Div faces grilling as Jake mulls return

The Boks conceded 30 points in each of the three matches on tour.

Now, the Bok coach will be questioned on selections, tactics and the reported deteriorating relationship with assistant coaches Gary Gold and Dick Muir. The interrogation is expected to be meek.

De Villiers's presence at the meeting is seen as little more than a feeble effort by the union to appear to be doing something.

The coach has a watertight contract until after the 2011 World Cup and will stay at the helm until at least then. And why shouldn't he? This Bok side is one of the most successful in history, recent results notwithstanding.

What the executive should be discussing is the establishment of the position of director of rugby. It's not a new idea and one that has been mentioned before being quietly swept under the carpet.

Former Bok coach Jake White is considering re-applying for the job of Bok coach after the 2011 World Cup. He said as much three months ago.

But the more logical use of his talents would be as a national director of rugby, where his wealth of intellectual capital and experience can be put to good use with a World Cup looming.

Union president Oregan Hoskins won a third term earlier this year in the interests of continuity, but when it comes to coaching expertise, continuity is disregarded.

"Of course I'm interested in being involved and helping South African rugby," White said yesterday. "It's been mentioned in the past but never seems to go beyond an informal discussion."

White believes his experience of the pitfalls that De Villiers is encountering this season could have provided some valuable insights and lessons for the current coach.

In 2006, White's Springboks lost five matches in a row including a record 49-0 defeat by the Wallabies in Brisbane, which nearly cost him his job.

"Though there are some similarities between what happened then and what's happening now, it was a very different situation," White said.

"In 2006, I wasn't able to field a team with 700 Test caps at any stage so when we lost key players like Schalk Burger we didn't have the depth to adequately replace him.

"But I learnt from those matches and if we had a structure in South Africa that allowed the coach to lean on a director and utilise his skills, it would be much healthier for our rugby."

White wouldn't be the only obvious candidate for the job, should it be created. Former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer would be a decent candidate, as would Eastern Province Kings director of coaching Alan Solomons.