Allister Coetzee's role as commander-in-chief of the Springboks may end if SA Rugby's plans to install a director of rugby come to fruition.
The Sunday Times understands that the game's local organising body has targeted Rassie Erasmus for the position.
Should he agree terms, Coetzee would have to report to him as the highest-ranking coach in the country.
Erasmus, SA Rugby's general manager of rugby before he took up the position of director of rugby at Munster in July last year, is still contracted to the Irish province and his release is dependent on them finding a suitable replacement.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said Erasmus could be unveiled as SA Rugby's director of rugby early next month.
"His club, however, has to find a suitable replacement and the problem they have is they can't put it in the open market because that will raise obvious suspicions about Rassie's future."The source said finding someone to take over control of the national team from Coetzee had become a priority as the organisation needed to restore sponsors' confidence in the Springbok brand. Although SA Rugby have of late attracted new sponsors, the source said: "In simple terms, it is about survival and sustainability."
He added that SA Rugby had little confidence in Coetzee masterminding a successful assault on the 2019 World Cup. "That's why appointing a director of rugby has become a priority."
The Sunday Times asked SA Rugby president Mark Alexander if appointing a director of rugby was a priority and if Erasmus was their preferred candidate. "There are other things that we are looking at before we can focus on appointing a director of rugby. We will know more by the end of next month.
"There are a few dependencies," he said without elaborating.
"We have to look at strategy before we can work structure. We do need someone to drive a process that standardises basic skills and we also need a clearly defined path for our players."
He would not be drawn on how Coetzee's role would be defined under a director of rugby...