With Allister Coetzee seemingly preparing for his final match in charge of Springboks against Wales this Saturday, KweséESPN looks at some of the candidates who could possibly take over in 2018.
Wayne Smith
The New Zealander is taking a break from the game, after being involved in the All Black set-up for the past 20 years, and helping them win back-to-back World Cups. Smith is regarded as a 'great thinker', and he may just be the man to help the Springboks and SA Rugby think outside the box for a change. His experience would be priceless.
But, at 60 years old, how hungry is he to get back in the saddle? Especially after he stated earlier this year that he would like to spend more time with his family. Coaching the Boks also has different dimensions, as the new coach will have to help push transformation targets and get the balance right in terms of selecting overseas-based players.
Rassie Erasmus
Erasmus has been heavily tipped to play more of a 'hands-on' role if Coetzee does indeed get the boot. Erasmus has returned to South Africa to take up a director-of-rugby position, but rumours suggest that he could actually take the team to the World Cup in Japan in two years' time.
Erasmus is an innovative coach, with a lot of experience in South African rugby. But he has been known to be quite conservative in his approach to the game, which is vastly different from his playing days as a wonderfully gifted loose forward. It's also hard to see him juggle his overall responsibilities while coaching the Boks.
Johann Ackermann
The Lions have qualified for the last two Super Rugby finals under Ackermann's tutelage. They did it by playing an attractive brand of rugby, which didn't compromise the old South African rugby virtues of a strong set piece and physicality in the contact area. He also forged a great team culture during his time there.
But Ackermann is still quite inexperienced, and may be, well, too nice to be considered as an international coach just yet. What SA Rugby and the Springboks need is a man who doesn't see the need to please everybody. The Boks also need a coach who has been around the rugby block.
John Mitchell
Some say John Mitchell laid the platform for Ackermann's success at the Lions. Mitchell is a free-thinking coach who backs the youngsters to go out and do the job. It's something that Bok coaches haven't quite got right over the last decade. The former All Blacks mentor also understands the need to evolve the South African game, while he has been here long enough to understand the politics.
While Mitchell is back in the country coaching the Bulls, he doesn't have a good relationship with the head honchos at SA Rugby following his controversial departure from the Lions. There has also been a lot said about his management style.
Jake White
Back to the future? White is another coach whose bridges with SA Rugby have been burnt to the ground, but remains one of the country's most successful coaches. He was also the last coach to successfully build a championship side from scratch, and getting the blend right between the old and the new.
These days, though, when the going gets tough, White gets going. The former Bok coach has moved around quite a bit over the last few years, and been promoting himself for several positions -- such as the England job that Eddie Jones got -- over the last few years. It's a bit unbecoming of a World Cup-winning coach.