OPINION: The real loss that is hurting South African teams

South Africa has an embarrassment of riches, with players scattered across the globe playing for various teams and even adopted countries.

We have seen the likes of Rory Kockott, Pieter de Villiers, and, more recently, Paul Willemse all representing France.

Currently, Scotland has three South African-born players in their regular playing squad – Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn.

And let’s be honest, they are no real loss to South Africa or any of the local franchises who keep on producing top-quality players year in and year out.

The issue South Africa has is the intellectual property that’s lost to the country, with many top coaches imparting their knowledge to overseas-based teams.

We have seen the decline of the Lions since the departure of Johan Ackermann after guiding the side to two Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017, before opting to further his career with Gloucester.

In the Lions’ defence, many top players departed with Ackermann and signed with other teams, but there has been more than enough time to rebuild since then, and sadly, we have not seen any progress under Ivan van Rooyen.

The article continues below…

*See also: Movements in The Den: The record that will see most coaches fired

ADVERTISEMENT

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rugby 365 (@rugby365com)

I’m not suggesting that Van Rooyen is a bad coach.

The same counts for John Plumtree, whose Sharks have blown hot and cold in the United Rugby Championship and European Cup since he returned, with a star-studded squad most teams would envy.

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White coached various teams and won trophies before returning to South Africa in 2020.

White immediately clinched two Currie Cup titles and the Super Rugby Unlocked trophy.

Despite falling short in two United Rugby Championship Finals, the Bulls are still a feared team under the mentorship of the World Cup-winning coach.

White is just one example of how important it is to also get quality coaches back to South Africa, and not just players.

Another example is Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who turned Munster’s fortunes around before returning to South Africa in 2018, where he took the Springboks from their darkest period in the professional era to becoming world beaters.

@rugby365com takes a look at five of the best coaches that’s currently lost to the South African system.

No.5 Heyneke Meyer

The former Bulls and Springbok coach is currently the managing director of Invictus Sport, which is an event, entertainment and leadership management company.

Before his current occupation, he was the Director of Rugby of Major League Rugby outfit Houston Sabercats, where former Bulls coach Pote Human is the current head coach.

No.4 Sean Everitt

The former Sharks mentor came through the ranks with the Durban-based outfit since 2008.

In 2019, he was appointed as the side’s Currie Cup coach before being promoted to Super Rugby head coach in 2020, where the Sharks were on top of the Super Rugby table before the global pandemic ended the season.

Despite some turbulent times, when he was released from his position, Everitt bounced back to take the reins at Edinburgh.

His side recently eliminated the Bulls in the Challenge Cup to advance to the semifinals and currently occupies eighth position on the United Rugby Championship table, with just three points separating them and the fifth-placed Munster.

No.3 Johann van Graan

A three-time Super Rugby-winning assistant coach with the Bulls and a former Springbok assistant coach, Johann van Graan is currently the head coach of the Premiership side Bath.

His side has won 11 out of 13 matches and is currently on top of the Premiership table, standing 10 points clear of the second-placed Bristol Bears.

Van Graan’s side are huge favourites to clinch the Premiership title this season and are in the Challenge Cup semifinals, where they will face Sean Everitt’s Edinburgh.

No.2 Franco Smith

Franco Smith has tasted success at different levels as a head coach.

He went unbeaten with the university outfit Shimlas in 2015 to clinch the Varsity Cup.

He took the reins with the Cheetahs the following year, where he would win the Currie Cup and would repeat the triumph in 2019.

He was also an assistant Springbok coach in 2017 and the head coach of Italy between 2019 and 2021.

In 2022, he made the move to Glasgow Warriors and won the URC title against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld a year later.

The Warriors are currently second on the URC table behind Leinster.

No.1 Jacques Nienaber

The double World Cup-winning coach is currently a senior coach at Leinster, where he is mainly responsible for the defensive duties.

Recently, Nienaber’s side blanked Harlequins (62-0) and defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors (52-0), in the Champions Cup Round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively.

His side is also on top of the URC table and looks set to break a championship drought that stems from 2021, when they last won the Pro14 title.

Leinster are also well on track in the Champions Cup, where they have been runners-up for the last three seasons, with their last title claimed in 2018.