Cape Town - Bok coach Allister Coetzee simply has to do the honourable thing and fall on his sword after the once-proud Springboks stumbled to a shocking 20-18 defeat to Italy in Florence.
A record seven defeats in 11 Test matches on Coetzee’s watch this year is not good enough for the two-time world champions and Saturday’s loss to the Azzurri was the last straw.
The Boks created more unwanted history as they lost their first Test to Italy in 13 games since 1995. It follows last year’s disastrous defeat to Japan at the Rugby World Cup under former coach Heyneke Meyer and first losses to Argentina (home and away), as well as Ireland in South Africa.
The Boks were also hammered 57-15 by the All Blacks in Durban and smashed 37-21 by England at Twickenham last Saturday.
Last night, SA rugby president Mark Alexander released a statement saying: “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.”
The Bok season has bumbled from one defeat to the next, with no progress in sight. Promises of a more attacking approach has been nothing more than hot air from Coetzee.
No clear direction, a game plan reduced to one-off runners and half-backs kicking the ball away, poor selections and bad execution were the order of the day at the Stadio Artemio Franchi from the Springboks.
The Italians, with former Bok centre Brendan Venter as a coaching technical adviser, orchestrated a compelling defensive display as they harried the lacklustre Boks into mistakes all afternoon .
Coetzee has drummed home the message of playing the percentages, keeping things tight and wanting his pack to gain physical dominance, but this is not rugby in the 1990s - or even 2007.
The Boks just kept on mauling from lineouts despite being stopped every time by the Italians and when the ball went to ground, the predictable one-off runners were smashed back by defenders lining them up.
There have been mitigating circumstances which have hampered Coetzee this year, such as his late appointment in mid-April, just two months before the first Test against Ireland at Newlands.
He also didn’t get to choose his own management team, with only forwards coach Matt Proudfoot being a trusted lieutenant.
In addition, a number of top Boks such as Bryan Habana, Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw play for overseas clubs, while injury has meant that Coetzee hasn’t been able to use Handre Pollard, Marcell Coetzee and Siya Kolisi.
But there have been very few signs of progress being made with regard to the style of play, a stubborn refusal to select in-form players, to drop those struggling for form and failing to take the Boks into the modern era. Coetzee has to accept responsibility.
Speaking on SuperSport post-match, former Bok coach Nick Mallett said the defeat was as disappointing as the Japan loss.
He said he never thought this would happen to “this proud nation of fantastic rugby players”.
“SA rugby is in a very depressing place. I hope we can pick ourselves up.”
Twitter lit up after the defeat.
Former Bok lock Kobus Wiese: “I stand to be corrected, but surely this must be the worst season in Springbok rugby history!”
Maps Maponyane: “Do the right thing Allister Coetzee, we’ll be happy to help you with that letter. #ITAvRSA #Bokke
Thebe Ikalafeng: “Sorry, coach Allister Coetzee, but this is unacceptable and inexcusable.”
On Facebook Anathi George Mgema posted: “SA rugby doesn’t deserve this embarrassment... Heyneke had to go after the Boks lost to Japan. And Coetzee has to go after the Boks defeat to Italy. No more excuses now.”
Herman Gibbs said: “Boks write another dark chapter in South African rugby history with a 20-18 Italy test defeat.”
Weekend Argus