Former Springbok Kobus Wiese says coach Allister Coetzee was given no chance to succeed due to the details surrounding his appointment.
Coetzee is currently under enormous pressure after his side were defeated 20-18 by Italy last weekend, the latest in a string of poor results from the two-time World Cup winners. Wiese, who was part of the Springbok team that won the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, believes Coetzee's time in charge was doomed from the beginning.
In November last year, Heyneke Meyer stood down as Springbok coach, but it took the South African Rugby Union until April to formally appoint Coetzee, giving him just two months to prepare for a three-Test series against Ireland.
Johann van Graan retained his position as assistant coach after serving under Meyer, while Mzwandile Stick was drafted in by SARU to take up the coaching of the backs. The appointment of Stick was a controversial one due to the 32-year-old's lack of experience. A sevens specialist in his playing days, Stick's highest-profile job was as assistant coach of Super Rugby side the Kings before being brought in under Coetzee.
Wiese believes SARU need to own up to their failings in the timing of their appointments, as well as the pedigree of the candidates.
"I really pity Allister, he was set up to fail," Wiese told Sky Sports. "I don't know why, but if I look at what they've given him it cannot work, it's impossible.
"It seems nobody takes responsibility. The whole circus around how Coetzee was appointed was disastrous from day one.
"If you look at his support team - who are they? Where do they come from? What kind of experience do they have at international level? Zero. Nothing.
"One or two of them maybe; Johann van Graan was adopted from the previous coach, but that's about it. Also, the way Coetzee was appointed, he was appointed very late into the season."
However, the 18-Test international does not feel Coetzee is completely void of responsibility for this year's results, in which the Boks notched just four victories in 11 Tests.
"Allister must take some part of the blame," said Wiese. "The fact remains he sticks with certain players and makes certain choices that don't make sense.
"I admire a coach who shows loyalty towards players, but up to a point, then the player must put up his hand and start playing. How much time do you give a player before it becomes detrimental to you as a coach?"
The former second rower believes the Springbok squad brought to Europe for this year's autumn internationals relied too heavily on seasoned players, with some of South Africa's rising talent left on the sidelines without a chance to prove themselves.
"Why do you pick youngsters to go on tour if you never play them? What is the idea behind that? The idea to go on tour is to breed these young players, show them what it's about to be a Springbok, not only between the white lines, but off the field as well. That's why you take guys on tour.
"Coetzee has picked some young players, rightfully so as they have been the best in their position, but they've hardly had any game time on this tour.
"Players like Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Beast Mtawarira are way past their best - for a year or two already. They were great players, they served the country tremendously well, but they are past their best.
"There are youngsters who are up-and-coming, and it would be far wiser to invest in them for the future, for the next World Cup. But Coetzee doesn't pick them."
Coetzee is not the only coach to suffer a shock defeat while in charge of the Boks. Predecessor Meyer was at the helm when the Boks lost to Japan in the World Cup, and Wiese says results such as those have been on the cards for some time due to South African rugby as a whole not doing enough to further the cause of the national team.
"It's an overall problem that's been building for a couple of years, it's been coming since Heyneke Meyer's days," said Wiese. "It seems that we're not all talking the same language among the unions.
"In New Zealand, of course every Super Rugby and club coach wants to be successful and has his own ideas, but that all ties in with one major idea, and that is that the All Blacks must be successful. They all speak the same language.
"It seems to be different in South Africa. Every coach fights for his own survival because his head is on the block and that's a problem.
"Secondly, I don't think we're coaching our coaches enough; our coaches are not getting the right training and experience from school level upwards. The third problem is that we appoint coaches too easily in this country - guys come from nowhere. They have one good season somewhere and then they become national coaches.
"It would never happen in New Zealand. Over there you start at club level, then junior provincial, then all the way up through the counties to Super Rugby. Only then, if you're successful, will you be considered to become an All Black coach."
With the Boks' current run, Coetzee's future is hanging by a thread, but while Wiese says a monumental shift is needed in the camp, he believes it's the support structure that needs to be addressed first.
"We need to make drastic changes, we are currently at an all-time low in our rugby history, there's no doubt about it. This is probably the worst Springbok season in the history of our game.
"If Allister is the guy to stay I have no problem with that, but they must surround him with experienced, level-headed, strong-willed individuals who bring a lot to the table.
"Coaches who the players and public respect, and have the knowledge and experience. Coaches who will enhance Allister, who will give him someone to fall back onto.
"If you look at the coaching structures of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and England, all those guys are respected individuals. The stronger the personality, the stronger the individual."
"For the sake of the survival of our great game and the history of the Springboks, we need drastic change right now. If we don't, we are in desperate trouble."
The Boks have asked for patience as they try find their feet under Coetzee and his assistants, but Wiese believes the fans have a right to voice their frustrations when performances do not meet the high standards of previous Springbok teams.
"What people must never forget, the game of rugby belongs to the people. They have a right to an opinion.
"I will die supporting the Springboks, it's my duty and I always will. But it hurts, the public is hurting."
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