The obscure former Bok assistant the Cheetahs come up against
When they play Ulster in their Pro14 opener on Friday night, the central franchise should be wary of what the opposition coach knows...
It’s a small world: Les Kiss, Ulster’s coach, actually helped mentor the Springboks in the early 2000s. Photo: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images.
It’s said the world is rather small … and rugby is no exception.
When the Cheetahs become the first South African franchise to play in Europe’s Pro14 on Friday evening, they’ll actually come up against a former Springboks assistant coach.
But he’s not necessarily well known.
Les Kiss has been Ulster’s – the Cheetahs’ first opponent – head coach for three years.
It’s been a long road for the 52-year-old Rugby League legend.
Having started out as an assistant coach with the London Broncos in the league code, Kiss got his big break with the Springboks.
In early 2001, then national coach Harry Viljoen went on a recruitment drive for foreign assistants.
He had already convinced Australian Tim Lane to come on board and was swayed after Kiss got recommended as defence coach.
Viljoen, a self-made millionaire as an investment manager, was only in the job for about 16 months when he quit.
But Kiss managed to build some of his network during that time.
“I coached with the Springboks for a season, 11 Test matches and coached in South Africa for about 12-18 months,” he was quoted as saying by the official Pro14 website.
“That was around 2001, before I joined the Waratahs. It’s where I forged my relationships with Heyneke Meyer and Gert Smal and the like. I also became friends with Rassie Erasmus. I coached him when he was still playing.”
Erasmus, whose still on Irish side Munster’s payroll, returns to South Africa in January as Saru’s new director of rugby.
Kiss is excited to see what the new presence of the Cheetahs and Kings offers the tournament.
“It’s an interesting country, they are a rugby-rich nation. They are talented and a crazily physical nation,” he said.
“The two areas we are talking about with Eastern Province and the Bloemfontein area, they are rich with tradition so they are going to be well-resourced and tough.”
Despite the Cheetahs stepping into the unknown, Ulster aren’t exactly going to rest on their laurels.
“The Cheetahs are going to be a tough, tough match. What they can bring to the set-piece, they are explosive athletes and they are going to be pumped. This is their lifeline so they’ve got a new lease of life,” said Kiss.
“I approach the game with trepidation but also excitement and hopefully we’re good enough to do a job. The uncertainty is something you have to deal with. The teams who can deal with that the best are probably the ones who will get over some difficult moments.”
