THE POISONED CHALICE
MAD COACHES DISEASE [N]: the incontrovertible fact that, at some point is his tenure as Springbok coash, the incumbent will display one, or all, of the following symptoms: a. foot-in-mouth disease; b. selection doubts; c. incomprehensible strategies; d. contradictory behaviour, resulting in: a. dismassal; b. resignation; c. temporary insanity
The Springboks have had several post-isolation coaches, and if they agree on nothing else, they will concur that everyone in the job suffers enormous pressure. Unlike coashes from other rugby-playing countries, they also face many obstacles outside of the game, such as South Africa's complicated politicis and the often unrealistic expectations of both the public and the media. It has been called a posioned chalice, and everyone, from the first post-isolation coach, John Williams, to the incumbent, Heyneke Mayer, can attest to its veracity. Now, for the first time, their journeys are recorded in one book, and as part of one story. The Poisoned Chalice takes an in depth look at each of the coaches in the post-apartheid years, and at the same time examines how the role has evolved over the past two decades. From the triumphs to the controversies, the boardroom to the rugby field, this book reveals exactly what it takes to be the Bok coach, and why each and every one of them, at some point or another in the toughest job in South African sport, lost it. A riveting, often revelatory, and definitely controversial read |