Johan Ackermann has lambasted the media for their coverage regarding the involvement of Springboks coaches in the Bulls set-up over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
It comes after there was criticism over the decision to allow four national team coaches to help out at the Bulls following the Pretoria outfit\u2019s poor start to the season.<\/p>\n
Felix Jones, Duane Vermeulen, Jerry Flannery and Andy Edwards have been given permission to aid Ackermann after two of his coaches, Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw, were axed.<\/p>\n
Last weekend, a well-connected rugby account, Oom Rugby, broke the news of the involvement of the Springboks<\/a> coaches at the Bulls<\/a> and Ackermann<\/a> expressed his disappointment that he was not contacted by the media for clarity on the story.<\/p>\n \u2018Very disappointed in the media\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI am very disappointed in the media, for only now asking the question,\u201d he said on Friday during the Bulls\u2019 team announcement for their clash against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is funny how you guys run with the stories that social media spreads. Everybody jumped on the wagon, started rumours and then it became a whole thing.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s a way to sell more tickets, get the game more spicy. I don\u2019t know why you guys did it. Everybody\u2019s got my number. I don\u2019t know why you didn\u2019t just call me.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulls are currently on a five-match losing streak in all competitions and Ackermann explained that his side\u2019s poor defence prompted him to contact Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus to request assistance.<\/p>\n SA Rugby make significant announcement in wake of Bulls backlash after Johan Ackermann forced to defend Springboks involvement<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEverybody makes this issue about us missing tackles and conceding five tries [per match],\u201d he said. \u201cIf all the \u2018coaches\u2019 out there are typing messages and commenting on it, then I must ensure we are addressing the right stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cAre we feeling the pressure and maybe missing stuff?<\/p>\n Conversation with Rassie Erasmus<\/p>\n \u201cI phoned Rassie and said: \u2018Listen, while your coaches are not doing anything at the moment\u2019. Like I did with the Lions when I was there.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was clear that the Springbok coach has a mobi-unit and that mobi-unit is available [to whoever needs it], like the Sharks have done, as the Lions have done in the past.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the Springboks trained for two weeks at the Johannesburg Stadium, they had free access to watch all the Bok training sessions, meet with the coaches, sharing ideas.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, all of a sudden, it\u2019s this big issue only because somebody who doesn\u2019t know what he\u2019s talking about leaked this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Ackermann said it was not unusual to bring in outside coaches and believes it will be a good thing to that the Springboks assistants come in to identify some of the issues which have caused problems for the Bulls so far this season.<\/p>\n \u201cCoaches speak to each other and share ideas. That\u2019s the reality,\u201d explained Ackermann. \u201cIf you think you know everything, you\u2019re on the wrong path.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n