Just one crucial piece of the jigsaw remains before the Springbok coaching unit is complete.
"A major new defensive coach will be confirmed once contractual details are finalised," SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said .
His statement confirmed the national coaching set-ups with Allister Coetzee, as expected, retained as Springbok head coach and Franco Smith joins as assistant coach, but will continue as head coach of the Cheetahs until 2019.
Whether Brendan Venter, the man touted as the missing link, will also have a part-time role with the Boks, remains to be seen.
His last-known movements were the fortification of Italy's defences in the Six Nations.
Venter concluded a deal earlier this year that will keep him in the Italian job until the next World Cup in 2019.
The long wait before the confirmation of the coaching team is undesirable to say the least, but SA Rugby insists they are not procrastinating.
"At this time last year I was still to be appointed, but this time I have already been planning, holding meetings, preparation camps and fine-tuning logistics, to ensure optimal performance," Coetzee said.
Alexander said the outcomes of the coaching review were agreed with Coetzee "some weeks ago".
Coetzee seemed to have been retained on the understanding that he is to increasingly lean on coaches with less experience than him.
His position is likely to come under review after the Springboks' series against France in June.
As anticipated, former backline coach Mzwandile Stick was left to carry the can and was redeployed to continue his apprenticeship as assistant coach of the Junior Boks under Chean Roux.
Johan Ackermann will continue as South Africa A coach for the two matches against the French Barbarians in June.
The decision to retain Coetzee came in time for him to name his first training group for the year.
The squad includes Lions' hooker Akker van der Merwe and Stormers flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis.
Players from the touring Sharks and the Southern Kings weren't considered.
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