Frontrunner Emerges To Take Over From Coetzee As Springboks Head Coach

Chiefs boss Dave Rennie has emerged as a frontrunner to take the Springbok coaching reins from Allister Coetzee according to South African media reports.

The Rapport are reporting that the South Africa Rugby Union have already started the process of looking for a new coach following a disastrous season under Coetzee that has seen them drop to 6th in the world, with a 33% win record.

Rennie has made no secret of his desire to coach at Test level but if he is offered the Springbok job, a significant stumbling block is his commitment to Glasgow Warriors where he is set to replace Gregor Townsend in a two-year deal, when Townsend becomes Scotland’s head coach at the start of the 2017/18 season.

If it is decided to axe the former Stormers coach, Rennie, who led the Chiefs to Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013, could be a leading contender.

Other names that have also been mentioned as possible replacements are Munster’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and 2007 World Cup winning coach Jake White who will leave Top 14 giants Montpellier after a two-year spell at the end of this season.

However, a potential stumbling block to firing Coetzee could be the pay out of his existing contract with South African Rugby already in a dire financial situation.