Coetzee reportedly about to be sacked
Springboks coach Allister Coetzee is at risk of being sacked after attacking South African rugby’s governing body in an explosive 19-page letter.
South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper says Coetzee, 54, ‘‘has not been formally sacked, but this letter appears to confirm that he will be’’.
The Sunday Times’ rugby writer Craig Ray said Coetzee - who has won just 11 out of 25 tests in two years in charge - was ‘‘going down swinging’’ and had ‘‘blamed the Boks’ poor performance on everyone but himself’’.
Coetzee claimed he had been told his job had been ‘‘terminated’’ and the South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) director of rugby - former Springboks captain Rassie Erasmus - ‘‘was already performing the duties of the Springbok coach’’.
Coetzee’s legal representatives sent the document to SARU chief executive Jurie Roux.
The former Stormers coach complained about a January 18 meeting where he alleged Roux had told him his four-year contract was being terminated despite Coetzee still waiting for his 2017 performance review.
The review was set for December, but had not started because SARU had yet to appoint the review panel.
‘‘In the context of the engagements between you and I prior to the [January 18] meeting‚ it was made plain to me that the meeting would deal with the anticipated performance review and its procedures as contemplated by my employment contract,’’ Coetzee wrote to the SARU.
‘‘Instead‚ the meeting was used as a platform to inform me of SARU’s decision that it intends to‚ inter alia‚ terminate my contract of employment with immediate effect.’’
Coetzee claimed Roux told him his services would be terminated regardless of the outcome of the performance review.
’’Should I wish to remain in SARU’s employment‚ I will be reduced to a ceremonial coach‚ and further that Erasmus has already been employed to replace me and already performing the duties of the Springbok coach,’’ Coetzee wrote.
‘‘Should I be reduced to the position of a ceremonial coach I would have to face the indignity of reporting to Rassie.
‘‘The fact that a decision has been made that I will be reduced to a ceremonial coach should I resist any attempt by SARU to terminate my services does not only constitute an unfair labour practice but again infringes my right to dignity and equality.’’
Coetzee claimed he had been is ‘‘set up to fail’’ as coach, citing the timing of his appointment, his limited input into staffing appointments, SARU’s’s policy regarding overseas-based players and a lack of sport around transformational and logistical issues.
‘‘I was the most successful [South African] Super Rugby Coach at the time of my appointment and was requested to return to Springbok rugby from Japan because my country needed me‚’’ Coetzee said.
‘‘My treatment since my return suggested that elements in SARU embarked on a deliberate attempt to undermine me from the word go and to create the public impression of incompetence on my part whilst wilfully obstructing my efforts to be successful.
‘‘I will not allow elements in SARU to wilfully destroy me and render me unemployable as was done to [former Springboks coach] Peter De Villiers.’’
‘‘I am not interested in money ... I will fight to protect my hardearned reputation,’’ he wrote.
South Africa won just four of their 12 matches under Coetzee in 2016, suffering two heavy defeats to the All Blacks.
They were on the receiving end of a record 57-0 drubbing by the All Blacks at Albany in 2017 but rallied a fortnight later to lose 25-24 in Cape Town.
The Springboks won two of their four European tour matches last November, losing to France (18-17) and Ireland (38-3).