Fans have had their say on who should be recruited to reinforce the Springboks management team in 2022, one year out from the World Cup title defence in France.

Throughout the 2021 season, the world champions were criticised for applying their winning recipe with aplomb – a kick-oriented, forwards-based approach – while many pundits questioned the effectiveness of the attack.

With no set criteria for eligibility, SARugbymag.co.za compiled a 12-man shortlist of feasible candidates who could add experience and expertise to the current coaching group of head coach Jacques Nienaber and assistant coaches Mzwandile Stick (backline), Deon Davids (forwards), Daan Human (scrum) and Felix Jones (Europe-based consultant).

In the past, Jake White recruited Eddie Jones to shake things up before the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber assisted Peter de Villiers at the 2011 showpiece and Swys de Bruin was an attack consultant to the Boks prior to the 2019 tournament.

The long list of international coaches included Swys de Bruin, Nick Mallett, John Dobson, Allister Coetzee, Johann van Graan and Johan Ackermann.

However, it was Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson who came out as the clear favourite, earning 26% of the votes.

It should come as no surprise that the former loose forward was such a popular choice, as he has built a very successful Crusaders team, winning Super Rugby in his first three seasons as head coach, playing an attack brand of rugby while doing so.

Robertson went toe-to-toe with Ian Foster when it came to appointing former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen’s successor, but it was Foster who won the race.

Fans would also like to see Johan Ackermann earn a chance to assist the Boks, given his success at the Lions, where he guided the team to two Super Rugby finals. Ackermann’s successor at the Lions, Swys de Bruin was the third-most popular option, as he previously assisted Erasmus in 2018.