Marais: Bok coach 'must give direction'

The Springboks suffered their fourth defeat of the year when they went down 13-41 to the All Blacks in Christchurch at the weekend. It was also their third straight defeat in this year's Rugby Championship.

Coetzee and his management team have received criticism for their tactics or lack thereof this year and Marais feels that there needs to me more communication between the national setup and provincial coaches on playing style.

However, the Bulls boss also stressed that the game plan at national level should take into the account the type of players playing at Currie Cup and Super Rugby level.

"You can tell a lot of guys to play a certain way, but if you don't have the players and you lose, then you might not be here next year – we [provincial coaches) must also make sure that for the next four years we stay in term," Marais told reporters after his team's win over the Griquas.

"If the Springboks now suddenly want to play a kicking game and we [Bulls] don't have the players and we can't do it then I will be out of a job very quickly if I don't get the results.

"Firstly, the national side must think what their plans are and what they want to do and then we can sit down and discuss it," said Marais.

Marais added that until such time when there is communication from the national coaching setup, the Bulls will continue to develop their game in the best possible way. 

"Maybe certain things we can do the same, but first they [Springboks coaching team] must come to us.

"The Super Rugby guys have spoken a lot – myself and Johan Ackermann [Lions coach], Robbie Fleck [Stormers coach] Gary Gold [Sharks coach] and Deon Davids [Southern Kings head coach].

"Rugby is moving towards a more skilful game. You have to have a good mix between a kicking game and a running game and that's something we need to discuss. 

"Every coach has got his own idea around that, but we need to sit down with the national coach [Allister Coetzee] and see how he thinks." explained Marais. 

By Josh Isaacson

@isaacson_j

@rugby365com