Former Springbok skipper Francois Pienaar said on Monday he still entertained hopes of one day coaching South Africa, despite being ruled out of the race to succeed Harry Viljoen.

Pienaar, who captained South Africa to victory in the 1995 World Cup, said his door would always be open if the Springbok coaching job came up in future.

"Anybody would fancy it, coaching their country," said Pienaar, who was not included on a shortlist released last week of four candidates being considered as Viljoen's replacement. "I captained South Africa and had success. Everyone knows what they mean to me."

Although he did not make an application for the Springbok post, reports in South Africa indicated he had informal discussions with Sarfu officials about the job.

Pienaar was speaking at a press conference held to explain his reasons for deciding to step down as chief executive and head coach of English Premiership side Saracens. The 35-year-old said he would see out the remainder of the season with Saracens, who are eighth in the 12-team league.

"I am a bit of a dead man walking, but I wanted to make the transition as easy as possible for the club. I will be going back to South Africa but only at the end of this season. I'm ready for a change," he said.

Despite massive investment and the signing of several high profile players including France's Philippe Sella and Thomas Castaignede, and Australia's Michael Lynagh and Tim Horan, Saracens' lone triumph during Pienaar's time was the 1998 English Cup.

They failed to qualify for the European Cup last year and earlier this season went out of the lesser European Shield at the quarterfinal stage. "It's been very frustrating. I've played in 18 finals and won 17.

"My passion is to win. But it's not been the biggest setback of my life. It's not as if I have committed fraud," said Pienaar, who blamed his own policy of big name recruitment, injuries and the fractured nature of the English season for his failure to deliver more silverware to Saracens.

Pienaar said he believed a fresh face could help transform the English club's fortunes. "You only have to look at what's happened elsewhere, when Graham Henry first took over as coach of Wales or at Northampton, at their fantastic run of victories since Wayne Smith became coach. It's one of those things that happens in sport."

South Africa assistant coach Tim Lane, who has club coaching experience with French side Montferrand, is favourite to replace Pienaar.

Rudolf Straeuli, Allister Coetzee, Rudy Joubert and Jake White are the men on the shortlist for the Springboks job, with Straeuli widely considered to be the favourite. - Sapa