South Africa coach Allister Coetzee will not be replaced, the national rugby body insisted Friday after announcing that Johan “Rassie” Erasmus had been appointed director of rugby.
The contract of former Springbok loose forward Erasmus with Irish province Munster expires on December 31 and he will then return to South Africa.
Coetzee masterminded a 3-0 Test series whitewash of France this month after being in charge of a disastrous 2016 season in which South Africa lost eight of 12 Tests.
It was a record number of calendar-year defeats suffered by a country that have been world champions twice and triggered persistent public and media calls for the coach to be sacked.
“Allister has done a great job to turn the Springboks around this season,” South Africa Rugby (SAR) chief executive Jurie Roux said in a statement.
“I can categorically put to rest any idea that he is being replaced as Springbok coach.
“We will do everything in our power to support him for the Rugby Championship and everything that lies beyond that.”
Erasmus will oversee the running of eight national teams, the management of 20 competitions and the development of players, coaches and referees.
South African defence specialist Jacques Nienaber, who has been assisting Erasmus at Munster, is also returning home to work as a SAR high performance coach.
Erasmus won 36 caps between 1997 and 2001, scoring seven tries, and has earned a reputation for innovation as a coach with provincial teams and SAR.
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