TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017 SPORTS RUGBY SA Rugby backs coach Coetzee despite woeful year CAPE TOWN: South Africa have retained there are changes to his technical team The Boks are also on the hunt for a port at the head of our most prized their 12 tests in 2016, his first season at beleaguered head coach Allister Coetzee with assistant coach Mzwandile Stick specialist defence coach and have been national asset,” SA Rugby president Mark the helm of the team. “Last year was an following a review of the worst season in dropping out to work with the national in talks with former Bok Brendan Venter, Alexander said. incredibly tough one for the Springboks the country’s test history in 2016, SA Under-20 side, and the addition of according to widespread media reports, “Franco Smith will continue the work and all of the rugby community suf- Rugby said yesterday. Cheetahs coach Franco Smith on a per- who has a contract with Italy in the same he began with the backs and attack at fered,” Alexander said. The Springboks suffered a number of manent basis. role until 2019. the end of last year while we are very “We weighed many factors in the unwanted firsts last year, including a Smith is much admired in South That position remains open until excited about the new defensive coach review process but we believe that these home defeat by Ireland and a loss in Africa and will work with the backs, as he “contractual details are finalised”, accord- we have identified to address matters changes will strengthen the Springbok Italy, as well as an embarrassing 57-15 did towards the end of 2016, while ing to a statement from SA Rugby. “Our raised during the review. “We expect to management hand.” hammering at the hands of New Zealand Johann van Graan and Matthew coaching review was focused on the be able to confirm that appointment The Boks are next in action in June in Durban. Proudfoot have retained their positions Springboks and we identified two areas shortly.” SA Rugby have retained Coetzee when they host France for three test Coetzee will remain at the helm, but among the assistants. to give Allister Coetzee additional sup- despite the side winning only four of matches at home. — Reuters Bruised Saints take solace from Gabbiadini’s star turn LONDON: A bruised Southampton squad ing Gabbiadini’s second goal as “phenome- licked their wounds yesterday after narrow- nal”. That strike, where he reacted first to ly losing a pulsating League Cup final to beat Chris Smalling and fire past David de Manchester United, but can draw much Gea, capped a sizzling performance, during consolation from the confirmation that in which they outplayed United for huge Manolo Gabbiadini they have unearthed a chunks of the game. goal-scoring diamond. The Wembley showing was in stark con- The Italian, signed from Napoli last trast to some of their lukewarm perform- month, scored twice in Sunday’s Wembley ances in the league this season, and the showpiece to draw the Saints level, only for players say they will use this experience to Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score the winner with kickstart their campaign. the match headed to extra-time. “We showed our character and determi- Indeed Gabbiadini can count himself nation,” midfielder James Ward-Prowse said. unlucky not to have notched a hat-trick on “Everyone can be proud, we can come his Wembley debut, after television replays away with our heads held high. showed his 15th minute strike should not “This has given us an incentive to kick have been ruled out for offside. our season on.” Gabbiadini and his almost Saints manager Claude Puel pulled no preternatural nose for a goal is sure to fea- punches afterwards in praise of his new hit- ture strongly if Saints are to climb the man. “He scored three goals and was the Premier League table from their current best player of the final,” said the position of 13th. Frenchman. “He is helping us to be more clinical,” “He was better than Ibrahimovic. Both Puel said, with maximum understatement. players know how important it is to score “It’s important for the team to keep this goals. He’s now scored five goals in three spirit, with the same attitude. games, it should be six of course, and it’s “We need to make sure that we take our fantastic for him and for the team.” chances in the Premier League now.” Puel was not alone in praising the slen- The Saints get a chance to put their der 25-year-old, with United boss Jose plans in action on Saturday when they visit Mourinho also full of admiration, describ- 12th-placed Watford. — Reuters LONDON: Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates with the trophy after his side won the League Cup Final