Unusually calm waters at SA Rugby
It’s amazing how rapidly things can change. Normally at this time of the year there is a lot of politics brewing in the corridors of SA Rugby, regarding whether they should hire or fire a Springbok coach, as it has been the case the last couple of years.
But thanks to Rassie Erasmus the Bok ship has found itself in much calmer waters after winning the World Cup, to such an extent that Erasmus’ recommendation for the new coach will probably be widely approved by the executive committee next month when they review the Boks’ great season.
It is quite the opposite Down Under in New Zealand where the Kiwi boat finds itself in some troubled waters after their failure to win the World Cup a record third straight time.
The stepping down of successful All Black coach Steve Hansen has seen the Kiwis making up a shortlist of about 26 coaches who could be in line to take over the hot seat.
It is believed that Scott Robertson, Jamie Joseph, Dave Rennie and Ian Foster – for eight years Hansen’s right-hand man – are counted among the favourites for the job, but that uncertainty is something the Boks had to deal with for a number of years before Erasmus arrived to restore the positive aura surrounding the national side.
For the SA squad it will be a much more peaceful festive period, but knowing Erasmus, he is already planning on who will take over from him while he oversees proceedings as the director of rugby.
There is no doubt Erasmus would prefer a smooth transition, and that’s why it was suggested that the ideal candidate would be Jacques Nienaber, who is somebody Erasmus has worked closely with for at least 13 years.
There are, however, several challenges awaiting Erasmus and his new coach, with many players either already being based overseas or preparing to head over.
At this stage the only members of the Bok starting line-up who will still play Super Rugby are Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Of the rest of the players in the squad, Steven Kitshoff, Herschel Jantjies, Elton Jantjies, S’bu Nkosi, Warrick Gelant and Trevor Nyakane will also stay.
Three players in the squad have retired – Beast Mtawarira, Francois Louw and Schalk Brits. which means the Boks will lose a lot of experience going into their next four-year cycle ahead of the 2023 showpiece in France.