While desperate attempts are being made to prevent Nick Mallett from being sacked, the Springbok coach may have courted controversy once too often.

His media spokesman, Australian Alex Broun, was suspended on full pay on Tuesday - after allegedly attempting to cover up Mallett's attack on SARFU, whom he had accused of "greed".

Broun will appear at a hearing next week, relating to numerous media incidents this season. Mallett has claimed he didn't know he was speaking to a reporter and that the comments were made in a private capacity.

The Durban reporter in question, however, disputes this. The Bok coach's ill-advised outburst about too high Test ticket prices on the eve of the Durban clash against Australia incensed SARFU executive members, who were embarrassed in front of International Rugby Board members who attended the game.

It's not the first time Mallett has denied controversial comments attributed to him during his tenure. What's made it even more difficult for SARFU to keep backing someone who is a public relations disaster, is his poor record of winning only two out of seven Test matches this season.

There were several reports on Tuesday that Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour arranged a secret meeting with SARFU president Silas Nkanunu and chief executive Rian Oberholzer to discuss the possible axing of Mallett.

Balfour apparently addressed the parliamentary committee on sport on Monday and asked them to support him in his quest to save the coach's job.

Balfour told them he is planning a meeting with Nkanunu and Oberholzer and "the black members of the SARFU executive" before he makes his plea at the executive's meeting on Wednesday. This meeting will decide Mallett's future.

There is also a move to sideline Mallett's assistant, Alan Solomons, as Stormers coach. The Stormers are the only region who haven't confirmed who they want as coach next season - surprising considering Solomons' success with the Stormers. Solomons still hasn't been forgiven for the Stormers threat to strike last year.

Springbok captain Andre Vos came out with a strong message of support for Mallett on Tuesday.

"Every guy in the squad, without a doubt, is firmly behind Nick," he said. "We need consistency and continuity. If we can keep more or less the same squad through to next year's Tri-Nations, the sky is the limit."

Vos is aware, however, that his future as Bok captain would be in jeopardy if Mallett is sacked. Harry Viljoen has been earmarked to take over Mallett's job, with Andre Markgraaff as his assistant.

While Mallett has the proud record of recording more victories than defeats against the All Blacks, the narrow loss against the Wallabies showed that their game plan still lacks structure.

While they were brilliant at neutralising Australia on attack, their option-taking was poor on attack - with the Boks choosing the boot as their favourite weapon. A total contradiction of Mallett's supposedly expansive game plan.

Several coaches have questioned Mallett's rugby knowledge, while the coach himself claimed after the All Black victory that "no one could teach him anything".

That's at the core at the problem people have with Mallett. If South Africa want to become world champions again, SA rugby needs someone with a more collaborative approach such as the innovative Viljoen, who wouldn't need someone to guard his mouth all the time.