Vodacom Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has moved to clarify recent media reports and social media speculation regarding his request to involve Springbok coaches in supporting the team.
Ackermann emphasised that the speculation suggesting Springbok assistant coaches would be helping the Vodacom Bulls during derby week is unfounded.
“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.”
He clarified the nature of his request, saying he called senior coach Johan Erasmus.
“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 Vodacom Bulls, meanwhile, remain focused on their preparations for this weekend’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship showdown against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.