Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss’s announcement Thursday that he would retire from Test rugby at the end of the year does raise legitimate questions about coach Allister Coetzee’s judgment. Strauss’ retirement was apparently always part of the bigger picture and the coach was fully aware of the situation before naming Strauss as the 57th Bok captain according to a statement from SA Rugby. There is no evidence to suggest that assertion is untrue‚ but there is reason to question the decision. Rugby is one of few sports left in the professional era where a team is moulded into the likeness of its on-field leader. And like all building projects‚ it takes time. Richie McCaw‚ John Smit‚ Martin Johnson and John Eales didn't suddenly become legendary leaders. Through their skill and will‚ their character and desire‚ in conjunction with coaches with whom they formed strong bonds‚ they forged their teams into an image of themselves. By knowing that Strauss wasn’t in it for the long haul‚ Coetzee has cost himself a valuable season of building a team around an inspirational commander. The process will have to start again in 2017 not through circumstance such as a career ending injury‚ but through an apparently conscious decision taken by the coach. Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais comes out fighting in support of besieged Boks captain Adriaan StraussHands off Adriaan Strauss! Coetzee said in a carefully worded statement that Strauss had always communicated his intentions to step down at the end of the season and that he had chosen the burly hooker to help transition the team in a year of rebuilding. But if the coach always knew about Strauss’ intention to retire‚ why was it not put out in the open and communicated then? How could that have been any worse than making the announcement on the eve of the team’s departure to Australasia? Timing on this situation would never have been easy‚ but sitting on something like this‚ was always likely to blow up in the team’s face. Typically New Zealand showed how a similar situation could be well managed when Dan Carter announced that 2015 would be his last as an All Black before last season commenced. It didn’t affect his performances at all. Perhaps the crucial difference was that he had not just accepted the All Black captaincy? Toetie's still in his honeymoon phaseEveryone is now either second-guessing Allister Coetzee or calling for his head. Even those not calling for his head appear to be calling for it, but in veiled terms. Strauss is not at fault here. He was offered the Springbok captaincy and he was honoured by the offer – he said as much. Based on the official account presented this week‚ he did the honourable thing and told the coach of his decision to retire‚ and Coetzee still wanted him. Strauss’ intentions were no doubt good‚ as were Coetzee’s. But unintentionally‚ it was not in the best interests of Springbok rugby. 'Strauss’ form hasn’t been at his usual high standard this season‚ and unfortunately this issue‚ which might have been worrying him‚ has emerged at a bad time. Now that it’s public though‚ it could of course liberate the skipper. There is now a line in the sand and there can be no shock revelations about his retirement because the situation has been made public. Habana's record-breaking feat goes almost unnoticed after the Boks' defeat in ArgentinaBryan Habana’s 65th Test try‚ scored against the Pumas in Salta last Saturday‚ almost went unnoticed in the fallout over another chastening Test loss for the Springboks. Knowing that Strauss was retiring at the end of this season‚ Coetzee should perhaps have been bolder in choosing someone else to lead the team. Right now it’s difficult to see who else could lead the team‚ but in May Pat Lambie and Duane Vermeulen were fit and neither has indicated that they are giving up on the international game. Coetzee might also have chosen to go in a completely different direction and backed Warren Whiteley to lead the team from the word go‚ which of course would have meant Vermeulen was not viewed as a definite starter. Hindsight is of course‚ perfect. - TMG Sport..