Maro Itoje believes Super Bowl-style entertainment can benefit rugby union

How many of the top 10 teams are being coached by players who have played at the highest level? Gone are the days of teachers and policemen - now is the era of professional coaches forged out of the professional game.

Which also bodes well for SAs future coaching stocks considering how many players have played in leagues across the globe. Players like PSDT learning from Hansen. Etc.

Nice one Nick. I used to think New Zealand were the masters of gleaning information from their coaches from across the globe. And always felt that SA was missing a trick of their own. Until we started exporting coaches much like New Zelaand does.

Rassie will long be remembered for putting the boks back on track and then on top of the pile. A legend for what he has done, love or hate him.

Long may it last, because of course teams have seasons. We’ve seen the ABs and now possibly the Irish seasons change.

I think what you are hitting on for me is that the health of the coaching pipeline, the quality of the coaches being developed is the best indicator of where sustainable results for international teams will come from.

I think England and Australia have some potential in terms of coaches out there and developing. How and if that is ever successfully brought into the national setup in a thoughtful, integrated way stands to be seen.

Because that’s where Rassie (who had cited the ABs in particular in this regard) has actually been his most successful. Making the springboks the ultimate goal, getting the systems to at least work in some synchronous way despite politics and competing interests. And in a country like SA!

When he moves on from coaching the boks, I sincerely hope World Rugby considers him for some role. Or at least - I hope he leads SA rugby. Perhaps as president of SA rugby.

The man’s mouth might not always seen as coming from the right place but his heart is. And he is a true leader.

PS. I don’t see a lot about France in my feed - and I should look more deeply, but while France has resources currently, I’m not sure what their coaching stocks look like and across the globe. Galthie seems like a generational coaching talent.

PPS. It will be interesting to see how many player turned coaches emerge out of this current springbok era. I think there are a few players who show great potential as future coaches. Having experienced Rassie, and possibly being encouraged and influenced in that direction.

Apart form Vermeulen, I suspect Frans Steyn might make a little dent coming out of the Free State. He’s a good man too. And I think he has good game smarts. He leads with heart too.

I have read that Willie le Roux is another potential. Although I think he’s bat sh1t crazy!

I have a feeling Kitschoff might make a move into coaching too. There are a lot of good rugby brains in the player group. The future looks bright for SA in this regard and with Rassie directing things in some further bigger picture role, I think this bodes well for us and sustaining a season of success for the boks.