Author: Annemie Bester

He will be remembered for the way he eyed the poles before stepping up for his goal kick and placing the ball on a tee of sand as he did so.

Yes, we chat with mercurial former Springbok and Lions flyhalf André Pretorius about his time in lockdown, his fondest memories and doing what he loves as he coaches the NWU Puk and Leopards teams in Potchefstroom, the place he calls home with his wife Claudine and two daughters Kaylen and Lizaé(1).

Pretorius had all the potential to be one of the best flyhalves South Africa has ever produced. He was an electrifying, all-round good player, who played flat against the defensive lines and was a more than adequate kicker of the ball. He has 1853 first-class points to his name and boasts 31 tests for the Springboks: André Pretorius is definitely one of South Africa’s great rugby heroes.

He was also one of Jake White’s Springboks who captured the 2007 IRC World Cup in France and a player who left us with some great memories.

Q How have you been keeping busy during COVID-19 lockdown?
Well it’s probably not how I have kept busy but more a case of who is keeping me busy. We have 2 daughters, 1 and 7 years old and they do their best to keep me busy. I personally have been doing a lot of planning and research. Trying to train every day and loving the extra time with the family.

Q Tell us who you are spending lockdown with?
My beautiful wife Claudine, our daughters Kaylen(7) and Lizaé(1)

Q What have you been up to since you retired from rugby?
I got into coaching immediately after I retired. Started at Potch Dorp Rugby club then Oom James Stoffberg gave me an opportunity to coach the Patria “Koshuis” in the Varsity Cup. Oom James then appointed me as a fulltime coach at the North West University where I got to coach the 1st team. Upon arrival as the head coach I was also assisting the Leopards senior side. I also coached the Leopards U/21 side for two years where I learnt so many valuable lessons. From the U/21’s I joined the NWU Varsity Cup coaching team as well as the Leopards senior side coaching staff.

Q You always used sand as a tee when aiming at the poles. Why did you prefer the sand?
To be honest, the process helped me relax and also helped with focusing more, kind of like a pre-shot routine in golf. The sand itself gives way after the kick which I also preferred.

Q How would you describe the transition from player to coach?
I have been really fortunate to go into coaching immediately after I stopped playing and that was mainly because of the networks I was able to build as a player and people who believed in my ability or potential ability to coach. I made a lot of mistakes on and off the field when I was playing and looking back now it will serve me well in the future in helping players to avoid the really crucial mistakes I made.

Q How have you kept in touch with your Pukke team during lockdown and what do you think will happen with the remainder of your season as Varsity Cup will most probably not return to play?
We have been doing group challenges, players have been monitored since the start of the lockdown and they have been really diligent in the way they have done their sessions and replied to review and feedback questions. As management we meet once a week to discuss the next week and we try to make every week different but it gets difficult after 6 weeks. We are hoping the Currie Cup will still be played and our focus is on that now.

Q What is it that you miss the most from your playing days?
Game day nerves definitely. As a coach you do get it but nowhere near as intense as playing. I also miss the game itself, the skills and applying the tactics.

Q Looking back at your career, what stands out as the highlights?
The World Cup win in 2007 is definitely on the top but the road there for me was filled with great memories with good people.

Q The best place you visited as a player?
Go to our social media pages to hear what André has to say about the best place he ever visited as a player.