Pukke coach takes a 'pragmatic' approach

There isn't much that new Pukke coach Rudy Joubert hasn't experienced in his coaching career.

With an impressive CV that includes being Kitch Christie's technical advisor for the victorious 1995 Springboks to mentoring the Bulls in the Super 14, there is no doubt that he brings a wealth of experience and professionalism to the outfit from Potchefstroom.

Even his sentiments after his team's narrow 27-29 loss in their opening match of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International suggested his intent to continue the strong professional ethos Pukke are known for.

"We are really disappointed with our performance. The players made too many mistakes and didn't take their chances which is a cardinal sin in such a competitive tournament," he told varsitycup.co.za.

Early indications are that the teams will adopt a more cautious approach to the tournament due to the higher stakes, leading to a focus more on winning than just entertaining.

"I think its only natural to expect teams to adopt a more pragmatic approach to their games," Joubert said.

"It is a very high-profile tournament and as a consequence teams will sometimes focus on winning at all costs. It doesn't, however, detract from the attractiveness of the action and I believe it brings a new dimension to the entertainment," he added.

He believes that the professionalism amongst the various high-profile coaching staffs will have a positive impact on the Varsity Cup and its players.

"I myself am part of the trend, so I cannot object to it. The Varsity Cup is an excellent opportunity to not only showcase our players' talents but to also prepare the players for the professional environments they may encounter later on," explained the Pukke coach.

While it may seem that accepting a post at a tertiary team is a step down from the glitz and glamour of the Super 14 and Currie Cup, Joubert says that his experience at Pukke has been nothing but positive.

"I have really enjoyed my time here so far. It is an excellent environment to be coaching in and the players are very enthusiastic.

"There is still a lot of work to be done but I truly believe that we can have a very successful campaign," he said.

By Heinz Schenk