South Africa assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids are the favourites to succeed Jacques Nienaber as head coach when he quits after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Nienaber introduced this weekend he was shifting to European giants Leinster after the worldwide showpiece in France from September 8.
He cited undisclosed “personal reasons” for the choice to depart the reigning world champions after succeeding Rassie Erasmus, now the South African director of rugby, in 2020.
The announcement took South Africans abruptly as there had been no hints that Nienaber was planning to depart one of the prestigious posts in world rugby.
All 14 post-apartheid Springbok coaches have been South African, beginning with a brief, unsuccessful keep by John Williams in 1992.
Several South African Rugby Union insiders instructed AFP on Sunday that they anticipated Nienaber to be succeeded by an area.
They added that Erasmus, who remodeled the Springboks from a laughing inventory to 2019 world champions in two seasons, would have a serious say in who takes over.
ALSO READ: ‘Jacques Nienaber an outstanding man’, says Leinster boss
Stick, Davids and Stormers head coach John Dobson have been the names repeatedly talked about by the insiders as the likeliest successors.
The good work of South African Franco Smith in revitalising the Glasgow Warriors was famous, with some believing he might turn out to be a part of a future crew, however not as head coach.
Hiring a non-South African like just lately dismissed Australia coach Dave Rennie or former Ireland star Ronan O’Gara, a Champions Cup winner with La Rochelle, was thought-about “highly unlikely”.
Thankless process
“It will not happen – the next Springboks coach will be a South African,” insisted one insider, talking on situation of anonymity as he’s not an official spokesperson.
Should former sevens star Stick, 38, be chosen it might full a tremendous turnaround as he was dumped as a Springbok assistant through the disastrous 2016-2017 stint of Allister Coetzee.
Erasmus recalled him and hailed his contribution after the 2019 World Cup marketing campaign, which culminated in a 20-point ultimate overcome England in Japan.
After the thankless process of guiding the under-resourced and cash-strapped Southern Kings in Super Rugby, Davids, 55, turned a part of the Springbok set-up following the final World Cup.
Stick works with the backs and Davids with the forwards and each reportedly have contracts till 2027.
Dobson, 53, has labored wonders on the financially troubled Stormers, highlighted by a United Rugby Championship ultimate victory over the Bulls from Pretoria final season.
“Apart from the Springbok coaches, John is head and shoulders above any other contenders. The Stormers players love him,” mentioned an official.
South Africa start their World Cup countdown in July with Rugby Championship matches in opposition to Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, who they meet once more in a warm-up match.
The Springboks transfer to Europe in August for Tests in opposition to Wales and New Zealand earlier than tackling Scotland of their opening World Cup Pool B match on September 10.
They additionally play Romania, Ireland and Tonga and the nations ending first and second within the ultimate standings advance to the quarter-finals.
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