Master Mac must be backed
24 Apr 2008
An investment must be made in the skills of Ian McIntosh.
In England they have welcomed the game’s new coaching Messiah in Martin Johnson. It is laughable.
Johnson, England World Cup captain in 2003, is supposedly the man to lead England back to the top of the rugby mountain. The fact that he has never coached a team is secondary to most. The appointment has been described as revolutionary, brave and long overdue.
There has been the odd exception among the critics, most notably former England lock Paul Ackford, who writes for the Sunday Telegraph.
Ackford, generous with his praise of Johnson the player, asks how it is possible that Johnson the player is given such a vote of confidence as Johnson the coach/ manager when he has not a minute’s experience in that facet of the game.
He then adds that he doesn’t believe Johnson will become the first World Cup-winning captain to guide a team to World Cup victory as a coach/manager.
Every English coach in the Premiership must be wondering what happened to the basic requirement of coaching levels or a pecking order determined through experience.
England’s authorities, in denial on the state of their national team, want a quick fix and they believe it will come in the guise of an inspirational former player. They only needed to refer to South Africa’s appointment of Carel du Plessis in 1997 as an example that the reputation of a world-class player is not a guarantee for a successful coach.
Du Plessis was a brilliant wing, but his introduction to international coaching came a decade too early. His lack of experience and his naivety back then proved a deadly cocktail for the Boks. Johnson, like Du Plessis, may find it is easier to play the game than to coach or manage an international team.
The value of the coach in professional rugby must never be underestimated. Good coaches transform average teams and good players into very good ones. Coaches not good enough have the opposite impact.
It is why we in South Africa should value our coaching resources even more. We’ve lost Nick Mallett to Italy and Jake White and Heyneke Meyer currently aren’t involved in South African rugby. But there’s the not so small matter of former Bok and Sharks coach Ian McIntosh.
Mac’s status in South Africa needs no introduction, but it is wrong that he should be a master of ceremonies when so many young coaches are struggling.
McIntosh was one of the World Cup-winning squad’s national selectors and he was deserving of an association with a World Cup-winning team, but his involvement with South African rugby should be greater than advising a national coach on selection.
There is no better individual to coach the coaches. I am not advocating a Director of Rugby position for McIntosh, but if the system allowed for a Director of Rugby then said person’s first appointment should be to include the likes of McIntosh.
Super 14 coaches Eugene Eloff, Frans Ludeke and Naka Drotske, the national under 21 coach and even the Bok coach Peter de Villiers would benefit through any input from McIntosh.
There is no substitute for experience in the job; something England and Johnson will find. South African rugby has men with substance to their CV’s and aspirations to serve the game. Primary to this list is McIntosh.
I don’t agree that coaching has become a young man’s game. It remains the game of students aiming to become masters. Age should never be a factor.
Recognition of the skills of old foxes like McIntosh adds credibility to rugby. Stories like Johnson’s appointment devalue a system that advocates you coach at one level to ultimately coach at the highest level.
Coaching success is earned gradually and this can’t be manufactured without the necessary effort and results because of a perceived lack of time.
197 Comments
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24 Apr 2008, 15:49 pm
#143 SodaJoe: Your opinion noted – seems all quite devided on the subject some 4 some against.
24 Apr 2008, 15:51 pm
Tighthead,
Henning was the top Bok loosehead after Ockie Oosthuizen injury issues curtailed his career back in ’85.
Henning, Povey, Hempies..very solid trio for WP back in 80s.
24 Apr 2008, 15:53 pm
#3 keo: Just a comment on Martin Johnson. I would hang tight until you see what he does. He’s a smart cookie. He’s a competitive guy. He is a leader. What England need is a new approach to exploit the obvious riches in England rugby union. Let us be a little more circumspect. No Daan Human egg on face for breakfast!
24 Apr 2008, 15:54 pm
Heinrich though was bested by Olo Brown back in ’92. Also playing heinrich at 3 after that was a really bad decision.
24 Apr 2008, 15:54 pm
#150 Gr8ter: I think your opinion’s valid too. That’s why we all read and write here. I also think you handled yourself well boet.
