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Cape Town - More revelations about Springbok coach Allister Coetzee’s explosive letter to SA Rugby have come to light.
News broke at the weekend that the embattled national coach had hit out at his employers in a letter addressed to SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.
READ: Coetzee lays into SA Rugby in sensational letter
Coetzee reportedly sent a 19-page document via his legal representatives to Roux in a bid to show that almost all of the problems during his two-year tenure are due to external factors.
Coetzee won only 11 of his 25 Tests (44%) in charge of the two-time world champions since his appointment in 2016.
It is now clear that SA Rugby wants to get rid of Coetzee, but the coach feels he was not treated fairly.
Netwerk24 on Monday afternoon shed more light on the letter in which Coetzee in particular hits out at the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as SA Rugby’s director of rugby.
Erasmus now looks set to take charge of the Springboks.
According to the Afrikaans website, Coetzee claims Erasmus’s appointment is a “less competent candidate” being preferred to him and that it would not be conducive to transformation.
Coetzee wrote: “There is a general view among SARU ranks that the intention was always to replace Heyneke Meyer with Rassie, but SARU wanted to avoid any controversy regarding race.
“A strategy was developed to use me as a coloured person to conceal the end goal - by offering me the job as Bok coach - but to not equip me with the necessary resources to adequately perform my tasks. It would lead to me vacating my position earlier in order for Rassie to eventually be appointed.
“This strategy is not in line with SARU’s strategic transformation plan. It’s distasteful to say the least, to use me as a black South African as a pawn in such an untenable manner.”
Coetzee added that Erasmus’s appointment “in general” does not promote transformation.
He also said it was “shocking” that he was being used as a “ceremonial” coach that must report to Erasmus, who Coetzee “with respect” described as “less competent”.
Under the guidance of Coetzee, the Springboks endured a torrid two years, with several unwanted records being set which include:
- First ever defeat to Ireland in South Africa - in 2016
- Biggest defeat to Ireland - 38-3 in 2017
- First ever away defeat to Argentina
- First ever defeat to Italy
- Worst ever year in Springbok history - 4 wins from 12 Tests in 2016
- Most points ever conceded against New Zealand (57) in both 2016 and 2017
- Biggest margin of defeat in Springbok history - against New Zealand in 2017 (57-0)
