Shuffling pack not for Deon

New Springboks forwards coach Deon Davids is a firm believer that if it ain’t broke, there’s no need to fix it.

Victoria West-born Davids was called up for national duty after former forwards mentor Matt Proudfoot joined England’s backroom staff following the Springboks’ success at the 2019 World Cup.

But he will only get his first official taste of international action this year, with South Africa not playing in 2020 because of Covid-19.

Gearing up for next month’s visit from Georgia and the British and Irish Lions after that, the squad is currently in camp in Bloemfontein.

Of the experience, the 53-year-old former Kings coach says: “It’s a massive honour, huge privilege and humbling experience to be here.

“For me it’s about sharing experience and also learning a lot from the people around me and the players. I think that collective approach where it’s not about the individual but the whole team – that is important going forward.

“Obviously the guys have won a World Cup and they’ve learned a lot of lessons and there are a lot of good systems in place.

“It’s just fantastic to look at that and build on that and to decide together where we can improve and make that adjustment.

“The players must play a huge role in doing that and it’s good to sit together with them and talk about what worked, didn’t work and what plans we can make going forward.”

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