Rugby
Reuters and KweséESPN Staff 6y

Rassie Erasmus praises Allister Coetzee for improved Springboks skills

Rugby

Rassie Erasmus praised his much-maligned predecessor Allister Coetzee on Monday for the improved skills of the South African side that have seen them clinch a three-match home series against England with a game to spare.

Coetzee was sacked as Springbok coach in February after securing 11 wins out of 25 tests -- and the side have been noticeably more potent on attack and confident with the ball in hand in their three tests in 2018.

Erasmus told reporters that was because of a process started by Coetzee last year as he brought the coaches of the country's Super Rugby and PRO14 teams together to discuss how to improve skill levels and training.

"Allister started with that indaba (conference) last year and got the Super Rugby coaches together and chatted about some core fundamentals they wanted to get right," Erasmus said.

"I have got no doubt that the players are better equipped to attack (this year). All the franchises, including the teams that are playing in PRO14, the Cheetahs and Kings, they really try to attack.

"Without a doubt the skill level on attack is better and we are fortunate that Allister started that (process) last year."

Erasmus said he would not make wholesale changes to the Bok side for the dead-rubber third test but with wet weather expected at Newlands, will pick horses for courses as the home side seeks to inflict a sixth test defeat in a row on England.

"We are going to make a few changes, not just because we have already won the series but with the expected wet weather conditions some guys will fit in better. I wouldn't say wholesale changes, but there will be four or five."

"You don't want to make 10 changes for the sake of making changes. I think where we will make changes is with the World Cup in mind to test a few things."

Centres Jesse Kriel and André Esterhuizen are two of the players who might get a look-in in the backline, while veteran hooker Schalk Brits will seemingly also play some sort of role.

"Jesse and André are two guys who really played well in Super Rugby. But you also don't want to experiment too much to loose that momentum. Those guys are definitely guys who deserve a chance," Erasmus said.

"Schalk Brits would come into the reckoning, starting or from the bench. I think in the key positions ... we have all seen in the previous World Cup scrumhalf, flyhalf, hooker, five lock and fullback is where you want to be sure.

"If two or three guys suddenly goes down ahead of a World Cup, you must have those reserves. New Zealand played with five different flyhalves, one guy wasn't even in the camp."

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