Allister Coetzee Namibia

Namibia captain Johan Deysel said his side are “hungry” to reach next year’s Rugby World Cup ahead of Sunday’s qualifying final against Kenya. Photo by Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency/Gallo Images

SA Rugby’s silence over Coetzee’s future fuels even more uncertainty

There could be a new man at the helm of the Boks come England’s arrival in June.

Allister Coetzee Namibia

Namibia captain Johan Deysel said his side are “hungry” to reach next year’s Rugby World Cup ahead of Sunday’s qualifying final against Kenya. Photo by Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency/Gallo Images

Only legal matters could be holding up Allister Coetzee’s dismissal from his post as Springbok coach, reports Sport24.

Coetzee’s contract runs until the after the 2019 Rugby World Cup and, although it appears SA Rugby would like to see the back of him, they could be threading carefully to avoid a legal backlash that could arise from his early dismissal.

The Bok coach has also been adamant that he will not step down, following yet another disappointing year at the helm, and is determined to see out his contract until it expires next year.

“I’m signed on until 2019. That’s what my contract says. The team has really grown. It’s a really healthy team environment,” Coetzee said last year.

Following a bright start to 2017 when the Boks started off by registering five wins in as many matches, they drew against a stuttering Australian side in Perth before it all quickly went haywire as they were pummeled 57-0 by the world champion All Blacks in Albany – their worst defeat in history.

Another draw against the Wallabies in Bloemfontein was followed by a narrow loss to the All Blacks at Newlands, suggesting that Coetzee’s men were back on the right track. However another disastrous performance, this time a 38-3 defeat to Ireland in Dublin, refreshed calls for Coetzee’s head.

A further 24-22 defeat to a rather depleted Welsh side in the Boks’ final Test of the year did not help him endear himself to rugby lovers across South Africa.

Who will take over from Allister Coetzee?

With many questions arising regarding Coetzee’s future, SA Rugby themselves fuelled speculation late in 2017 by opting to stay mum on whether he will stay on – stating that an announcement will only be made this year.

Some major restructuring is expected in terms of the coaching structures in the Bok camp and, with Rassie Erasmus ready to assume duty as SA’s director of rugby, he could pretty much take over the reins from Coetzee.

However, several reports have suggested that Kings coach Deon Davids is the frontrunner to take over from Coetzee should he be relieved of his duties, with Erasmus overseeing the whole coaching structure.

Coetzee has also been linked with a move back to Japan, where he coached the Kolbeco Steelers before taking over as Bok coach, but he has since laughed off those claims.