soccer match by beating Wolfsburg hires Jonker to Southampton 3-2 at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday. — AP save it from relegation SOCCER WOLFSBURG: Wolfsburg hired former Magath, Lorenz-Guenther Koestner and assistant coach Andries Jonker as coach Hecking. He also had spells in the Ibrahimovic will ‘stop on top’ yesterday in a bid to save the team from Netherlands and at Barcelona. relegation. Under Ismael, who took over on an The 54-year-old Jonker, who was last interim basis on Oct. 17 and was made per- but is coy on United future working for Arsenal’s youth team, signed a manent when no better candidates were deal to take over with immediate effect found, the club slumped to nine losses in until 2018 as Wolfsburg’s third coach of the 15 league games with only five wins. LONDON: Ever the showman, Zlatan I am able to do,” Ibrahimovic said. “People who And he knows just how much United is rely- season. “Andries Jonker knows Wolfsburg There have been five losses in seven Ibrahimovic seems to be reveling in maintaining know me from the locker room know that I train ing on him for goals. No other player in the and regularly kept in touch with the club games across all competitions since the the suspense. Why accept a one-year contract very hard ... and I need to suffer.” squad has even reached double figures with the even after his switch to London. Both were winter break, despite several additions, extension from Manchester United now when next-highest scorer, Juan Mata, 17 behind with decisive factors that allowed us find this including Turkey attacking midfielder you can sustain the ambiguity and add to the SATISFYING nine. “Do I need to do it? In my head I’m never top-solution in such a short timeframe,” Yunus Malli and highly rated Dutch mid- mystique? Ibrahimovic reaps the rewards. Sunday’s tri- satisfied,” Ibrahimovic said. “I always want more. Wolfsburg sporting director Olaf Rebbe fielder Riechedly Bazoer, who has played “Let’s see what happens,” Ibrahimovic said umph under the Wembley arch took his career I’m hungry to do more. That is my mentality.” said. The Dutch coach will take over from only 45 minutes. after his free kick and header helped United win haul of winners’ medals to 32, augmenting a col- Had it not been for Ibrahimovic, United might be Valerien Ismael, who was fired on Sunday. Friday’s 2-1 loss at home to Werder the League Cup on Sunday. “I will stop on top. If I lection from Ajax, Milan clubs Inter and AC further back in the Premier League standings Ismael’s predecessor, Dieter Hecking, was Bremen forced the change, particularly in don’t perform, if I don’t bring results, I will not Milan, Barcelona and PSG. than sixth place. If Mourinho’s side doesn’t make fired seven games into the season. light of Hecking’s good work at Borussia play,” the Swede added. “I will not be like other “People always say I’m difficult to handle and the top four - or win the Europa League - it will Volkswagen-backed Wolfsburg, which Moenchengladbach, resurgent in the players, playing because they (had) a great that I have a different character,” Ibrahimovic be out of the Champions League for a second won the Bundesliga title in 2009, is only Bundesliga and through to the last 16 of career and name and they are still playing said. “But still I won wherever I went.” straight season. two points above the relegation zone after the Europa League. because they are who they are.” Proving himself in England is particularly sat- Ibrahimovic’s future, though, won’t depend 22 matches. Jonker has 12 league games to Hecking led Wolfsburg to the quarterfi- Even at 35, though, Ibrahimovic is feeding off isfying even for a player who never doubts his on whether he has a shot at finally landing turn the club’s season around. nals of the Champions League last year, his goals rather than his reputation. “I’m an ani- own abilities. “He didn’t come and show himself European soccer’s top prize - the one major hon- “He is an internationally experienced after claiming the German Cup title and mal,” he said. “I feel like a lion.” here,” Ibrahimovic summed up his doubters as or to elude him in an otherwise illustrious career. coach and proven tactician who has the second place in the Bundesliga the year United manager Jose Mourinho certainly saying. “But I came. And I came when people Asked if leaving United to play for another best prerequisites for Wolfsburg to get back before. wants the striker to stay for another year. After thought it was impossible for me to do what I team would be a downhill move, Ibrahimovic on the track to success quickly and sustain- Wolfsburg’s poor season also cost for- Ibrahimovic produced another age-defying, am able to do.