Deja Vu 2016?

We seem to be in exactly the same place as 2016: . 1 Coetzee is still coach, Stick is gone but Smith is still there . 2 Jantjies (desevedly) is a shoo in for Bok 10. . 3 Many of the other flops are still in the mix Allende, Kriel, Malherbe etc . 4 The only team that is comfortable ball in hand....the Lions .. 5 We are still looking for inc.umbent wings, centres, props and loosies. .. 6 We have no fetcher, scrumhalf, tighthead. .. 7 The plan is still to choose players from teams that don't play ball in hand, and trust they will suddenly play like the Lions. ..... And we think this year is going to be different. Maybe it will, but I can't see why....we have fixed nothing, starting with the coach. Correction we have appointed Brendan Venter as defensive coach, whose team Italy conceded 201 points...almost twice the next highest at 118.....I guess that's one thing that's different.

 'And we think this year is going to be different' - don't think anyone does except AC mate

mozart all your points are very valid, unfortunately.
At this rate do u think there is any light at the end of the tunnel beside the oncoming train light with respect to the next WC?
The only chance perhaps is that Mitchell at the Bulls can get that franchise back on track and get them back to the force they have always been in SA rugby.
Trust that the Lions and Sharks coaches can instill that pride back into the game for those teams as well.
But in general, it does appear to be doom and gloom ahead for SA rugby.

2016 was even worse than 2003 under Destroyli, but had many similarities,,,,,a failing captain, confused coach, non existent team spirit, poor indoviduals in many slots. A new wave of Junior WC winners, captain and coach pulled us out of the slump. So far we have a new captain....but we crucially need the competent coach.

 About as correct as it gets Moz. Great post.
There is some promising talent in some of the vacant sports though. Wings, Centres props and loosies there are a good few chaps who've put their hands up this year. 
Like you, I expect very little from Toetie but I do hope that he doesn't end up ruining some of our young lads careers.
Problem is that even 5 wins this season will be an improvement on last year. Would be nice to know if there is indeed a performance clause this time round.

Well there was this earlier report that failure in the French series could lead to a change. But it's all wasting valuable time. Even a change now is not as impactful as a change before the season starts.....and at best we wont have a new coach till after June. So in effect we have used nearly half the time available to prepare for the next WC. .... Coetzee has no chance of building a winning WC team. Maybe nobody could, but at least a change would give us a fighting chance.

Coetzee needs to get John Mitchell as his assistant coach, or anyone else that understands the modern game. 
We can all pretend Coetzee is the coach- while the real/only brain of the operation is behind the scenes.
Much like when Rassie Erasmus was the coach at the Stormers. Tootsie dealt with the media and the politicians- while Rassie dealt with the rugby stuff.

I'm guessing Brendan Venter is supposed to play that role.....it's a delicate balance though. Far better to appoint a competent man at the top.

 
Points 5 and 6 ... we have the personnel to fill these positions. Problem is that the wrong players are being selected.

Is it really that difficult to see the talent we have? To me it's so obvious.

One really has to be an idiot to get this wrong.