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Everything must revolve around transparency for South Africa’s rugby bosses this week when they meet in Cape Town for three of the most important meetings in the history of the SA Rugby Union (Saru).
The images of several administrators as well as of Saru itself have been caused infinite damage by the upheavals of the past year or so, and credibility can now only be restored by transparency.
There is no doubt something seriously amiss in South African rugby.
This week’s meetings offer rugby bosses an opportunity to discuss such things as the defective structures that have led directly to, for example, the chaotic situation around the appointment of Heyneke Meyer’s successor as Springbok coach and his management team.
The appointment of national selectors could be the main talking point in Thursday’s meeting, the first of the three.
Saru’s executive committee will decide, among other things, whether the selection committee should be increased and who the suitable candidates are to replace Ian McIntosh and Peter Jooste.
There is a strong feeling among experts that, for the sake of transparency, former Springboks should be involved in the selection process.
Sparks could fly in Friday’s two meetings.
Emotions could boil over, especially when the poor communication between Saru president Oregan Hoskins, the country’s 14 union presidents and Saru’s executive committee are discussed in a special meeting.
The meeting was requested earlier by the dissatisfied union presidents who, because of the executive committee’s alleged lack of communication, have had to read in the newspapers about the decisions in Saru’s boardrooms.
The presidents feel that they, as the people who have the final say in decisions such as who is appointed the Bok coach, should be better informed. They may also put Saru’s constitution to the test to try to bring about possible changes in the executive committee.
The presidents may also have several questions about Hoskins and CEO Jurie Roux’s sustained working relationship in the face of Roux’s Maties court battle, who the main sponsor for the Currie Cup and the Boks will be and several other matters.
Hoskins will be under great pressure to give watertight answers or it will be a struggle for him to survive until the end of his term in 2017.
A decision on Meyer’s successor is expected after the third and final meeting when the general council must approve or reject a recommendation by Saru’s high-performance committee on the suitable candidate.
There was a feeling earlier that the majority of so-called northern presidents would favour Rassie Erasmus’ appointment, while Allister Coetzee has the support of the majority of southern union presidents.
Transparency will also be crucial in this process, and Springbok supporters deserve the full truth about Saru’s reasons for why Meyer’s eventual successor will be chosen.
Saru is facing an almost impossible task if it plans to appoint a new head coach, assistant coaches and the rest of the Springbok management team in time for the three home tests against Ireland in June. It should be remembered that Heyneke Meyer’s World Cup management team consisted of 20 members, whereas Saru has only confirmed Johann van Graan’s appointment in the new coaching staff. It is still uncertain in what position Van Graan will serve.
Since Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh’s term expired after last year’s World Cup, Saru has had to do without national selectors while choosing, among others, its Blitzbokke team and this week’s enlarged Junior Boks squad.
Andy Marinos’ decision to resign as Saru’s commercial manager last year is probably the major reason there has still not been any announcement about a new main sponsor for the Boks or the tradition-laden Currie Cup series.
– Rapport
