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South African coach wants more World Cup preparation

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Posted: Tuesday July 20, 1999 10:53 AM

Nick Mallett said he would ask the SARFU to allow him a two weeks of conditioning followed by three weeks of preparation. Mike Hewitt/Allsport

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- Embattled South Africa rugby union coach Nick Mallett wants a five-week preparation period for his team before the World Cup in Britain in September.

Speaking on Tuesday after the team's return from its disastrous Tri-Nations tour, Mallett said lack of adequate preparation had been a contributing factor to the record defeats inflicted on the Springboks in New Zealand and Australia.

"We have played five tests in the space of five weeks so we just spent our time in preparation for one test after another," he said. "There was very little time for any real collective coaching."

Mallett said he would ask the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) to allow him a two-week phase of conditioning followed by three weeks of preparation. At the moment only 12 days have been set aside for a training camp.

"Maybe after that we can play one or two games against a side like the Emerging Springboks," he said. "That's what [coach] Kitch Christie did when he was coaching the 1995 World Cup team.

"As far as I am concerned it's absolutely necessary to have that."

The defending world champions lost 28-0 to the All Blacks in Dunedin 10 days ago and fared little better against Australia, going down 32-6 in Brisbane last Saturday.

Mallett said he would analyse the form of players such as flyhalf Henry Honiball, scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen, centre Andre Snyman, flanker Bobby Skinstad and hooker James Dalton for the second round of Tri-Nations matches, starting with the All Blacks in Pretoria on August 7.

"With all these guys coming back from injury we will have to see if they are ready," Mallett said. "But the preparation for the World Cup starts now and if it means that a guy like Joost needs more time to train to be ready for the World Cup, then we won't play him in the Tri-Nations.

"We scrummed really well and gave both New Zealand and Australia a tough battle," Mallett said. "But we need our loose forwards, the half backs and the inside center to be more creative."

Mallett said that the World Cup squad would be selected on August 31 after the Tri-Nations series.

He said captain Gary Teichmann would have to regain his place in the national side after suffering another injury against the All Blacks.

Teichmann has battled with knee injuries throughout the season and is in danger of missing the World Cup.

"I would like to see him get a few games under his belt for [provincial side] Natal and then he will have to challenge for a place in the Springboks on merit," Mallett said.

 

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