Marais’ fate put on hold

The wait for the long-awaited statement on Bulls coach Nollis Marais’ future that he said was imminent over the weekend will continue until later in the week.

Loftus Versfeld sources had initially said that a statement would be made yesterday, but officials now say an announcement on the widely-expected coaching changes might only come later in the week.

It is believed that current Springbok assistant coach Johan van Graan (above) and former All Blacks and Lions coach John Mitchell are the frontrunners to take over from Marais as Super Rugby coach.

Springbok head coach Allister Coetzee said yesterday that Van Graan’s reported negotiations with the Bulls did not worry him at all, because he is under contract and “that contract runs until 2019”.

Van Graan has twice previously flirted with taking up a head coach or director of rugby role – at the Bulls two years ago when Frans Ludeke was axed, and with Bath a year ago, but on both occasions his SA Rugby contract has prevented him from taking up any offer.

Meanwhile, a former highranking Bulls employee who wished to remain anonymous told The Citizen yesterday that whoever replaced Marais would only have a small chance of success unless the system at Loftus Versfeld was changed.

“People are chirping that the Bulls got given 50 points by their own players last weekend because of all the guys who were let go and joined the Lions. But the problem is that there has been a breakdown in trust between the players and the union. They need to restore that and get the culture right again, whoever the coach is needs to be hard and then the results will come because they will be playing for each other,” the employee said.

“Nollis is a good coach, but for Super Rugby he needs the support of some heavyweight appointments.”

People are chirping that the Bulls got given 50 points by their own players last weekend because of all the guys who were let go and joined the Lions. Former Bulls employee