Lacuna in Coetzee's SARU contract means he can't be sacked - reports

The failure to put a performance clause in Alistair Coetzee's contract means that the task of removing the Springboks headcoach could be more be problematic - that's according to reports in a local newspaper in South Africa.

Local Afrikaans newspaper - Rapport - say that there is no performance clause in Coetzee's contract, meaning they can't fire him for winning less than 65 per cent of his matches as speculated.

If true, the fact South African Rugby Union's failure represents a significant oversight on their parts.

Despite some humiliating results for the Springboks, Coetzee appears to be hanging onto his position. In early December he stated: “I am signed until 2019, that is what my contract is saying,” he told a news conference.

“The team has really grown and there is a lot of improvement, and it’s a really healthy team environment," comments which can now be viewed as possibly an attempt by Coetzee is 'sandbag' against a push to have him removed.

SARU are remaining tight-lipped on the matter, despite the fact that it's widely known that the union want rid of their the top man.

A statement released on Friday says that nothing will be happen until 2018 at the earliest.

"To assist media in their reporting and in light of considerable speculation, please be advised that SA Rugby will not be in a position to respond to questions regarding that speculation on the coaching of the national team until the New Year," the statement read.

"A number of meetings and reviews are in progress on all national teams after which plans for all teams in 2018 will be confirmed."