Coetzee favourite to land Bok job but has little time

ALLISTER Coetzee is set to be named as the 13th post-isolation Springbok coach on April 1, just nine weeks before the team’s first assignment of 2016, giving him little time to prepare.

After months of wrangling at the South African Rugby Union (Saru) the issue of the Bok coach will finally come to a head at its general council gathering, scheduled for that date.

Normally, at this time of year, the Bok coach would have attended several Six Nations matches to have a close look at June’s opposition (in this case Ireland) and also held several one-on-one conversations and interactions with players he deems vital to his vision.

Formal meetings with players about their shortcomings and what the national coach is looking for them to improve or persist with, would be the norm. None of that is currently happening and none will for another three weeks at least.

Saru employees have been distracted over the past two months due to constant media scrutiny of chief executive Jurie Roux over alleged financial irregularities when he was chairman of the Maties Rugby Club between 2002-2010. He is awaiting a court date to defend a R37-million civil action against him.

Furthermore, a looming leadership battle between the 14 union presidents and the executive council has also been unsettling.

For most big decisions these bodies and individuals have to work in sync to prepare the groundwork before resolutions can be ratified. The distractions have at times paralysed the organisation and the net result is that the most important rugby decision of the year – the identity of new Bok coach – has been relegated for less urgent matters.

Some of the 14 union presidents don’t favour Coetzee’s conservative playing style. But instead of thrashing out those differences and debating Coetzee ’ s merits, the presidents have been engaged on personal leadership battles with the Saru exco.

But behind the scenes the Sunday World has learned that a schedule has been drawn up. Springbok training camps have been set for late April while player monitoring is happening through the Rugby Department and Mobi Unit.