With the recent announcement that current Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber will vacate his position after this year’s Rugby World Cup to join Leinster’s coaching staff, we look at several candidates that could succeed him for the green and gold.
The favourites: Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids
According to multiple reports, Bok assistants Stick and Davids are the frontrunners for the position having both recently renewed their contracts through to 2027. The former also served during Allister Coetzee’s tenure as Bok boss and coached the Southern Kings’ U19 and Vodacom Cup sides, while Davids was the head coach of the Kings during the Super Rugby and Pro14 days.
Although neither has too much experience head coaching at the highest level, they do have the advantage of having been in the Springbok setup for many years now. Although an official announcement isn’t expected until after the World Cup in France, it may well be a straight shootout between these two.
Mzwandile Stick 😂😂 #AUSvRSA pic.twitter.com/mzYYvariCH
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) August 26, 2022
Other candidates: Johan Ackermann, John Dobson, Franco Smith
Other options could include any of the above. Ackermann has a proven track record coaching some top teams, having steered his beloved Lions to three straight Super Rugby finals between 2016 and 2018 and going on to enjoy stints at Gloucester and in Japan with the Red Hurricanes and Urayasu D-Rocks.
Dobson has guided the Stormers to a period of unprecedented success since taking over the cash-strapped franchise in 2019, winning the United Rugby Championship last season as well as the SA Shield for two seasons in a row. While he would doubtless do a great job in the role, he may be unwilling to move away from Cape Town just now.
Smith, who has coached the Cheetahs, Italy and currently heads up things at the Glasgow Warriors, is another candidate.
"It's amazing what that group of players have achieved!"
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) November 2, 2019
"I don't think they will realise what they've done! Siya Kolisi will inspire others."
Gloucester head coach and former Springbok Johan Ackermann speaks to us after South Africa's #RWCFinal victory 🏆🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/LitdpRL9ZF
Long shot: Dave Rennie
While it is understood that the next Bok coach will be a South African, Rennie would be an intriguing choice. With a CV that includes back-to-back Super Rugby titles with the Chiefs (2012 and 2013) as well as stints with Glasgow and Australia, Rennie knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Dave Rennie pulls no punches here... #WALvAUS
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) November 20, 2021
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