Springboks coach job is safe, for now

Sat, Dec 10, 2016, 2:55 AM
AFP
by AFP
South Africa Coach Allister Coetzee survives, as South Africa looks into mass change. Photo: Getty Images
South Africa Coach Allister Coetzee survives, as South Africa looks into mass change. Photo: Getty Images

South Africa's rugby union announced major changes to the structure of the game in the country on Friday, but resisted the immediate temptation to dismiss embattled coach Allister Coetzee.

SA Rugby's all-powerful General Council met on Friday to push through a raft of constitutional changes, but Coetzee's future remained uncertain after the team suffered the worst year in their history by losing eight of their 12 Tests.

Coetzee will provide a report to SA Rugby's High Performance Committee on Tuesday, which will then make a recommendation to the organisation's Executive Committee.

Allister Coetzee has been confirmed as the new Springboks coachThe Executive Committee has taken over from the General Council as the decision-makers at SA Rugby and will select future Bok coaches in another of the constitutional changes announced on Friday.

This takes the power of coach selection out of the hands of the 15 individual unions in the country and into SA Rugby's inner sanctum, headed by president Mark Alexander.

Other constitutional changes have been pushed through that SA Rugby hope will provide a more solid platform from which to select future Bok squads.

Squad selection will no longer be made by committee and instead a single convenor will work with the coach.

Share
Australia NextGen U21 fall to New Zealand in Christchurch
Australia A shut out the USA in New Jersey. Photo: Getty Images
McLaughlin-Phillips shines as Australia A complete shutout of USA
Young Wallaroos stars excited for rare chance to play with peers in historic Test
Coach Les Kiss has backed Kurtley Beale to fight for his position in the Wallabies after his sudden call up. Photo: Getty Images
'In there to perform': Kiss addresses Beale call-up