Former Bulls coach Jake White has come out to bat for Sharks boss John Plumtree, who this week was informed that he would be replaced as head coach at the end of the current season.
The 2007 World Cup-winning coach believes South African rugby has a flawed system that makes life very difficult for provincial coaches — particularly those whose squads are top-heavy with Springboks, as is the case with the Sharks.
“What has happened with Plum is another red flag for me around a problem that is ultimately going to cost South African rugby, because the franchise level of the game is going to end up dying,” White told SuperSport.
“I’m out of the system now, but I know well that you can’t juggle three competitions while there are key players in your team who need to have a mandatory eight-week resting period during those competitions, and you have players managing themselves. Pressure is put on you by player unions if you’re seen not to handle them correctly.
“The coach is expected to be hardworking and committed, but the reality is that there are so many obstacles in your way — like no limit on overseas-based players being allowed to play for the Springboks; a salary cap you have to adhere to; a maximum of 56 contracted players; and Regulation 9 being ignored with the Boks playing outside of the international window. How can you build a crackerjack team to compete under those circumstances?
“In Plumtree’s defence, he has very little access to his top players and doesn’t work with them at all during the pre-season.”
White, who took the Bulls to three United Rugby Championship finals, believes it’s extremely difficult for franchise coaches to get the best out of Springbok players who will always have one eye on their national commitments.
“This is the problem I’m referring to — and the challenge someone like Plumtree faces. I know for a fact, because it was the case when I was at the Bulls, that players are given drills, homework, and extras. Everything is very advanced, and you can’t blame the players if they get into a mindset that the most important thing for them is just to be ready for the November tour, because everything at the Boks is planned long in advance, and players know which games they’ll play.
“Obviously, there will be people who say the Boks should be the priority, but then coaches at franchise level get hired and fired based on what the players do there — and I believe that’s what’s happened to Plumtree. The Sharks contracted too many current Boks, but if the system was right, that wouldn’t be the disadvantage it has become.”
White added that while he doesn’t begrudge the Springboks their success, the imbalance between the national and domestic systems is unsustainable.
“I don’t begrudge the Boks their success, but ploughing everything into the national team — taking upwards of 40 players on a tour at times — comes at a cost to the local rugby system and to the franchises.
“The Boks rely on the franchises being strong to produce players, but there’s very little done to help those franchises. And a coach like Plumtree ends up being hung out to dry — made a scapegoat — when the reality is that he’s the victim of a faulty system.”
