Because of how long it takes to bed down, the Springboks' experiment to convert flankers Deon Fourie and Marco van Staden into hookers at the World Cup is risky.
This is the view of former Bulls and Springboks defence coach John McFarland, who undersaw many a similar transition in his coaching partnership with Heyneke Meyer. The Canada defence and kicking coach, whose main responsibility in those conversions was helping the players with their throwing, helped oversee the transformations of Gary Botha , Bandise Maku , Tom Youngs , Derick Kuun and Malcolm Marx, among others, when he was coaching with Meyer.Get 14 days free to read all our investigative and in-depth journalism. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.