Ian McIntosh set to join Sables

Khumalo was in KwaZulu-Natal last week where he attended a coaching attachment working with the Sharks technical team led by former Natal Sharks lock John Plumtree in Durban.
Khumalo becomes the second Zimbabwean to get a technical attachment at the franchise following assistant coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge’s 10-day stint at the same institution earlier this year.
However, Khumalo drew the interest of the former Springboks and Sables coach as Zimbabwe rugby tries to get internationally experienced coaches help them in their preparation for the England 2015 World Cup.
Though it is understood that the ZRU and McIntosh are yet to put pen to paper on the deal, McIntosh is expected to work with the Sables technical team helping coach Brandon Dawson and assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge on the preparations.
“It was an interesting experience at the Sharks and I was there for a coaching attachment that lasted for five days.
“We had team meetings and match reviews, learning how to come up with game plans in the meetings and everything that has something to do with team preparation and review after the games.
“The whole (Sharks) coaching staff was there; we had meetings with Plumtree (Natal Sharks coach), both his (assistant) coaches and the men who do the gym programme for the players,” said Khumalo.
But it is the potential deal between the ZRU and McIntosh that could be of great interest.
McIntosh served as head coach for the Springboks during the early 1990s having grown up in Bulawayo but never played for his country but became acquainted with coaching in the 1970s under the tutelage of the then Welsh Rugby Union coaching director Ray Williams.
He later took charge of the former Sables, and his biggest achievement to date was taking charge of the Springboks, coaching the legendary Natal team during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
McIntosh also became a national figure after Natal won their first Currie Cup in 1990 which marked their centenary year.
His success with Natal led him to coach the Springboks side but he was sacked a year before the 1995 World Cup following a series of defeats to the All Blacks in New Zealand in mid-1994.
It is all this experience and exposure that Zimbabwe hope they can engage and tap on as they prepare for the World Cup with Namibia probably being their biggest threat in their quest for qualification.
“At the moment he is a selector for the Springboks, their Under-19 and Under-20 sides, but if the deal goes through, then he would come over to arrange training camps for the national team.
“However, we are yet to meet with the rugby board and it is from there that we can be able to tell on any way forward  following the full report, but McIntosh is prepared to help Zimbabwe Rugby.
“He will also work with Dawson and develop him as a coach,” added the former Botswana rugby development manager.