Rassie may coach Stormers

Ex Cheetahs Super 14 coach and current Bok technical adviser Rassie Erasmus has become the front-runner for the post of Stormers coach for the 2008 Super14 competition.

Rassie took the position of Springbok technical adviser after revealing that he would rather work in the background doing analysis than in the high pressure arena that is the domain of a Super14 head coach. However, he may revise his decision if offered the Stormers job.

He would replace the hapless Kobus van der Merwe, who has already been relegated to the position of Western Province Currie Cup coach after continued poor showings in the Super14 competition.

Rassie was initially offered the position of technical assistant under Alan Solomons who was the previous favourite to reprise his role of head coach in Cape Town. But it is now known that Erasmus has changed his mind and is open to offers from the Stormers for the head coach position.

His record in his young coaching career has been impressive at Currie Cup level, leading the Cheetahs to back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. However, his team’s performances in the Super14 have not been as good, finishing 10th and 11th in his two years at the helm.

However, the Cheetahs have not had the same player talent at their disposal as the Stormers have had – making Rassie’s achievements slightly more impressive – while Van der Merwe has been a huge failure as coach in the Cape.