Broken promises
20 Jul 2011
GARETH DUNCAN talks to former Springbok scrum coach Os du Randt about Saru not renewing his contract, which props should go to the World Cup, and what’s wrong with the modern scrum.
How do you feel about missing out on this year’s World Cup?
It’s a massive disappointment, but at least I’ll be spending more time at home. I launched a new wine in June and I’ll have the chance to watch my son Thian play for Free State at the U13 Craven Week. I was hoping to work with Ireland heading into the World Cup, as it would’ve given me an opportunity to learn about other scrumming approaches and philosophies, but that fell through. At the moment, I’m just focusing on getting the full-time scrum coach job at the Cheetahs.
Tell us about the incident during the 2010 Springbok end-of-year tour that allegedly led to your contract not being renewed.
We had a team management dinner and then some of us went out for a few beers. Afterwards, I returned to the hotel and went to sleep. The next day, we performed all our duties for the match [against Wales]. I never heard anything from [Bok coach] Peter de Villiers or other management members about the incident.
How was the matter resolved?
Saru didn’t handle the episode correctly. There wasn’t a disciplinary hearing and I received no written warning. If Saru insists there was an incident, then they must prove it. Peter has also never spoken to me about what happened or explained to me why I was axed. He promised me I would go to the World Cup and even suggested I should get a 12-month contract so I could start analysing scrums and South African players in Super Rugby and Europe ahead of the World Cup. But I couldn’t get hold of him after the tour. I left messages on his voicemail and with his PA, but he never called me back. Then I received an e-mail in February informing me that my services would no longer be required. The thing that hurts the most is that when Peter first came to talk to me about being involved with the Boks, he said I must trust him and always be honest with him, because he felt some of his management had betrayed him. Then they used that late-night incident as an excuse to get rid of me.
But the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration] dismissed your case against Saru.
Yes, I was disappointed that it turned out that way. If I can take it further, I will.
Do you have any hard feelings towards the Boks?
It was an honour to work with the players and I will always treasure that experience. I wish them and the management who backed me all of the best. Unfortunately, I can’t say that about all of the Springbok management. If they had been honest about not taking me to the World Cup, I would’ve accepted it. Peter and Saru don’t deserve to be a part of any World Cup success.
How did losing the Bok job affect you?
Financially, it caused some stress. I appointed a manager at my farm so he could run the place when I wasn’t there, especially during the World Cup. I can’t just fire him now that I’m not going anymore. I made promises to him before he left his old job to come work for me.
The Bok scrum improved substantially during your coaching stint. What did you do?
I credit the players as they contributed and worked hard on strengthening the scrums. The fact that they were always willing to listen and learn helped a lot. The team also instilled a sense of self-pride when it came to scrumming.
Who impressed you the most?
Jannie [du Plessis] improved a lot in all areas, especially on defence. Beast [Mtawarira] and Bismarck [du Plessis] also improved as they always wanted to learn.
Schalk Brits and Brian Mujati are two European-based players who performed well up front this season. Should they be in the Bok mix?
Schalk is playing good rugby and should probably be included in the Bok squad, but I don’t think he will be. As for Brian, I don’t think he’s the answer for the Boks.
Which props would you take to the World Cup?
I’d pick Jannie and CJ [van der Linde] as the tighthead props, with Beast and Gurthrö [Steenkamp] as the looseheads.
Would you play John Smit at loosehead?
No, he should only be considered as a hooker.
How vital is Juan Smith’s return from injury?
Juan is crucial to the Boks; he has a big influence on them and the opposition. He should be given cotton-wool treatment until he’s fully fit and 100% healed. He doesn’t need to play before the World Cup.
Is the Springboks’ kick-chase game plan suitable under the current law interpretations?
Yes, but the team will need strong leadership from their management for it to be effective and executed properly. A game plan will only be successful if everybody believes in it.
Who will be the Boks’ biggest threat at the World Cup and who will have the best scrum?
The toughest teams are those they’ll play during the knockout stage, which are likely to be Ireland [quarter-final], the All Blacks [semi-final] and the Wallabies [final]. France or England will have the strongest scrum.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt as a scrum coach?
I’ve learnt so much since starting at the Cheetahs in 2009. The main thing a scrum coach has to do to be successful is sell your ideas and philosophies to the players and make them believe in what you are trying to do. That’s one thing I always do as a coach.
What do you think of the modern scrum?