24 Apr 2008, 15:54 pm
#142 greatest13gerber: Guy was great in the scrum but it was always a hoot to watch him trundeling with tiny steps back to the play…still laugh thinking about it!
24 Apr 2008, 15:56 pm
#147 stew:
Rugby at the moment in NZ is only working at the community levels.
24 Apr 2008, 15:57 pm
#152 SodaJoe:
Martin will be drawing on all the existing dudes for the coaching stuff. I can’t see a radical tactical change
24 Apr 2008, 15:59 pm
Flippie vd Mewre(mauls, lineout blocking)
Guy Kebble(scrum)
FC Smit(lineout)
Edrich Lubbe(kicking)
guys that offered a lot at their specialist areas BUT nothing esle!
24 Apr 2008, 16:00 pm
#154 SodaJoe: Thanks – got a bit rough there – Mac is an Icon and a great character of SA Rugby so any remark against the old man was going to be risky! Enjoy the debate though – ya learn alot from it – been comming here for a while and read the comments but never got involved b4.
24 Apr 2008, 16:05 pm
#159 Gr8ter:
Then welcome
24 Apr 2008, 16:09 pm
#160 church – like chch but pronounceable: Thank you
24 Apr 2008, 16:10 pm
#149 SodaJoe: I think the most positive aspect of NZ rugby is the club scene where youngsters get involved from an early age and get a sense of belonging – this allows development and allows the club to coach a certain brand of rugby , from grassroots through to 1st open side …… Mexted is very much involved in coaching – check it out http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz
24 Apr 2008, 16:11 pm
#158 greatest13gerber: How tall was Flippie ????
24 Apr 2008, 16:12 pm
153. Greatest.
I remember the playing of Heinrich at 3 very well, and agree with you it was really a bad decision for him.
There is a huge difference between the 2 positions, especially at a very high level where any weakness will be exposed brutally.
24 Apr 2008, 16:12 pm
#159 Gr8ter: Be careful I Find it quite addictive. Especially when things are a little slow at work. Where do you live?
24 Apr 2008, 16:14 pm
#158 greatest13gerber: Gerbs – Flippie was the equivalent of 3 props in size – no wonder he was good at lineout blocking. He was a rolling maul all by himself.
Pity it took him 4 minutes longer than everyone else to get to the ball.
24 Apr 2008, 16:19 pm
#157 church – like chch but pronounceable: Chch I’m not so sure. We will only see when the club season finishes and you see who he picks to play (Step1) and then who is actually in his support staff(Step2) how he addresses the gameplan (Step3).
I think we’re a little early in our judgement.
But then we are South African – circumspection is not a national quality (don’t go there….stop that train of thought … stop …or it’s Yak Skiing for you.).
24 Apr 2008, 16:24 pm
Greatest and others.
Thanks for the chat.
I am off now.
Sleep well wherever you are.
I am going to watch the Martin Scorcese film on the Stones.
24 Apr 2008, 16:24 pm
#167 SodaJoe:
haha Katman was in good form the other night with his Yak Skiing
24 Apr 2008, 16:24 pm
#165 SodaJoe: I realise that – Live in CT but grew up in EC & KZN so I’m a Shark supporter all the way (since they played B section in the old days) Kings park are some of my best memories!
24 Apr 2008, 16:26 pm
#168 tight head: I love it when you hard men get all excited about hookers with legs over your ears – oh sorry that’s not quite what you said, but it I do enjoy the debate and reminisces.
24 Apr 2008, 16:26 pm
#168 tight head:
Cheers Tight Head
I should be asleep already, off to watch Saders in 16 hours
24 Apr 2008, 16:28 pm
#170 Gr8ter: As long as you didn’t go to Dale or Selbourne you’re ok.
24 Apr 2008, 16:29 pm
#172 church – like chch but pronounceable: Are you still in NZ or back in the land of hookers with legs over your eras?
24 Apr 2008, 16:29 pm
ears (you know my typings pathetic)
24 Apr 2008, 16:30 pm
#173 SodaJoe: Muir Collage – played with Garth Wright at primary school then moved to Amanzimtoti – no great rugby schools there!!!
24 Apr 2008, 16:32 pm
Got to go guys – clock watching today!!! Speak to ya soon!
