It’s near impossible to replace Rassie’s great rugby brains

THE hunt for Rassie Erasmus’s replacement as SA Rugby’s general manager of rugby may prove even more exhaustive than the appointment of the Springbok coach.

Outside the chief executive, it is the loftiest position in the SA Rugby hierarchy and suitable candidates aren’t exactly queuing up.

Most in the know are in agreement that Erasmus will be difficult to replace given his knowledge of the game, machinations within South African rugby, as well as his near obsessive drive and work ethic.

Erasmus is taking up the position of director of rugby at Munster amid rumours that his relationship with SA Rugby president Oregan Hoskins grew strained.

“I doubt we will rush into a decision,” said a SA Rugby official who chose not to be named. “We have to make sure we find the right person.”

The local landscape isn’t awash with suitable and available candidates, but SA Rugby is unlikely to look abroad. The men with distinguished careers as coach or in directorships are either tied up to their contracts or would be loath to join an organisation that attracts as much heat as SA Rugby.

Former Bok coach Nick Mallett is vastly experienced, but has on more than one occasion indicated that he was content with his lifestyle and being an analyst on SuperSport.

Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal would be another solid candidate but is contractually bound, while he would think twice before taking a position that may take a toll on his health.

Some whisper the name of former Bok coach Heyneke Meyer but immediately wonder whether his CV says more than his public relations.

Another SA Rugby official who spoke on condition of anonymity believes he knows the direction the

Some whisper the name of Heyneke but immediately wonder whether his CV says more than his PR

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“I think Chean Roux will be a frontrunner,” he said of the Springbok performance analyst and member of SA Rugby’s high-performance GERT SMAL: Strong credentials, but contracted to WP department. “He worked closely with Rassie. He serves on World Rugby’s laws committee as well as Sanzar’s referees’ selection panel.

“He also knows Jurie Roux [SA Rugby chief executive) and is from Stellenbosch.

“In all seriousness though, if he were to take over the position, the job would not be foreign to him.”

Some insiders, including respected coach and former Bok centre Brendan Venter, sang the praises of SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron whose contract expires later this year.

Venter opined in a newspaper column last week that there are currently no suitable black candidates for the job. It was a bold statement at a time the race debate is raging but the harsh reality is his comments have merit (if you pardon the pun).

“I think that only serves to underline to SA Rugby that it has not had the foresight to identify black coaches and develop them so that they too could be eligible for these positions,” said an official. “Look at Super Rugby. How many black coaches are involved there. Four?”

South Africa’s most high profile black coach Pieter de Villiers has fallen out of favour since his contract as Springbok coach expired in 2011.

“I read last week how Pieter explained why he has opted to go to Namibia and develop talent there. He claimed his expertise was not needed here. I disagree, we need his expertise but not him,” the official described the prickly former coach.

Another former Bok coach and selector, Ian McIntosh, said the job does not require experience at test level.

“If that person does have experience as a coach at test match level, then that will help,” he said.