SA Rugby lock in their options

SA Rugby have given a clear indication they are keen to appoint a new Springbok head coach from within, following the news that chief assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids have signed contract extensions that will keep them involved with the Boks until after the 2027 World Cup.

Also, scrum coach Daan Human and conditioning man Andy Edwards have been given extensions that will take them to the next World Cup.

With these four men locked in for the next few years, there isn’t much room for anyone else to come into the actual coaching team.

It now seems clear that one of Stick, Davids or Human will become the next head coach, in place of Jacques Nienaber, who will leave his job after the World Cup later this year for a role with Irish team Leinster.

The thing is no man from the outside – be it a Johan Ackermann, John Dobson, Johann van Graan or whoever else – would be happy to be named head coach and have to work with assistants who he may not favour.

And just about every head coach appointed to the Boks in the past has been allowed to pick his assistants.

Of course, there would be room for a new man to come in from the outside to fill an assistant role, if Stick or Davids were promoted.

But, to be honest, I can’t see anyone like Ackermann or Dobson taking on a Bok assistant role.

There is then also the possibility, one that has plenty of support, that former coach and mastermind of the 2019 World Cup win, and current director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus returns to the “head coach” position.

This is an appealing option, but right now Erasmus’ position runs until 2025, so he’d also have to extend to the 2027 World Cup or ensure that by the time he leaves, that whoever takes over is 100% ready to do so.

SA Rugby have been smart by announcing the contract extensions of Stick and Co because there will now be far less talk and speculation about the next head coach, and the whole Bok set-up can just get on with preparing for this year’s World Cup.