|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
'I have a contract' Mallett says he intends to stay Springboks coach
JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) -- Springboks coach Nick Mallett defied widespread calls for his removal when he said on Tuesday he intends to stay in the job until his contract expires. Mallett said as the South Africa squad returned from two test defeats in Australia and one in New Zealand: "I have a contract which runs until the end of next year and I intend to uphold it." Calls for Mallett's head followed four consecutive defeats -- starting with the 27-22 home loss against England in June -- as he has stuck to his plan to make the Springboks play a more modern, expansive game. Mallett, who acknowledged that the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) might well have different ideas, made the commitment to staying even though team manager Gideon Sam said at the start of an airport news conference that the coach would not be answering questions about his future. "I have actually muzzled the coach. He will not talk about his future and the future of coaching in South Africa. Once we have made a full report to SARFU and its executive, a full press statement can then be made," said Sam.
Probing questionsBut Mallett, clearly stung by some probing questions about the course he had steered the team on this year, made his declaration of intent as the conference drew to a close. He also said he would not consider changing the composition of his coaching panel to bring in a recognized backline coach, a step that would require the departure of assistant coach Alan Solomons. Asked where he felt the players could come from who would be able to play the game his way, Mallett stressed that was a subject which would take a long time to talk through. "We need to make these discussions through SARFU and the SARFU executive committee and it entails all competitions and getting them structured in such a way that there is a common purpose in what we're trying to do, but I don't want to go into technical detail," Mallett said. "I believe that we have got the players, given time, who can compete," he added, stressing that away results in the Tri-Nations series mirrored the poor results of the country's Super 12 teams in Australia. "I think we have got very skilled rugby players, but the patterns of play that they play, particularly (the) ACT (Brumbies) and Australia, take time. (ACT and Australia halfbacks) George Gregan and Stephen Larkham say that it's taken them five years to get to the level they're at now."
Confidence"If we're going to compete at that level, first we need to have a fixture list before going into the Tri-Nations that engenders confidence within the Springboks. Second, we need to have a Super 12 structure where the coaches agree on the way forward for South African rugby. "When you play sides like Australia or New Zealand, I believe they will score between 20 and 30 points, even if you defend well. The key is that you've got to score more than 20 or 30." Captain Andre Vos stressed that the team was "100 percent behind Nick" and the course he had plotted in terms of the game plan. He also added that the way the team had stuck together in the face of adversity had been "quite remarkable," a point Mallett also emphasized. Sam made an impassioned plea for patience from the public. "We are stripped of all arrogance as we sit here. We accept that we should be doing better in the future. It's a matter of time before this team delivers and we are appealing to the South African public to give us that time," he said.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
