Tuesday 12 April 2016 18:44, UK
Thinus Delport says newly appointed Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has worked his way to the top, and is ready for the challenge of taking charge of one of the top sides in world rugby.
Heyneke Meyer stepped down as coach of the Boks following the 2015 World Cup, and earlier this week Coetzee was offered a four-year contract as his replacement.
Coetzee was assistant coach of the Springboks when they won the 2007 World Cup under Jake White - a coaching setup that also included current England coach Eddie Jones - before taking charge of the Stormers for six years.
"This is a new page for South African rugby after the World Cup. The quicker Allister Coetzee can get the team up and running, the better."
He then went to Japan for a short stint with the Kobelco Steelers before the South African Rugby Union approached him to coach the national side, and it's a move that former Springbok Delport has welcomed.
"He's a very experienced and accomplished coach who has worked his way to the top," said Delport. "He's had various assistant coach roles at different levels before taking control of professional setups.
"He's also been in the Springbok environment before as an assistant coach, so he's definitely got the experience to take over as the head coach of South Africa.
"There's no doubting he has a good rapport with the players he's worked with; he's easy-going and very approachable.
"To go with that he now has the technical ability that he's built over the years, so in terms of timing, it's right for him to take the step up now."
Despite not winning the Super Rugby tournament with his former side the Stormers, Delport believes that Coetzee will be able to get the best out of the Springbok players at his disposal.
"At the end of the day it all depends on the players you have access to and how well they work together.
"Although he didn't win any Super Rugby titles he took the Stormers to semi-finals and finals over the years and they also topped the South African conference.
"With the challenges South African rugby faces in terms of talent drain to Europe, they still have to compete with the best of Australia and New Zealand, but in the Springbok setup he will have access to all the top talent in South Africa and that will make a difference."
Delport says that Coetzee was the logical choice to take over from Meyer due to an absence of seasoned coaches in South Africa's domestic game.
"If you look at all the coaches in charge of the Super Rugby sides, they are relatively inexperienced with the exception of Gary Gold at the Sharks.
"Johan Ackerman and Swys de Bruin have done some exceptional work at the Lions and are very promising, but despite winning the Currie Cup they have not managed to dominate on the Super Rugby scene just yet.
"Robbie Fleck at the Stormers and Franco Smith at the Cheetahs have only just started out, so in terms of South African coaches who were available, Coetzee was the best option."
The former Springbok says Coetzee may eventually employ an attacking strategy with the Boks, but he believes that victories will be the top item on the agenda when Coetzee officially takes over.
"I don't think he's going to revolutionise the way the Springboks play. If you look at the type of game that the South African franchises are playing in Super Rugby this year, they are moving towards a ball-in-hand approach and I think he will follow that trend.
"You can't shy away from the set piece and a strong defensive game, but he will want to play an expansive style ultimately.
"This is a new page for South African rugby after the World Cup. The quicker he can get the team up and running, the better."
Getting South Africa off to a winning start won't be easy for Coetzee, whose new side welcomes Ireland for a three-match tour in June. Despite the visitors' poor showing in recent tournaments, the 18-test international says the Irish will offer a stern test for Coetzee in his first outing with the Springboks.
"South Africa are already a bit behind in their preparations for the June internationals. Ireland had a disappointing World Cup and Six Nations, but the last time they played the Boks they outsmarted and outmuscled them so Allister has his work cut out for him."
