Allister’s ‘cabinet’ reshuffle

Coetzee bids to beef up Bok coaching team

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee fired defence coach Chean Roux yesterday before naming what he believes is a strengthened management squad for next month’s tour to Britain and Italy.

Golden Lions defence specialist JP Ferreira and Free State Cheetahs head coach Franco Smith will join the Boks for their four-match tour.

Kicking coach Louis Koen has also been added and he will step into the role he had under Heyneke Meyer for four years.

The Boks play the Barbarians and three tests – against England‚ Italy and Wales – and desperately need to turn their season around after four wins in nine tests.

Defence has been one problem‚ but so has attack.

Against the All Blacks alone‚ the Boks conceded 15 tries in two matches, only scoring one.

They have conceded 27 tries in nine matches and only touched down 15 times.

Roux‚ who was brought in at short notice as defence coach for the Rugby Championship‚ has been relieved of his duties. Smith will work on attack and provide mentorship for the inexperienced Mzwandile Stick‚ who has struggled at this level.

Ferreira’s appointment is an interesting one.

The Lions‚ who made the 2016 Super Rugby final‚ conceded 51 tries in 18 matches this year‚ or nearly three per match. Their defence was hardly water tight.