By Bertie Jacobs
A rugby fraternity is a band of like-minded brothers, a group of men (and women) who believe that no inch should be given in the pursuit of winning. There are the godfathers and the custodians of the game, the administrators and the various specialists employed to ensure that this goal is reached. But, none are more in the spotlight than the coaches who know that their professions are akin to a revolving door. Coaches demand excellence and supporters even more so.
Their work is judged by thousands, scrutinised by journalists and teams are public property. It is not an enviable position and one reserved for the most hardened of characters.
During my many years in Potchefstroom and at the North-West University I’ve had the privilege of working in a journalistic capacity with many of the coaches at both the NWU and the Leopards – the twin pillars of this specific fraternity. With no rugby currently on the radar, I thought it might be fun to look back at some of the NWU Rugby Institute coaches who have guided the team through the Varsity Cup from the beginning of my tenure.
Rudy Joubert: The former Springbok technical advisor and Bulls Super Rugby mentor was a high-profile signing, but his reign did not always deliver the required results. He could appear aloof at times, but once he got to know you, the real Rudy came to the fore. Two memories that stand out: I once phoned Rudy the morning after a game and I could hear his attention wasn’t with me. In fact, he was properly distracted. “Bertie,” he fumed, “I’m going to phone you right back, I’m just going to sort out this *expletive* who parked behind me and I can’t move my bakkie!”. As said, fortune did not always favour him, but after a string of massive scores during the club championships, he leaned over a cold beer and with a wry smile said: “Have you ever seen a side score this many tries?” I was young and still wet behind the ears, but he always gave me the time of day.
Hannes Esterhuizen: Annemie Bester, who now works as the communication manager at the Lions Rugby Company, first described Hannes to me as a gentleman and there isn’t a better assessment of the man. He was mostly known for his work with the junior sides before taking over from Rudy mid-season. It was a tough ask, but he was undeterred and the team played some stellar rugby. Hannes has always been as concerned with his players’ academic results as with their performances on the field.
Robert du Preez: Robert, as the Durban media can attest during his time with the Sharks, was intensity personified. Contacting him after a loss was not the most enviable of tasks. The erstwhile Springbok scrum-half was a hard man. A former mentor of Robert at the then PU for CHE once told me that if there were red cards in Robert’s playing days, he never would have been on the field.
Jonathan Mokuena: A cool customer that was immensely popular with his players. Jonathan guided the NWU to its first-ever Varsity Cup title. The former Springbok Sevens star had a notoriously tumultuous relationship with the former Lions coach, John Mitchell. Mitchell, who has coached teams like the All Blacks and the Western Force, has been the source of many a mutiny within a side and, I can tell you this, there is no love lost between those two. Jonathan did not mince his words when talking about Mitchell. “That man…,” he would say before going into the juicy details. He coached the NWU to a stunning first Varsity Cup title.
André Pretorius: He kicked the Springboks to victory against the All Blacks in Rustenburg and landed four drop-goals against England at Twickenham. You would never have guessed it, judging by how he works with children in the local community. André is as down to earth a person as you, with an undiluted enthusiasm for the game. André might be far from the adoring crowds of Ellis Park, but he has found a home in Potchefstroom. Long may it remain so.
Each of these characters has left an indelible mark on our game in the North West province and at the North-West University. To reflect on their respective bodies of work as the NWU is to glance back in time, to remember those failures and successes that shape a community. In their absence, I thank them.
