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The headaches that already existed for South African Rugby are set to get even stronger after Allister Coetzee’s Springboks suffered a shock loss to Italy.
It was the first time that the Springboks have ever lost to the Italians, who are typically considered battlers on the international rugby stage.
All the wash-up from France vs Wallabies:
» Match report: Wallabies outlast France
» Diggercane’s talking points
» Brent Ford’s talking points
» What changes should the Wallabies make for Ireland?
» Vote on our DIY player ratings
» Re-live the match with our live blog
» WATCH the highlights from the match
But the Boks have become battlers themselves this year. After finishing third at the World Cup in 2015 under Heyneke Meyer, they’ve lost seven of 11 Tests played this year under new coach Coetzee.
South African Rugby president Mark Alexander released this statement after the match:
The whole of South African rugby is extremely disappointed with this year’s Springbok results and deeply worrying aspects of the performances. It has not been good enough and no one is pretending otherwise.
We have a minimum target of winning three out of four Test matches each season – which is better than the historical record – but we have not come close this season.
It would be easy to lay the blame for that at one door or another and look for scapegoats but it would also be an oversimplification.
All of us within South African rugby need to look at ourselves and ask what we could have done differently in aid of the Springbok cause.
Those questions will be asked at the end of the season when we will undertake a full review of the year and what new interventions may be needed to turn things around.
We began that work recently with the coaching indaba. It set out to align national and Super Rugby coaches on the technical, tactical and conditioning requirements to succeed in 2017 and beyond.
We also have to review such things as how we manage the fact that so many of our leading players are now based outside South Africa and more are being lured there.
No group of individuals is more concerned or disappointed right now than the Springbok team and management. We know they are better than this.
After that it is our job to take steps to do as much as we possibly can to make sure we are not in a similar position in 12 months’ time. Our focus is on solutions and finding answers to our current problems.
We have a Test against Wales on Saturday and then we will review the season and spend time determining a path for the future.
While nothing is made implicit here, one would suspect that Coetzee’s head is already halfway to the chopping block after such poor performances in 2016.
He’ll need a big turn around, and soon – otherwise the Springbooks could soon have their third head coach in the space of a year.
“I’d say it’s the darkest moment of my coaching career. The toughest. But I don’t want to look at it emotionally now, because emotions are high,” said Coetzee after the match.
Coetzee said he still has the support of the players, and believes he is the right man for the job.
“It’s not good enough losing to Italy. No disrespect to Italy, they have deserved their victory and hats off to a spirited Italian side, who tackled and tackled for each other and forced us into mistakes.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.