Two things stand in the way of SA Rugby getting rid of Bok coach Allister Coetzee – money and politics. According to Rapport newspaper, SA Rugby doesn’t have the money to buy him out of his contract, and a decision to axe the first Springbok coach of colour will have unfavourable ramifications in the ranks of the ruling party. Rapport says local rugby bosses are hunting for a replacement, even though the end-of-year review has yet to take place. For the moment, no one at SA Rugby is talking, and Coetzee is only available for interviews once the review takes place. Rapport said that SuperSport could provide the money to pay off Coetzee, but the TV channel denies this. – David O’Sullivan
From Sport24
SuperSport has no plans to provide financial assistance for SA Rugby to sack Allister Coetzee as head coach of the Springboks.
Afrikaans newspaper, Rapport, reported on Sunday that SA Rugby was considering a top New Zealand coach to replace Coetzee, with the Chiefs’ Dave Rennie mentioned as a possible candidate.
The report indicates that SA Rugby is struggling financially and in order to fire Coetzee, would need to turn to broadcast partner SuperSport to provide financial assistance to buy the coach out of the remaining three years of his contract.
SuperSport Communications Manager, Clinton van den Berg, told Sport24 on Monday that reports of them assisting SA Rugby financially to help sack Coetzee were “nonsense”.
“SuperSport has, like all South Africans, the desire for the Springboks to be successful, but we are also aware of variables in sport. We talk to our partners from time to time, but do not intervene in decision-making,” said Van den Berg.
Coetzee is set to face a performance appraisal by a sub-committee of SA Rugby, and will know his fate after a December 13 meeting.
Bok coach Allister Coetzee says he takes full responsibility for his side’s recent losses upon returning from Europe #SSRugby
— SuperSport Blitz (@SuperSportBlitz) November 28, 2016
It would cost in the region of R13m to get rid of Coetzee.
Meanwhile Rennie, who led the Chiefs to the Super Rugby title in 2012 and 2013, is believed to have strong support at the highest level of SA Rugby.
But it would also cost a lot to get the likes of Rennie, who recently signed to join Scottish club Glasgow Warriors from the 2017/18 season.
It’s been a horrific year for the Boks, who have won only four of 12 Tests under Coetzee’s tutelage. The results included a first ever home loss to Ireland, a first away reverse to Argentina, a record 57-15 home defeat to New Zealand, as well as ending the year-end European tour with losses to England, Italy and Wales. – Sport24
