Is it time for Coetzee to go?

Drubbing leaves Boks in deep trouble

IN THE wake of the 38-3 drubbing suffered by the Boks at the hands of the much smarter Irish, there are no positives to be taken. That is not only the sentiments of the public that watched the game, but the coach himself.

Allister Coetzee, usually PC and prepared enough for the harshest of dragging over the coals, was surprisingly candid in his appraisal of his team’s poor performance in Dublin.

“It is difficult to explain... there are frankly no positives to be taken from that performance,” a browbeaten Coetzee said after the encounter.

“We let ourselves down, we let our supporters back home down and we have three games left on tour to fight back.”

After the Test in Albany, against the All Blacks which ended 57-0, the coach said he saw positives.

Many again scratched their head at what he saw, however, there was some vindication soon after in Cape Town. A one-point loss adding hope.

However, this latest record defeat against Ireland has left many stumped as to how the Springboks can turn things around.

A kick in the pants may be enough to wake the Boks up, and if their pattern is to be adhered to then France could be in for a backlash, but there needs to be more than reactionary fightbacks.

The winning culture of the Springboks is clearly absent. Under the current coach they have won nine of 22 matches with only two of those being on the road.

“Look, the 57-0 Albany defeat to the All Blacks was tough but we came back and I’m sure we will do so again,” Coetzee added, again referring to the reactionary way the Boks are bouncing from one game to another.

The Boks are left with France, Italy, and Wales, and while Ireland was definitely pegged as their toughest encounter of the four match tour, the remaining nations must be licking their lips.

The whitewashing of France earlier in the year will feel much like a forgotten memory for the South Africans, while for the home side, revitalised and at the start of their season, they will be sniffing out revenge.

Italy, too, so often a game for the dirt-trackers, will have a hopeful feeling of pleasant deja vu on their minds when they welcome the Boks, having picked up the win last time out.

Wales also have a chance of really running salt into a wound that the Boks may not be able to recover from as Coetzee’s continuity plan will have to take a back seat with a number of overseas players heading back to their clubs for that clash.

Changes need to be made, and unfortunately, the scapegoats of Raymond Rhule and Damien de Allende are simply not enough any more.

South Africans are always very quick to call for the chop of the national coach, but sometimes it is quite warranted.