Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'South African players are very willing to listen but are a bit reluctant to change'

(Getty Images)

Former England captain Nick Easter is being hailed as an “exceptional coach” who will make a major impact in Super rugby with the Sharks, who open their season against the Sunwolves in the humidity of Singapore on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Springbok outside half Rob du Preez believes Easter’s knowledge of English rugby can help the Durban based Sharks build on their Currie Cup triumph in the new Super Rugby campaign. Easter has been hired as a coaching consultant and joins Ronan O’Gara in the competition with the former Ireland outside half having enhanced his reputation as a backs coach by helping the Crusaders win the Super Rugby title last season.

O’Gara and Easter are reversing the trend of South Hemisphere coaches travelling to Europe to boost their rugby CVs.

Du Preez, who has returned from a successful three month period with Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership, said: “I have really enjoyed Nick’s input and it is a different voice and he did a lot for us in the Currie Cup working on the shape of our attack and our defence.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

“He also looked at our break down work and I believe he is an exceptional coach and will enjoy the Super Rugby which is right up there with the Premiership.”

Easter believes he will gain vital insight and experience of South Hemisphere rugby while the former Harlequins defence coach hones his skills at the Sharks and has moved his young family to Durban. He said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge and career wise it will be great to be involved with a completely different league and environment plus all of the travelling that comes with the Super Rugby season. There is no month long break this time and so it is being played out as a long sprint.

Nick Easter, Joe Worsley and James Haskell of England line up prior to the RBS Six Nations match between Ireland and England at Croke Park. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT

“I am going to be learning a lot about taking on New Zealand, Australian teams, plus the South African franchises and the Jaguares from Argentina. When I was out with the Sharks during the Currie Cup campaign I was asking the coaches about the different challenges posed by the teams from those countries. It will be fascinating to deal with the different nuances and to get in-depth details of the, styles, philosophies of the different teams. Analysing those teams takes that to a different depth

“I love all aspects of coaching but the thing that fascinates me is the personal relationships and trying to get the best out of each player. Every culture is different and you cannot go into something all guns blazing and you have to win people over. What I found during the Currie Cup is that South African players are very willing to listen but are a bit reluctant to change and I want players to challenge and take ownership. The more I am exposed to different situations the far better I will be in my coaching career.”

Head coach Rob du Preez, the father of Sharks players Rob, Dan and the injured Jean-Luc, is expecting a difficult opener with the Japanese opponents. “The Sunwolves are an incredibly strong and efficient team when they play in Singapore and Tokyo.”

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 34 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search