OPINION - Allister Coetzee - Stay or Go
I tipped the Springboks to win in Cardiff this past weekend. I figured they would bounce back from their losses to England and Italy. However, the Boks slumped to a third Test defeat in as many weeks.
The latest loss to Wales has heaped even more pressure on Allister Coetzee.
He argued after the defeat in Cardiff that Springbok rugby has been in decline since 2014.
During this time to Boks have lost at home to Argentina and suffered defeats to both Japan and the Italians. New Zealand hammered Italy just a week before the Azzurri beat the Boks for the first time ever.
We can add to these ugly stats the biggest margin of defeat ever to New Zealand. This happened in Durban this year and under coach Coetzee.
The Boks did managed to give the All Blacks quite a workout in a World Cup semi-final New Zealand eventually won 20-18 last year.
So is Coetzee correct in suggesting that he is in charge of a rugby nation currently in decline or is he simply making an excuse for his failure to galvanise and inspire the Springboks?
I feel that Coetzee should dispense with the excuses and make clear that he has presided over a very poor year for the Springboks.
This truth may set him free to focus on fixing what he can.
SA Rugby, meanwhile, will be hosting a conditioning indaba on 7 December.
You may recall Heyneke Meyer expressing conditioning concerns ahead of the World Cup last year.
SA Rugby is also planning a meeting for 9 December and have hinted at this meeting being potentially very important for South African rugby.
SA Rugby this past weekend made it very clear that addressing Springbok shortcomings is its top priority right now.
Will this meeting end with a decision to relieve Coetzee of his duties?
I personally would consider giving the national reigns to Johan Ackermann.
His Lions played an attractive brand of rugby and looked like they enjoyed playing under him.
The Lions also did enough to reach the SupeRugby final.
I know Coetzee has more experience and yet I feel that SA Rugby may as well gamble on Ackermann.
Eight losses in 2016 suggests to me that the Springboks are in need of a dramatic overall and not a slow process of potential evolution under Coetzee.
Some may argue that Coetzee deserves more time at the helm.
Let us remember that Jake White suffered a 49-0 loss to Australia during his time in charge.
Heyneke Meyer too suffered a Japan reverse and yet still guided the Springboks to the World Cup semi-finals last season.
I can see an argument for keeping Coetzee and yet I also feel that a dramatic and not a gradual change is needed.
I would give the job to Ackermann and give him at least three years to develop a new Bok philosophy.
The current Springbok crop is badly in need of both creativity and inspiration. I am not convinced Coetzee can deliver this to his team.
I know SA Rugby in general also has a role to play in changing our rugby fortunes.
This is likely to include how the game is run in South Africa. Sacking the current Bok coach may well form part of this strategy.
He argued after the defeat in Cardiff that Springbok rugby has been in decline since 2014.
During this time to Boks have lost at home to Argentina and suffered defeats to both Japan and the Italians. New Zealand hammered Italy just a week before the Azzurri beat the Boks for the first time ever.
We can add to these ugly stats the biggest margin of defeat ever to New Zealand. This happened in Durban this year and under coach Coetzee.
The Boks did managed to give the All Blacks quite a workout in a World Cup semi-final New Zealand eventually won 20-18 last year.
So is Coetzee correct in suggesting that he is in charge of a rugby nation currently in decline or is he simply making an excuse for his failure to galvanise and inspire the Springboks?
I feel that Coetzee should dispense with the excuses and make clear that he has presided over a very poor year for the Springboks.
This truth may set him free to focus on fixing what he can.
SA Rugby, meanwhile, will be hosting a conditioning indaba on 7 December.
You may recall Heyneke Meyer expressing conditioning concerns ahead of the World Cup last year.
SA Rugby is also planning a meeting for 9 December and have hinted at this meeting being potentially very important for South African rugby.
SA Rugby this past weekend made it very clear that addressing Springbok shortcomings is its top priority right now.
Will this meeting end with a decision to relieve Coetzee of his duties?
I personally would consider giving the national reigns to Johan Ackermann.
His Lions played an attractive brand of rugby and looked like they enjoyed playing under him.
The Lions also did enough to reach the SupeRugby final.
I know Coetzee has more experience and yet I feel that SA Rugby may as well gamble on Ackermann.
Eight losses in 2016 suggests to me that the Springboks are in need of a dramatic overall and not a slow process of potential evolution under Coetzee.
Some may argue that Coetzee deserves more time at the helm.
Let us remember that Jake White suffered a 49-0 loss to Australia during his time in charge.
Heyneke Meyer too suffered a Japan reverse and yet still guided the Springboks to the World Cup semi-finals last season.
I can see an argument for keeping Coetzee and yet I also feel that a dramatic and not a gradual change is needed.
I would give the job to Ackermann and give him at least three years to develop a new Bok philosophy.
The current Springbok crop is badly in need of both creativity and inspiration. I am not convinced Coetzee can deliver this to his team.
I know SA Rugby in general also has a role to play in changing our rugby fortunes.
This is likely to include how the game is run in South Africa. Sacking the current Bok coach may well form part of this strategy.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre