As the Springboks wing their way today into Venice en route to their base for next week's test against Italy, they will do so two coaches lighter.
It's a sensitive topic and the kind of baggage coach Allister Coetzee was hoping to avoid almost two years into his tenure. This was supposed to be time for stability, and the firming up of established patterns but instead the Boks, perhaps appropriately given the next stop, are treading water.
Coetzee was tetchy about the subject before the team's departure from South Africa as he believed assistant coach Johann van Graan could delay his departure to Munster until after the tour.
Van Graan, however, said au revoir to the team he served since 2012 last night, and to compound matters defence consultant Brendan Venter said arrivederci as he will be unavailable this week due to his contractual obligations with the Italian Rugby Federation.
It means Coetzee and his remaining assistants Matthew Proudfoot and Franco Smith will have to spread themselves thin across the training field and meeting rooms this week.
The fact that the Boks won't have a full coaching complement is symptomatic of the malaise South African rugby has been in over the last few years.
The departure of the two coaches drew a sharp response from a senior Springbok player.
"You need continuity and you need people who are committed to the cause. Unfortunately last year we had three different defence coaches. In one year. It is unheard of to have three difference defence coaches," he said of Chean Roux and JP Ferreira's input before Venter took over this year.
"This year, we are losing two of our best coaches after two rounds of a northern hemisphere tour. Johann van Graan is one of the most talented coaches I know and he is leaving after two weeks. That is unheard of.
"Brendan Venter is a consultant, he is not even permanent staff. To be the world's best you need people who are committed to the cause. That is the first step and we are not even getting that right. That is disappointing."..