SARU keeps call on Bok coach under wraps

Despite confirming, in a terse statement, that they have made a decision on the future of Allister Coetzee, they declined to say if he has retained his job after the annus horribilis that 2016 was.

"Mark Alexander, the SARU President, said that all the work around the [Springbok] coach review process had been concluded, but that the union can't make any comment on the process until all the contractual negotiations had been completed," the statement read.

"SARU have to deal with all relevant matters before making any announcements on the outcomes, which will happen as soon as possible."

The Springboks endured a torrid season under Coetzee in 2016 with the Boks losing a record eight Tests.

There are reports that Munster Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus was recently in the country to have talks with SARU about the head coaching position, but his lawyer Frikkie Erasmus told rugby365 that the reports were not true.

Another rumour is that there is an "international" clause in Erasmus' contract with Munster, which will allow him to leave the Irish province if he is offered a head coaching role of a national team.

Another grapevine suggested that Brendan Venter will join Coetzee's coaching staff in an advisory capacity.

If that is not enough to get people talking, there is also a rumour doing the rounds is that Coetzee must prove himself in June in the three-Test series against France – if the Boks lose the series then Coetzee will be fired.

However, it is also believed that Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula wants SA Rugby to keep Coetzee on as head coach