Johan Ackermann shuts down ‘ridiculous’ rumours of Springboks interference at Bulls

Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has emphatically denied that the Springbok Mobi-Unit will be involved in his team’s preparations for Saturday’s north-south URC derby with the Stormers in Cape Town.

Ackermann said that the speculation that this would be the case is unfounded. “I never asked for that, and Rassie [Erasmus] also said it wouldn’t be ideal,” Ackermann explained.

“The thought that they would be in camp this week is ridiculous, and I challenge any press photographer to get a picture of a Bok coach at Loftus this week. That was never our intention.”

Ackermann expressed frustration at the misinformed reporting: “The story was spread without the facts, and nobody bothered to speak to me. The truth is simple: I assessed everything and wanted a fresh pair of eyes to look at our defensive structures and bounce ideas off.”

He clarified the nature of his request, saying he called Springbok coach Erasmus.

“I said, you’ve always made your team of coaches available, and I’d love it if someone like [defence coach] Jerry Flannery could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas," Ackermann said.

"I don’t expect the Bok coaches to put a plan together on how to win — that is my job as head coach. I have my own system; it was never my idea to secure plans.”

Ackermann added that any collaboration would be practical and rotational: “You can’t expect the Bok coaches, one of whom lives in Ireland, to be at Loftus every week. I’d be happy if they rotated, which is where the idea of involving Duane Vermeulen and Felix Jones came in.”

He concluded: “I would never ask Rassie for game plans, merely a careful eye on what we are doing. This is about alignment and perspective, not about outsourcing our coaching.”