Are Theron's days numbered?
It may be some time before it becomes a reality, but it is certainly beginning to bubble under the surface. There are rumblings that Dawie Theron's term as South African Under-20 coach will come to an end in the not too distant future.
The South African Rugby Union reacted with derision and scorn when asked for comment on 'rumours' that Theron is no longer as universally popular in the inner corridors at their headquarters.
While Theron's record, since he first took charge in 2011, is more than just acceptable, there are suggestions that the powers that be are keen on a changing of the guard.
SARU CEO Jurie Roux and Rassie Erasmus, General Manager: High Performance teams, are said to be behind the move to replace Theron – who has one winner's medal in five years at the Under-20 World Cup.
Theron also has a runners-up medal and two third-place finishes at the junior global showpiece, including the bronze medal they won in Italy at the weekend – with the worst performance a fifth place in his debut year.
"It is totally untrue to the point of being laughable," Roux said, when asked by rugby365 if there are indeed plans to end Theron's contract.
"To publish such a rumour would not only be bad journalism, but would be entirely reckless."
Suggestions that the minister of sport, Fikile Mbalula, was also unhappy with some of Theron's selections during the just completed U20 tournament was also met with contempt.
It appears the minister's apparent unhappiness is just one of the 'contributing factors' that caused SARU bosses to reconsider their stance on Theron – certainly not the main reason.
While SARU was keen to dismiss the enquiries from rugby365 as rubbish, this website has been reliably informed that Theron's conduct has already resulted in complaints from outside headquarters.
In fact the question was asked: 'Is he still the right man to guide such young and impressionable players?'
On more than one occasion during the just completed U20 World Cup television commentators made mention of how Theron was "shouting" at his team – his outbursts audible to the general public.
There is no doubt Theron is extremely hard working and certainly very passionate about his team, but his 'no-nonsense' approach seems to have rubbed some people up the wrong way.
Legitimate questions that were raised in the past week include:
Does Theron still have the full backing of SARU?
Has there been complaints about his conduct from within the team?
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
