The Springbok management team that embarked on this tour will be a muchchanged unit by June, but there may still be room for Allister Coetzee to coach the sideagainst England.
The Springbok coach, who has been walking a tightrope since a disastrous maiden season last year, continues to operate under intense pressure, but he may yet find himself in a coaching set-up that will effectively be under control of new SA Rugbydirector of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
Erasmus has returned from Munster emboldened with greater powers and leverage.That doesn’t necessarily spell the end of the road for Coetzee whose team performedbetter this year, albeit from a low base. The Sunday Times understands Erasmusis likely to take a more hands-on approach with the national team, most likely coachingthe forwards next season. That means there will be no room for Matt Proudfoot.SA Rugby announced at the start of the week that Erasmus has commenced dutiesas director of rugby, while his trusty lieutenant Jacques Nienaber will be one of thenational team’s assistant coaches. Nienaber’s area of expertise is defence, whichmeans Brendan Venter’s role as consultant in that position is likely to end.Add to that assistant coach Johann van Graan ’s departure last week for Munster to replace Erasmus in Limerick.
A SA Rugby source who did not want to be named told the Sunday Times: “I can’tthink that Rassie would want to get rid of Allister, It will have such a big impact. Theonly problem is after Ireland won 38-3 the sentiment against the coach might havefirmed up again.”
The source pointed out, however, that too much disruption will lead to instability in theBok camp. “A lot of things have changed. You must remember the Boks would have hadfour defence coaches over the last year,” he said about Nienaber, Chean Roux, JP Ferreiraand Venter’s stints in that position.
“I reckon they can kiss the World Cup goodbye if they let the coach go becausethey ’ll have to start from scratch,” he added. Cash-strapped SA Rugby will also thinktwice about firing the coach who has two years remaining on his contract, which willamount to an eight-figure sum.Should a SA Rugby review panel, which will include Erasmus, find Coetzee is nolonger suitable for the job, it will give SA Rugby less than two years to build a squadwith experts to prepare for the World Cup.
With Erasmus effectively pulling the strings from next season there is also likelyto be an overhaul of how the team has operated this season. Building a tighter team culture has been one of the themes in the Bok camp this season, while a playing style that accommodates more expression has further entrenched greater player involvement.HowWarrenWhiteley, who was appointed captain at the start of the season and whowas instrumental in creating a tighter team culture, fits into the Erasmus blueprintremains to be seen.
The SA Rugby source the Sunday Times spoke to said the organisation must agree toclear, coherent structures in the national teams. “There has to be a clear distinctionbetween director of rugby and the national coach. They need to determine who takes responsibility. Up to now it has only been the Springbok coach who has had to carry the can,” the source said.
“What is clear is that we need him (Erasmus). You do want to alleviate the pressureon the coach.” Erasmus isn’t available for interviews..