24 Apr 2008, 16:32 pm
#176 Gr8ter: Keep the surfboard on the roof rack.
24 Apr 2008, 16:38 pm
#174 SodaJoe:
No. I am in NZ.
Will be here a few more weeks … maybe even until the final.
I have never spent more than one week in NZ since 1998 so all good fun
24 Apr 2008, 16:39 pm
#178 SodaJoe: Will do!! Cheers!
24 Apr 2008, 16:40 pm
So with age, experience and wisdom being key, was England wrong to get rid of Brian Ashton? He has plenty of experience coaching, but this seemingly impetuous appointment of Johnson has been in response to the deterioration of England Rugby. Ashton did not seem to be able to pull England out of its malaise and things got even worse during the 6 Nations. It simply isn’t true that age and wisdom are correlated. One might have expected Ashton to do better, to be given more time to rebuild England. In any case, who else might England have appointed?
24 Apr 2008, 16:48 pm
Mac ‘bred’ possibly the best ever SA team that we have seen. methinks that Mac’s sharks would murder any of our S14 teams today.
Not surprised Mac had something to do with the ELVs because they would have been right up the 90 Shark’s alley.
As for Carel, he had Honniball and Jouba on the bench – wouldn’t start them. Enough said about his abilities.
24 Apr 2008, 16:56 pm
Chatted to Mac on the plane once…I dont think he wants a bigger role to play. The politics of the SA coach job really did his head in. The job has always been a poisoned chalice. Perhaps if he could do something without being in the firing line of all the b-****, then he would consider it. But I reckon he is happy with a quiet life.
24 Apr 2008, 17:13 pm
#183 4man: I think you’re right.
24 Apr 2008, 17:15 pm
#179 church – like chch but pronounceable: I didn’t know they deported citizens so quickly? Are you hiding in someone’s basement slurping jelly tips for sustenance? Jelly Tips and Telly Tips for the rugby.
24 Apr 2008, 17:29 pm
#185 SodaJoe:
Not hiding … they even gave me another drivers license.
I just had a jelly Tip 5 minutes ago… all good
24 Apr 2008, 17:32 pm
Gotta love the Mac!
24 Apr 2008, 18:15 pm
Why does Mac look like a shock smiley ala
And why is Johnson being hailed as the Messiah… Well, desperation tends to do that. Don’t underestimate his ability either. I get flashbacks of a certain Lions tour in ’97 where Mr Johnson, just by his persona alone, psyched a average Lions team to a series victory!
24 Apr 2008, 18:42 pm
#82 Tripple E: Hilarious!
24 Apr 2008, 18:45 pm
Jake White, coach of the Lions
Heyneke Meyer, coach of the Bulls
Nick Mallet, coach of the Stormers
Rassie Erasmus, coach of the Cheetahs
**** Muir, coach of the Sharks
Wouldn’t that be great! Dreaming positive dreams …
24 Apr 2008, 19:45 pm
Wow, amazing to see how many Stormers supporters there suddenly are here on keo (41%!). Where on earth did they all come from?
Last year it was the few and the proud…
24 Apr 2008, 19:46 pm
Oh, we must be careful, I see the Google Bot is present on this thread.
24 Apr 2008, 21:24 pm
Keeping it real
If you out there…I thought of you the other night when friggin’ Chelsea drew a vital game against Liverpool. Eish… own goal by Liverpool in the dying seconds. Cruel game it is. Chelsea must now have the inside edge at Stamford Bridge with that away goal advantage.
Hope you well.
24 Apr 2008, 21:34 pm
#194 Jinx da Lynx: Jinxie how goes it. I went to see Carbon/Silicon a while ago. Mick Jones from the Clash’s new band. Terrific. They have a song called “why do men fight” – perfect for this site. Actually a great song. Even Groot Blou Blues Brother would dig it.
24 Apr 2008, 21:41 pm
#194 Jinx da Lynx: Jinx – seriously ‘Pool? I thought that you were of the highest quality. But nobody’s perfect I suppose.
Might Whites Marching On Together. Go Leeds. (please, please … I can’t take it anymore)
24 Apr 2008, 22:49 pm
Keo, good point!
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