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Date set for new Bok coach
03/01/2008 21:33 - (SA)
Stephen Nell , Die Burger
Cape Town - The new Springbok coach will be appointed by January 11 says Mike Stofile.
"The committee will meet on Monday and Tuesday to conduct interviews," Stofile told Die Burger on Thursday. He is chairperson of the committee appointed to make a recommendation to the SA Rugby Union's presidents' council.
"Interviews will be held with Heyneke Meyer and Peter de Villiers on Monday and with Allister Coetzee and Chester Williams on Tuesday.
"The presidents' council will meet on Wednesday and by Friday there will be a new Springbok coach," he said.
According to sources within SA Rugby, Meyer is the favourite to take over from Jake White.
De Villiers is also regarded as a strong contender but Meyer is in pole position after taking the Bulls to the Super 14 championship last season.
Stofile said the committee would listen with an open mind to each of the candidates.
The other members of the panel are James Stoffberg, Jannie Ferreira, Dawie Snyman, Elna van Niekerk, Mpumelelo Tshume, Jonathan Stones and Christo Ferreira.
Knows the drills
White, who coached the Springboks to their World Cup triumph last year, has said Coetzee is the best man to succeed him.
Coetzee was White's assistant coach from 2004 until the World Cup final and knows the drills but finds himself, along with Williams, as one of the outsiders.
White's other assistant, Gert Smal, has indicated that he would like to stay on in SA rugby. He is interested to become involved in the Eastern Cape for a few months.
"If they would like to make use of my services during the next four months I may be able to do something in the Eastern Cape. I have coached there before and I know what the needs are. I'd like to provide some input," Smal said.
Even though SA Rugby have pulled the carpet from under the Southern Spears they still want to create structures to rebuild rugby in the Eastern Cape.
Smal's experience at the highest level will enable him to make a valuable contribution.
However, he does not want to stay out of the main stream for too long. "I'd like to apply for a position of head coach again," he said on Thursday.
"I would prefer to remain in South Africa but I'll also look at overseas options."
Smal was a strong candidate to succeed Heyneke Meyer as Bulls coach but withdrew his application for family reasons.
- Die Burger
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