Bok coach announcement 'delayed'
The South African Rugby Union confirmed on Thursday that the announcement of the "preferred candidate" and his management team will only be made at a media conference on April 12.
However, this is still subject to the candidate being "ratified" by the SARU general council and finalisation of his contract.
The appointment of the new coach is top of the agenda of a special general council meeting and the SARU AGM – both scheduled to take place in Cape Town on Friday.
Allister Coetzee remains the frontrunner to take over from Heyneke Meyer, who stepped down as Bok coach after a disappointing World Cup campaign last year.
Coetzee, who was in charge of the Stormers during a six-year campaign that saw them reach the play-offs four times, moved to Japan last year to take charge of the Kobelco Steelers.
He is on record as having stated that "coaching the Springboks would be the pinnacle of my career".
Coetzee was an assistant to coach Jake White when South Africa won the World Cup a second time in 2007.
Media favourite Coetzee will be expected to not only turn the Springboks into world beaters, but also adhere to SARU's well-documented agreement with the government to ensure that 50 percent of the Bok squad consists of black players by 2019.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula repeatedly stated that the Springboks must reflect the demographics of a country where 90 percent of the population is black.
"Talented blacks are not being selected and it is said that they are quota players," Mbalula said.
"Siya Kolisi plays for the Stormers week after week – is he not selected on merit?" he asked, referring to the occasional Springbok flank.
"I am zooming in on rugby because it is as if nothing has been done and we are burying our heads in the sand.
"We have got a policy [50 percent black team at the 2019 World Cup] in place that must be implemented."
Former Springbok centre Brendan Venter dismissed a recent media column that claimed Coetzee is a mediocre coach.
"His failure to win a Super Rugby title is held against him, but he forged them [the Stormers] into a competitive playing unit. Coetzee is not perfect, but which coach is?"
While most pundits expect Coetzee to be appointed, they believe the key to a Springbok revival lies in who he chooses to assist him.
Former Scotland prop and Stormers assistant coach Matthew Proudfoot, who works with Coetzee in Japan, has been mentioned as a possible forwards coach.
Robbie Fleck, Coetzee's replacement as Stormers coach, is said to be high on the wishlist as a backline assistant.
Former Springbok loose forward Rassie Erasmus, as well as Lions coaches Johan Ackermann and Swys de Bruin have also featured in media speculation.
Erasmus is a respected SARU coaching employee, while Ackermann and assistant De Bruin have transformed the Lions into a top South African team.
The Springboks launch their season with a three-Test home series against Ireland during June.
* Additional reporting by AFP
