Why SARU mobi unit is a winner for Kings

The South African Rugby Union's mobile coaching unit – headed up by Rassie Erasmus, General Manager: High Performance Teams – is about complete their first full week with the Kings at their training base in Port Elizabeth.

Despite having limited time to prepare for the toughest competition in the world – the result of the financial crisis of the Eastern Province Rugby Union, which forced SARU to take control of the Super Rugby team – Davids believes they will be able to overcome the challenges that awaits them.

He said if they focus on what they can control they should be able to achieve their main goal of improving every week.

And the mobi unit will play a key role in overcoming those obstacles.

"I have strong views in terms of how I see the team going forward," Davids told his first media briefing.

"The way you play is dependant on the personnel, the type of players, you have. Obviously it is also determined by the opposition.

"However, rugby is not about one person, it is a team sport.

"If you can draw from experience and people adding value to what you are doing, it would be silly not to use it."

The Kings mentor said the mobi unit's hugely experience staff – Pieter de Villiers with the scrums, Jacques Nienaber on defence,  Louis Koen with his kicking skills and Erasmus as an excellent strategist – is just what his team needs.

"If you take your ideas and link it with what these consultants, or mobi unit, can bring to the team, it can only be to the benefit of the players," Davids said.

"At this stage every decision we take has to be in the interest of the player.

"It is about giving the player every opportunity to get the best out of him and that will ensure your team's chances of performing are better.

"Quality coaching is part of that."

Davids said they have not decided about the timing of future visits by the mobi unit.

"They still have some other unions that they must work with," he said, adding: "We will assess where we stand with the team, what our needs are, ad work from there."

He said the biggest challenge for the Kings will be to perform week in and week out and to improve every week.

"It is a young team with a handful of experienced guys. It will be a massive learning curve for the players and coaching staff."

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com