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Cape Town - Uncertainty remains over the future of Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, but the latest developments suggest that he could be safe ... for now.
Coetzee has come under immense pressure after losing eight of his 12 Tests during 2016 and there have been calls for his sacking from all corners of the country.
SA Rugby has remained mum on the issue, saying that it will make an announcement before the end of the month.
But, according to a report on Times Live, Coetzee will not be sacked before the start of the new international season.
Instead, the report says, he will be given the June series against France to prove his worth.
The Boks take on France in three Test matches in South Africa over that period and, according to the article, he will be sacked if the Boks lose that series.
One stumbling block to that that a new coach would be that a new coach, should he come in after the Inbound Series, would have less than two months to prepare his side for the Rugby Championship, which gets underway in mid-August.
Recent reports indicated that SA Rugby was eyeing out Rassie Erasmus as a potential replacement for Coetzee, but according to the Times Live report, the national sports ministry had urged the organisation to back Coetzee.
The Boks' horror 2016 season included a first ever loss to Ireland on home soil, losing away to Argentina, a 57-15 pummelling at home against the All Blacks, as well as going down to lowly Italy - also for the first time ever.
The first Test against France is scheduled for Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on June 10.
The second Test will take place at Kings Park in Durban on June 17, while the third and final match will be held at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (June 24).
