Blommetjies burns Allister Coetzee: ‘He only picked his favourites’

Former Cheetah Clayton Blommetjies launched a scathing attack on Allister Coetzee, who unceremoniously quit his post as Springbok coach earlier this year.

The 27-year-old fullback, who has moved to Wales to play for Llanelli Scarlets from next season, slammed the national setup for preferential treatment that apparently cost him a chance to wear the Green-and-Gold.

He has now set his sights on eventually representing his adopted country.

“I don’t even think about wearing the green and gold anymore because I never had an opportunity to do it,” Blommetjies told Wales Online.

The Paarl native recalls a conversation he had with Cheetahs coach and then Springbok assistant coach Franco Smith last year as a foundation for his accusation against Coetzee.

“Last year in Super Rugby I was playing the best rugby of my career and the coach Franco told me I’m good enough to become a Springbok at the end of the year.

“But Allister picked players ahead of me not because of how they played throughout the year, but because they were his favourites. Players like Elton Jantjies were selected because he knew them,” he said.

Blommetjies’ stock soared following an excellent Pro14 campaign for the Cheetahs, which led to him garnering the attention of the Welsh side.

“After that I thought I’m not going to fight for the green and gold anymore, I want to go overseas and when my agent told me he had an offer from the Scarlets, I said yes immediately.”

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