Africa and Europe, most notably serving the Bulls, Western Province/Stormers, and the French national team.
He worked with Springboks Derick Hougaard and Morné Steyn, helping the Bulls to win three Super Rugby titles and three Currie Cup crowns between 2004 and 2014.
After leaving Loftus, Cilliers joined the Stormers before linking up with Fabien Galthié’s France coaching team in 2019.
“Facing the All Blacks makes this an exciting and special week,” the former flyhalf said.
Turning his attention to his current task, he said he is looking forward to working with the Bulls’ new recruit, flyhalf Curwin Bosch.
“I had a one-on-one with him this week, just to get to know the person.
“I am also looking forward to working with [No.9] Embrose Papier, as well as [veteran fullback] Willie le Roux.
“Also, when the Springboks eventually return, I can get to know them.”
Facing the All Blacks after the tourists dismissed the Stormers (38-21) and Sharks (54-0) in their first two tour matches, he expects them to play typical New Zealand rugby – a high-tempo, expansive game, with a good dosage of physicality.
“Then there is the aura surrounding the team,” Cilliers said, adding: “The whole of South Africa is excited to have them back after 30 years for a tour where they also face domestic opposition.
“For us as a coaching team, it is exciting to measure ourselves against the All Blacks.
“It is not our strongest team, but it gives other players a chance to face an international team.
“It will be good to see how these players cope in a high-pressure match.
“There are enough examples of players using their opportunities and becoming Springboks.
“It is a golden opportunity for these Bulls to put their hands up.”
Having come from France where it took him some time to get his views and ideas across, his influence this week has been very limited.
“I had some meetings and brought a few ideas across, but you need to avoid an overload of information.
“Hopefully we can see snippets of the direction we want to move in.”
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