The stats show that there’s a huge issue at scrum time. Front rowers are struggling to get their timing right with the hit, and referees make it more difficult when they stretch out their call [of ‘crouch, touch, pause, engage’]. Looseheads are also struggling to get their bind right, while hinging is also a problem [where the loosehead’s shoulder line goes under his hips and then rises again]. When the IRB revisits the scrum laws after the World Cup, I believe players should be given more of a free hand to contest at scrum time. Referees should only get involved when there is a safety issue.
What are your future plans?
I want to continue making a difference at the Cheetahs. Right now, I don’t have any plans to become a head coach.
SARU CEO JURIE ROUX RESPONDS TO DU RANDT’S ALLEGATIONS:
‘Os is a Springbok legend and was an asset to the management set-up – his contribution to South African rugby has been outstanding and I’d like to thank him again. He was offered a short-term contract to assist with the Springbok scrum, which he did successfully to the end of 2010. For 2011 the Springbok management identified other needs to further raise the bar for the team, which is why Rassie Erasmus and Prof Derik Coetzee have been taken on. All decisions are taken around our central focus of doing what is best for the Springboks and the choice of which consultants to appoint in 2011 was taken with the team in mind, rather than personalities.’
– This article first appeared in the July issue of SA Rugby magazine. The August issue will be on sale from Wednesday, 27 July.
312 Comments
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20 Jul 2011, 09:46 am
@TurkeyShoot(TurkeyShoot)-45: yes and you know it all?? just another clown
20 Jul 2011, 09:47 am
@he’s not the messiah. he’s a very naughty boy!(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-41:
you are getting your juries confused.
you are thinking about juries els, tackler’s uncle.
20 Jul 2011, 09:47 am
case was dismissed cause there was only a “said” promise…
nothing in writing?…..
20 Jul 2011, 09:47 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-48: On a balance of probabilities he’s being dishonest, given the information at our disposal.
20 Jul 2011, 09:48 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-50: 100% correct bro
BTW when ya inviting me over for the cold one??
20 Jul 2011, 09:48 am
@Staal(Staal)-53: A verbal agreement is still legally binding. As long as consensus was reached.
20 Jul 2011, 09:49 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-54: well you forget as per there Bok contracts , he is not allowed to just blurt everything out in the press , thus he is saying he feels agrieved , but not saying it all
come now mate , surely you understand that??
20 Jul 2011, 09:50 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-52:
eish boet ur on ur stukke again
20 Jul 2011, 09:50 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-56: sure … but to prove a verbal one is way way more difficult….. i think.
20 Jul 2011, 09:50 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-56: and again i am not saying he is innocent at all , WE DONT KNOW ,
20 Jul 2011, 09:50 am
i would have thought a massive oke like Os would have been able to hold his booze quite well…
20 Jul 2011, 09:51 am
@Cheetah 4 Eva(Cheetah 4 Eva)-39:
well, to play the devils avacodo – it might have been out of huge respect for os the legend that they tried to play it quiet. os might have been the one to make the stink forcing their hand?
20 Jul 2011, 09:52 am
@grant10(grant10)-61: who says he didnt??
accordint to the first press release on what ever happened it was Jantjes that was involved
Os seemed to have god the the aid of the kid , and i aint saying Jantjes started the Krap
20 Jul 2011, 09:52 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-56:
the trick is to prove you had one.
I would trust the Divot with an overdue library book.
20 Jul 2011, 09:52 am
prove = proof
goeie genugtig!
20 Jul 2011, 09:52 am
@he’s not the messiah. he’s a very naughty boy!(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-62: and it could be that OS did nothing wrong
WE DONT KNOW
20 Jul 2011, 09:53 am
@grant10(grant10)-61: You’d think, wouldn’t you? I’ve been a a do where Toks had had quite a few and things got very lively there very quickly. So if Os is anything like that I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall!
Toks is a good guy though. I have a lot of time for him.
20 Jul 2011, 09:54 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-51:
Doesn’t take much to know more than you thats for sure
20 Jul 2011, 09:54 am
@ufo(ufo)-32: well mate this is the closest i know to a full account of who was there:
http://www.news24.com/sport24/Rugby/Jantjies-denies-drunk-claims-20110306
20 Jul 2011, 09:54 am
of is dit nou prove – ek is nou so deurmekaar
20 Jul 2011, 09:54 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-57: Well, he doesnt have a Bok contract, whats stopping him.
Secondly, he can produce gems like: ” Peter and Saru don’t deserve to be a part of any World Cup success.” yet can not speak out about the happening of the ill-fated night in question?
I like Os and would love to side with him, he needs to be honest though. Please dont take my criticism of Os here as tacit approval of the way SARU handled the matter, its certainly not the case.
