RIAN Oberholzer, managing director of South African rugby, has been identified as the main problem in the local game. As a result, his sweeping powers are about to be drastically reduced. The Pretoria News reported on Monday that the board of SA Rugby lambasted Oberholzer’s part in the Harry Viljoen saga at their meeting in Johannesburg on Friday, and are due to reduce the managing director’s powers when they meet again in a fortnight. ”Rian got a hiding from board members at the meeting,” an unnamed source told the newspaper. ”They let him know exactly how they felt and that they were not happy with the state of South African rugby at the moment. ”I realised these last few weeks that Rian Oberholzer is the problem in our rugby,” the source added. ”We didn’t get to the discussion about limiting the managing director’s powers, but we will when we meet again in two weeks’ time.” Harry Viljoen, whom Oberholzer had defended fiercely in the face of mounting criticism, resigned last week. – Sapa