Springbok flank Kwagga Smith believes Johan Ackermann is the right man to coach the Vodacom Bulls.
Ackermann, who led the Lions to back-to-back Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017 before heading overseas, was on Wednesday named the new Bulls coach.
The 55-year-old replaced Jake White, who left the union earlier this month after reports emerged that senior players and assistant coaches had threatened to leave the Bulls if he remained in his role.
“He’s a really brilliant coach,” said Smith when asked about Ackermann on Wednesday. “I enjoyed working with him when I was a youngster and I played under him for a long while [at the Lions]. Unfortunately we couldn’t win a Super Rugby title, but he’s a really good coach.”
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Smith was red-carded for colliding with an airborne opponent just before half time of the 2017 Super Rugby final at Ellis Park against the Crusaders, who went on to win 25-17.
It was particularly heartbreaking for Ackermann, who had turned the Joburg-based franchise around after their relegation from Super Rugby in 2012.
“As a coach he has that ability to get a group of people together, all aligned for the same goal, and I think that’s really important,” Smith added. “He’ll probably make a big success of his career at the Bulls.
“I think the players there are really brilliant and he’ll be able to get them aligned and hopefully win a few trophies.
“I’m really excited to see how he does there.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