20 Jul 2011, 09:54 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-55: ja, soon as I get the auditors off my back.
20 Jul 2011, 09:55 am
My whole arguement here is neither for or against , its about a man being trashed by some when quite clearly none in here know the real facts
And no doubt the only reason for this article is the Keo journo’s thrive on BS as it gives them hits,
THIS AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER HUMAN
20 Jul 2011, 09:56 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-72: i went past ur possy last week
was seeing okes in Sea Point
20 Jul 2011, 09:56 am
@Staal(Staal)-59: Well at the CCMA your onus of proof is that of ‘a balance of probabilities’, a pretty easy case to make.
20 Jul 2011, 09:57 am
@TurkeyShoot(TurkeyShoot)-68: like i said , another clown
20 Jul 2011, 09:58 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-73: Fair enough. Maybe I expressed myself too strongly.
let me try again: “I feel there is more to this thing than what Os said in the interview”.
20 Jul 2011, 09:58 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-71: mate , i hear ya and i dont think anything bad of what ur saying
my point is just that we dont know
and yes maybe he should be allowed to blurt it all out, give us the facts as public, we might find out who all the culprits are
20 Jul 2011, 09:59 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-77: amen
20 Jul 2011, 09:59 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-72:
SARS?
I could give someone there a call if you like.
I’m doing the same for Julius so it’s no bother.
20 Jul 2011, 10:00 am
@Staal(Staal)-70: damn dutchies hehehe
, yes boet in context of what you were saying PROVE was the correct word
20 Jul 2011, 10:04 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-34: what is your point? firstly you ask me if it was a player of colour would i say the same things and i ask you what does race have to do with this and you sidestep that…next thing you’re saying this is “your argument”, what argument?
os spoke to gareth duncan, do you think his version of we went and had a drink and i came back & slept is the truth?
20 Jul 2011, 10:06 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-82: can you prove it is not???
20 Jul 2011, 10:07 am
and i dont want to know about what you assume or think could have happened
give us the facts oh all knowledgable one
20 Jul 2011, 10:10 am
I mean you telling the man to shut up and go hide on his farm , its the same as saying he is guilty
surely then you must KNOW THE REAL TRUTHS???????????????????????????? and surely you must be aware assumtions is the door to all madness ??
20 Jul 2011, 10:11 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-80: while ur on that phone please get some help for our Transie , he needs it
20 Jul 2011, 10:11 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-73: Well said. Agree.
20 Jul 2011, 10:12 am
Rumour has it Os gave it the joumasepoes when hotel management bought Divvie downstairs in his nightgown and curlers.
I wonder how elton jantjes got past hotel security.
helluva sidestep on that guy.
20 Jul 2011, 10:13 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-83: well the CCMA thinks it’s bullshit, so?
20 Jul 2011, 10:13 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-52:
hahaha no, jurie roux the saru ceo. is this about ruan good looks? hehe
cant say i’d trust jurie els either though. in fact i would’nt trust him at all. definitely the kinda guy who’d wanna go camping.
20 Jul 2011, 10:14 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-88: elton is slippery, check his hairstyle
20 Jul 2011, 10:15 am
staaaaaaarag mettie posts… ek kry nie als gelesie!
20 Jul 2011, 10:15 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-88:
@Puma(Puma)-87: Good morning budda , you well?? and thanks
20 Jul 2011, 10:15 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-86:
No can do.
transie is untouchable.
he is anc royalty.
he calls madiba oom.
xhosanostra.
20 Jul 2011, 10:16 am
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-86: are you assuming if Os was black i wouldn’t want him to tell us the truth? why make this an issue about race Sharks_Lover?
20 Jul 2011, 10:16 am
sounds like os fell out the bus on tour, pdivvy obviously runs a tight ship and decided he was having none of that, sounds a bit archaic, should’ve given Os a warning or something before the bullett or told him face-to-face.
os is a legend but the only question is whether he is actually adding value at scrum time, i.e. why is our scrum still so kak, specifically at TH.
20 Jul 2011, 10:16 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-89: well just maybe he was not allowed to state all the facts there transie i will never agree with you re this one as we dont know the truth,
if the truth came out by all means
20 Jul 2011, 10:16 am
Jeez some of the front-rowers from WP should take one look at that pic above of 39yr old Os and head straight back to the gym!
20 Jul 2011, 10:18 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-95: well we know you well enough from past arguements ??
your reputation preceeds you young man
20 Jul 2011, 10:19 am
@Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.(gunther)-94:
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