Allister Coetzee could learn his fate this week as SA Rugby conducts its review of a 2017 season that yielded only seven wins, writes CRAIG LEWIS.

Towards the end of last week, SA Rugby’s executive and general councils met in Cape Town to address a range of subjects, but Coetzee’s position was not on the agenda at that time.

However, that hot topic is now set to come into sharper focus as new South African director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and a technical committee begin to assess the state of Springbok rugby.

In Coetzee’s public offerings since the conclusion of the Springboks’ end-of-year tour, he has sought to insist that there has been improvement and progress since the horror 2016 season that saw the Boks achieve just four wins from 12 Tests.

Although the Springboks have managed to secure seven wins this year, two draws and four losses have still left Coetzee with an indefensible 44% win-ratio over his two years at the helm.

Coetzee will have an opportunity to present his case, and provide not only an explanation for the Boks’ ongoing inconsistencies, but also a plan for the national side to turn things around.

It’s nigh impossible to see Coetzee surviving after the Boks’ regression to sixth in the world rankings. There are also likely to be changes among the assistant coaching group.

Whatever the case may be, Erasmus is expected to become the de facto Bok boss, who will have the defining say over the team’s approach and selection decisions.

In order to remove Coetzee, SA Rugby will need to follow due process, particularly with the constitutional changes that have seen the responsibility surrounding coaching decisions moved from the general to the executive council.

Ultimately, it could turn out to be a decisive week for Springbok and South African rugby.

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