Stick or Davids tipped to succeed Nienaber as Springboks coach

South Africa assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids are the favourites to succeed Jacques Nienaber as head coach when he quits after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Nienaber announced this weekend he was moving to European giants Leinster after the global showpiece in France from September 8.

He cited undisclosed "personal reasons" for the decision to leave the reigning world champions after succeeding Rassie Erasmus, now the South African director of rugby, in 2020.

READ | Race to replace Neinaber: Swys backs Stick to be next Springbok head coach

The announcement took South Africans by surprise as there had been no hints that Nienaber was planning to leave one of the most prestigious posts in world rugby.

All 14 post-apartheid Springbok coaches have been South African, starting with a short, unsuccessful stay by John Williams in 1992.

Several South African Rugby Union insiders told AFP on Sunday that they expected Nienaber to be succeeded by a local.

They added that Erasmus, who transformed the Springboks from a laughing stock to 2019 world champions in two seasons, would have a major say in who takes over.

Stick, Davids and Stormers head coach John Dobson were the names repeatedly mentioned by the insiders as the likeliest successors.

The good work of South African Franco Smith in revitalising the Glasgow Warriors was noted, with some believing he could become part of a future team, but not as head coach.

Hiring a non-South African like recently dismissed Australia coach Dave Rennie or former Ireland star Ronan O'Gara, a Champions Cup winner with La Rochelle, was considered "highly unlikely".

Thankless task

"It will not happen - the next Springboks coach will be a South African," insisted one insider, speaking on