RUGBY NEWS - After a months-long wait, Rassie Erasmus is finally poised to take over as coach of South Africa on Thursday, and take on the task of guiding a team he once graced as a player to victory in next year's Rugby World Cup.
Erasmus returned home from coaching Irish provincial side Munster in November to become national Director of Rugby.
That was a position that then Springbok coach Allister Coetzee felt was imposed on top of him, and he aimed bitter parting criticisms at SA Rugby's hierarchy when he was sacked on February 2.
But Erasmus arguably arrives as an overdue replacement after a hapless two-year spell in which Coetzee's Springboks suffered a record 57-0 defeat at the hands of New Zealand, lost at home to Ireland for the first time and away to Italy and slumped to sixth in the world rankings.
With no other candidates in the frame, Erasmus's appointment is widely viewed as a formality. The new Springbok coaching team is due to be announced at 0930 GMT, with a news conference scheduled for 1100.
Erasmus faces a tough start with a game against Wales in Washington DC on June 2, followed by three home tests against England on the next three Saturdays.
But the main focus will be on next year's World Cup in Japan, for which South Africa are currently considered among the dark horses rather than the favourites.
