SARU to produce Kiwi bolter in Bok team?

Instead they could drop a New Zealand bomb on delegates at the union's General Council meeting on Friday.

rugby365 has been told SARU have been courting All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith.

It is uncertain why there has been a cooling of relations between SARU and Coetzee.

SARU President Oregan Hoskins last Friday publicly stated that they will not close the door on a foreign coach for the Boks.

However, their flirtation with a Kiwi could result in some heated debate at Friday's meeting.

SARU CEO Jurie Roux will reveal the progress that has been made with the recruitment process in the wake of Heyneke Meyer's decision to step down last week.

Smith, 58, helped coach the All Blacks to victory at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups, and also played a key role in the Chiefs' victories in the 2012 and 2013 Super Rugby competitions.

Transformation is another subject high on the agenda.

Hoskins last week took pot-shots at the franchises, saying they are not doing enough to assist with transforming the national team - which must have a 50 percent black representation at the 2019 World Cup, as per the 'contract' signed with government.

There are some franchises who are not just unhappy with Hoskins' statements on the vexed issue of transformation, but also feel aggrieved about some other leadership blunders.

By Jan de Koning

@rugby365com