Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has been fuming over misinformation spread surrounding the Bulls’ request for assistance from the Springbok management team.
While the assistance is available to all teams should they request it from the Boks, and if it fits in with the Boks availability, some in Cape media circles have tried to spin it as the Boks helping the Bulls to try and beat the DHL Stormers this weekend in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby in Cape Town.
While it was never likely that the Boks would help out in a derby week, the focus for the Bulls is on rectifying things long term rather than one off games.
Ackermann released a statement saying he never asked Rassie Erasmus, the Springbok coach to divulge any secrets, nor anything that would be of value in the Stormers game.
“I never asked for that, and Rassie also said it wouldn’t be ideal,” Ackermann explained.
“The thought that they would be in camp this week is ridiculous, and I challenge any press photographer to get a picture of a Bok coach at Loftus this week – it was never our intention.”
Ackermann expressed frustration at the misinformed reporting: “The story was spread without the facts, and nobody bothered to speak to me. The truth is simple: I assessed everything and wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look at our defensive structures and bounce ideas off.”
Ackermann clarified what he actually asked the Bok coach and the value it would bring especially after the Bulls changed their coaching structures and fired their two assistant coaches this week.
“I said, you’ve always made your team of coaches available, and I’d love it if someone like [coach] Jerry Flanerry could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas. I don’t expect the Bok coaches to put a plan together on how to win – that is my job as head coach. I have my own system; it was never my idea to secure plans.”
Ackermann added that any collaboration would be practical and rotational: “You can’t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I’d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.”
He concluded: “I would never ask Rassie for game plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching.”
The Bulls, according to the statement meanwhile, remain focused on their preparations for this weekend’s United Rugby Championship showdown against the Stormers in Cape Town.