WALKING A TIGHTROPE
Vultures circle Bok coach
The Springbok management team that embarked on this tour will be a much changed unit by June, but there may still be room for Allister Coetzee to coach the side against England.
The Springbok coach, who has been walking a tightrope since a disastrous maiden season last year, continues to operate under intense pressure, but he may yet find himself in a coaching set-up that will effectively be under control of new SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
Erasmus has returned from Munster emboldened with greater powers and leverage. That doesn’t necessarily spell the end of the road for Coetzee whose team performed better this year, albeit from a low base.
The Sunday Times understands Erasmus is likely to take a more hands-on approach with the national team, most likely coaching the forwards next season. That means there will be no room for Matt Proudfoot.
SA Rugby announced at the start of the week that Erasmus has commenced duties as director of rugby, while his trusty lieutenant Jacques Nienaber will be one of the national team’s assistant coaches. Nienaber’s area of expertise is defence, which means Brendan Venter’s role as consultant in that position is likely to end.
Add to that assistant coach Johann van
After Ireland won 38-3 the sentiment against the coach might have firmed up again
Graan’s departure last week for Munster to replace Erasmus in Limerick.
A SA Rugby source who did not want to be named told the Sunday Times: “I can’t think that Rassie would want to get rid of Allister, It will have such a big impact. The only problem is after Ireland won 38-3 the sentiment against the coach might have firmed up again.”
The source pointed out, however, that too much disruption will lead to instability in the Bok camp. “A lot of things have changed. You must remember the Boks would have had four defence coaches over the last year,” he said about Nienaber, Chean Roux, JP Ferreira and Venter’s stints in that position.
“I reckon they can kiss the World Cup goodbye if they let the coach go because they’ll have to start from scratch,” he added.
Cash-strapped SA Rugby will also think twice about firing the coach who has two years remaining on his contract, which will amount to an eight-figure sum.
Should a SA Rugby review panel, which will include Erasmus, find Coetzee is no longer suitable for the job, it will give SA Rugby less than two years to build a squad with experts to prepare for the World Cup.
With Erasmus effectively pulling the strings from next season there is also likely to be an overhaul of how the team has operated this season. Building a tighter team culture has been one of the themes in the Bok camp this season, while a playing style that accommodates more expression has further entrenched greater player involvement.
How Warren Whiteley, who was appointed captain at the start of the season and who was instrumental in creating a tighter team culture, fits into the Erasmus blueprint remains to be seen.
The SA Rugby source the Sunday Times spoke to said the organisation must agree to clear, coherent structures in the national teams. “There has to be a clear distinction between director of rugby and the national coach. They need to determine who takes responsibility. Up to now it has only been the Springbok coach who has had to carry the can,” the source said.
“What is clear is that we need him (Erasmus). You do want to alleviate the pressure on the coach.”
Erasmus isn’t available for interviews.