Rugby: Desperate Mallett shuffles South African team

Springbok coach Nick Mallett has rung the changes to his squad of 22 for the remaining Tri-Nations matches against Australia and New Zealand.

Mallett has called up first five-eighths Jaco van der Westhuysen, while pivot Louis Koen, wings Pieter Rossouw and Deon Kayser, centre Robbie Fleck and lock Jannes Labuschagne are missing from the squad who travelled to Australia and New Zealand.

Van der Westhuysen's inclusion comes at a difficult time for South African rugby.

There have been calls for Mallett's resignation following a dismal run of four successive defeats.

Van der Westhuysen, who can also fill in at centre, captained the South African under-23 side against Zimbabwe and Namibia this year.

He will join the squad in Johannesburg tomorrow to prepare for the test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on August 20.

The Springboks play world champions Australia in Durban a week later.

"Jaco has been in exceptional form for the South African under-23 team and his provincial side the Pumas in the Currie Cup," chairman of selectors Francois Davids said yesterday.

"He started playing Super 12 rugby when he was just 18, so he has the necessary experience."

Van der Westhuysen will act as an understudy, or possible replacement, for incumbent first five-eighths Braam van Straaten.

Selborne Boome, Japie Mulder, Krynauw Otto and Willie Meyer are still injured and were not considered for selection.

The Springboks, who won the Tri-Nations in 1998, have yet to win a match in this year's competition.

Meanwhile, the South African Rugby Football Union yesterday dismissed the notion that Mallett had been given an ultimatum, instead declaring its support for the beleaguered coach.

A report on a South African rugby internet site stated that Mallett had been given an ultimatum to beat Australia and New Zealand or be replaced.

According to the report, this information came from a "high-placed source within the Sarfu executive."

Former Western Province coach Harry Viljoen was touted as Mallett's successor in the wake of the Springboks' four successive test defeats - against England, Australia (twice) and New Zealand.

However, after the customary end-of-tour meeting between Mallett, Springbok team manager Gideon Sam and the Sarfu management committee in Johannesburg yesterday, Sarfu announced it was satisfied with Mallett's interim report and that the coach and his team had the full support of the committee.

Viljoen also dismissed as speculation the rumours that he could succeed Mallett as national coach.

"It's all speculation. To be honest, it's not a good thing for Nick Mallett and I don't know where it started," Viljoen said.

"I came back from Italy on Saturday and I heard my name being mentioned. I have had no formal approach from Sarfu.

"If I do get asked, I will consider it.

"But let's wait and see what happens."

In New Zealand, injuries sustained by key All Blacks Andrew Mehrtens and Josh Kronfeld against the Wallabies are clearing and not expected to hinder their chances of playing South Africa.

Team manager Andrew Martin said Mehrtens' foot problem and Kronfeld's ankle were both improving quickly.

Mehrtens was stood on and Kronfeld had problems with a loose bone chip which has since settled down.

Mark Hammett (groin strain) and Tony Brown (bruised toe) are being treated and will not play this weekend.

The All Blacks come together tomorrow in Christchurch and train lightly there before leaving for Johannesburg on Friday.

The nine All Blacks released for representative duty at the weekend will leave for South Africa on Monday and arrive early on Tuesday morning.

Martin said the benefits of them each getting a hard game of rugby outweighed the relatively minor problems of getting them ready for the Johannesburg test the following Saturday.

"We're happy with the time frame," Martin said.

"That's not too far removed from the time frame some Super 12 teams have when they travel. Our priority is to get these guys some hard football."

They will not miss any acclimatisation programme because the All Blacks are training in Durban and flying to Johannesburg the night before the match.

It is believed, at this stage, that all provinces will involve the players on offer.

Canterbury have five - Leon Macdonald, Reuben Thorne, Scott Robertson, Mark Robinson and Greg Somerville - who could be involved in Friday's NPC opener with Wellington.

However, Robinson could be in the development team playing the curtainraiser because Canterbury may not want to upset the Daryl Gibson-Mark Mayerhofler midfield they aim to use until the All Blacks' return.

Also released are North Harbour's Troy Flavell, Otago's Byron Kelleher, and Doug Howlett and Craig Dowd, both of Auckland.

South African squad: Percy Montgomery, Thinus Delport, Breyton Paulse, De Wet Barry, Grant Esterhuizen, Chester Williams, Braam van Straaten, Jaco van der Westhuysen, Werner Swanepoel, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos (capt), Andre Venter, Corne Krige, Johan Erasmus, Warren Brosnihan, Mark Andrews, Albert van den Berg, Rob Kempson, Ollie le Roux, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, John Smit.

- NZPA, REUTERS

All Blacks test programme 2000

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