FORMER Springbok eightman Rudolph Straeuli is likely to take over the coaching position at the Natal Sharks, taking over the position vacated by Hugh Reece-Edwards, who was sacked as coach after a miserable Super 12. Straeuli is said to be a near-certainty for the job, with Business Day reporting that that the Natal Rugby Union only had to rubber stamp his appointment on Tuesday night. Straeuli played ten Tests for the Springboks between 1994 and the 1995 World Cup before he moved to the UK as player/coach at Bedford. Straeuli was highly successful in the UK, seeing Bedford promoted to the first-division where they competed until the South African’s departure at the end of last year. Straeuli moved to Border at the beginning of the year to replace Gert Smal, following the latter’s appointment as head coach at Western Province.