Cape Town - Help the Springboks become No 1 again, attract more long-term sponsors and get the franchises to work much closer with the national team.
Those are three of the main goals that Mark Alexander wants to achieve once he is appointed as president of the South African Rugby Union.
Earlier this week, Alexander was the only nominee for the seat vacated by Oregan Hoskins, who quit last month after 10 years in the position. So the next General Council meeting on October 27 will see Alexander elected as the new president after serving as Hoskins’ deputy since 2008.
The top priority is to ensure that the Boks are challenging the likes of the All Blacks, England and the Wallabies as powerhouses in the world game, with Allister Coetzee’s reign having started off on a shaky note with a come-from-behind series win over Ireland, followed by away defeats to Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
Alexander is hopeful that the forthcoming coaches indaba in Cape Town from October 19-21 will begin the process of facilitating greater working relationships between Coetzee and the Super Rugby coaches.
But the veteran administrator from Johannesburg feels that the Boks and Coetzee are being judged too harshly at this stage. “We must take cognisance of the number of players that have retired, and year-in and year-out we hear people talk about bringing in new blood. Now, bringing in new blood, it takes time for them to gain experience,” Alexander told Independent Media this week.
“And I think we just have to be patient and allow the players to settle in while we plot out this new direction we are taking. You must also remember that sometimes our players play for three different coaches in one year – Super Rugby, Tests and Currie Cup or overseas teams. And it’s very difficult as the national coach gets the players seven days before the team has to play.
“One of the things of the coaching indaba is to get direction, where we collaborate better with our franchises. We will plot a direction for South African rugby going forward.”
Asked if Coetzee’s job was under threat – his record is played seven, won three, lost four – ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Pretoria, Alexander said: “South African Rugby fully supports the coach.”
Off the field, Alexander faces a number of challenges, most importantly securing a long-term jersey sponsor for the Boks.
Blue Label Telecoms initially only supported the team for the Ireland series, and then agreed to extend the partnership for the rest of the 2016 season.
“From my perspective, I see the first task as restructuring the organisation in order to win back investor confidence, attract equity partners and new sponsors,” Alexander said.
“There are several other exciting and positive initiatives on the drawing board, but the details of these will have to wait until the 27th, when I hopefully will be officially appointed, and I will outline the strategy more comprehensively.
“It is a big job and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead, and the hard work that is needed to be done in South African rugby over the next few months.”