'All is fair in SA rugby'

Sink or swim is a credo by which he has lived. So it was no surprise that former Springbok wing Ashwin Willemse expressed similar sentiments to imminent changes in the Springbok coaching setup.

It has been widely reported that coach Allister Coetzee will keep his job but some of his support staff, like backline coach Mzwandile Stick, may be redeployed.

"We talk of Mzwandile Stick but it's going to be unfair to him because it was an opportunity of a lifetime. When you get it, you learn to swim so I don't buy into this notion of whether it's fair or not," said Willemse at Supersport's launch of the Super rugby season yesterday.

Stick got the job last year and the Boks had an annus horribilis, losing eight of 12 Tests with the public swiftly blaming the coaching staff.

"I've been picked in teams where there have been better players but my time in that jersey is determined by me and not by who else could have been there," said Willemse. "I have to make the most of the opportunity. We can't begin to imagine the impact that coaching role had on him because a Jake White had a dream of coaching the Boks and he pulled it off. That's a similar thing for Stick. He's living his dream and he must do so to the fullest and ignore the noise.

"There should be a collective acceptance of the blame and a collective acceptance of how that'll be changed.

"We're a country with a divisive history and these matters have to be discussed.

"I was hoping we'd look at this as a South African situation and not a black and white issue," said Willemse.

He said Coetzee should get a fair chance as he will have more time to prepare the team this year.

On the issue of who will replace Adriaan Strauss as Springbok captain former skipper Jean de Villiers spoke with typical diplomacy.

"I don't think you can look past the franchise captains. I don't think you can go with a captain from outside our borders. If you are not in the country you simply can't fulfil your responsibilities.

"A guy like Handre Pollard definitely has lots of potential. He is in a strong position as is Pat Lambie. Now Siya (Kolisi) also comes in as an option. Francois Venter has to stand a chance.

"First you have to look at who will be in your first XV. Warren Whiteley has been there the whole time and has proved himself. Is he a first choice? I don't know."