New insights have been revealed about how Jerry Flannery, the newly appointed Springbok assistant coach, has already made himself acquainted with the team.
This month, it was announced that Jerry Flannery, a former Ireland hooker and assistant coach at Harlequins, would assume the role of defence coach for the Springbok team.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus had identified Flannery as the perfect addition to the Bok setup last year, following Jacques Nienaber’s departure.
Flannery had previously collaborated with Erasmus and Nienaber during their tenure at Munster in 2017. Nienaber recently shared insights into why he believes the 45-year-old Flannery will mesh well with the team.
“When we were at Munster, I coached alongside him,” Nienaber told the Irish Independent. “He’s quite familiar with Rassie’s methodology, which is very similar to our approach at Munster.
“Jerry even spent some time with us during World Cup preparations. He was with the Boks for a week or two. He’s acquainted with the team dynamics, and the players have already met him during his brief time with us. So, he won’t be coming in as a stranger. He even contributed to coaching the hookers, offering valuable insights on lineout throws, drawing from his experience as an international hooker.
“Although I wouldn’t say he revolutionized our approach, his contributions were indeed valuable. Jerry’s appointment, as well as that of (attack coach) Tony Brown, are tremendous for the team. They’re poised to bring significant value to the Boks.
“During our visits to clubs abroad to see our players, including a visit to Harlequins, we were welcomed to observe their training and team meetings. Their openness allowed us to gain valuable insights into their practices.”
