Adnaan Mohamed
The Stormers–Bulls rivalry rarely needs a spark, but this week a murmur from the Springbok camp has crackled through the build-up, adding intrigue to Saturday’s Vodacom URC north-south derby at Cape Town Stadium.
Stormers defence coach Norman Laker admitted the Cape side was surprised by SA Rugby’s decision to allow members of the Springbok coaching and performance group (Felix Jones, Jerry Flannery, Duane Vermeulen and Andy Edwards) to assist the Bulls on a short-term basis.
For Laker, the timing felt as unusual as a line-out call changed mid-throw.
“It was quite interesting for me to see that, in such a big week, they’re bringing the Springbok coaches in to help the Bulls,” Laker said.
“Normally, the national coaches don’t really help teams when there are derbies involved. That’s always been the case.”
He stressed there was no accusation of foul play, only a break from tradition.
“In the past, guys like Felix Jones and Daan Human have assisted franchises when we were playing overseas opposition. Felix has helped us before, Daan has come in to help with scrummaging – but never ahead of a local derby,” he explained.
Pressed on whether the Bulls might gain an unfair edge, Laker kept his feet behind the advantage line.
“I can’t say if it’s a fair or unfair advantage. I just find it interesting. That’s all I can really say.”
Despite the chatter, Laker insisted the Stormers remain focused on their own execution rather than who is holding the clipboard across the halfway line.
“It doesn’t matter who coaches the team this week. A north-south derby is a game where players don’t need motivation. They’ll come out guns blazing, backs against the wall, wanting to win.”
Veteran scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, set for his first Stormers-Bulls derby after eight seasons in England and France, echoed the sentiment of controlled aggression.
“You hear from the boys how big this fixture is,” Reinach said. “It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be intense, and it’s about who fronts up on the day.”
Ackermann: ‘Perspective, not playbooks’
On the Highveld, Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann moved to clear the air, rejecting suggestions that Springbok assistant coaches were actively embedded with his squad during derby week.
“I never asked for that, and Rassie 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 – it was never our intention.”
Ackermann said speculation had gained momentum without the full picture.
“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 that his request was about alignment rather than assistance in match planning.
“I said, you’ve always made your team of coaches available, and I’d love it if someone like [coach] Jerry Flanerry could come in and look at our defensive systems and share some ideas. 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.”
Any collaboration, Ackermann added, would be rotational and realistic.
“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 drew a clear boundary between advice and authorship.
“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.”
As the derby approaches, the debate has already kicked and chased. Soon, though, the noise will fade, and only the collisions will speak. This is proof once again that no amount of expertise off the field can replace muscle, mindset and moments when north meets south.
