Shadows behind new Bok set-up

ERASMUS TO OVERSEE THE APPOINTMENTS It could be a coach in name only, with Rassie pulling strings.

Allister Coetzee’s departure as Springbok coach means the national team will now have new team management just two years before the World Cup in Japan.

According to several reports, the 54-year-old walked away with a package of R1.8 million following negotiations with the South African Rugby Union (Saru).

Ironically, insiders believe Coetzee would have been given more had his explosive letter to the governing body citing his grievances not been leaked in the public domain. But the drama surrounding him is now over and it’s now a matter of what lies ahead for the embattled Springboks.

Given the cash crunch at Saru – they apparently budgeted only on a year-by-year basis for Coetzee’s salary because they couldn’t afford a lump sum payout – it really does seem unlikely that a new head coach will be brought in. Also, if that does happen, it will surely only be a ceremonial figure because of the presence of a certain Rassie Erasmus.

That figure will also have to come cheap – someone like Southern Kings coach Deon Davids, who’s employed by Saru.

So to be blunt, it’s going to be Director of Rugby Erasmus who’ll do an “ambulance job”, with his lieutenants in his national rugby department probably forming the basis of his support staff.

Defence guru Jacques Nienaber has come back from Munster with him, scrum expert Pieter de Villiers is expected to coach the forwards, Erasmus is keen to keep attack coach Franco Smith unless he wants to stay in Bloemfontein and Mzwandile Stick is likely to be groomed for bigger things.

Irishman Aled Walters has been appointed as the new conditioning guru.

Such a set-up would make sense because these men also work closely with the Super Rugby franchises and would thus be familiar with the players.

Brendan Venter was only a consultant on defence but the role of current forwards coach Matt Proudfoot is unclear.

Saru said in the statement they want this to happen before the end of this month.

Picture: Gallo Images MAN OF THE MOMENT. The spotlight is on SA Rugby Director of Coaching Rassie Erasmus (above) in the wake of Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s sacking last week.