Rugby: Mallett's on the back foot

By Wynne Gray

While all rugby attention is tuned in to Eden Park tomorrow, an equal amount of interest will focus on the intrigues of South African rugby.

As the squirm factor rises for Bok supremo Nick Mallett, he has proposed extensive use of New Zealand and Australian coaches to raise the standards of South African rugby to a consistent and uniform level.

"This is a personal view but I think we should consider offering six posts to Australian and New Zealand coaches. They should come in as directors of coaching rather than provincial coaches," said Mallett.

"We cannot ignore the skills level of Australian and New Zealand players. They are markedly superior to us," he added.

Mallett's remarks have been scorned by some local coaches and dismissed as a side issue with the World Cup just over two months away.

Both All Black and Wallaby coaches John Hart, Rod Macqueen and their sides have suffered in recent seasons and now Mallett is feeling the blow torch which accompanies failure. The level of public scrutiny and unhappiness has lifted markedly after the disastrous three straight defeats for the Boks.

Everyone wants answers and solutions with a paltry profit of two penalties and the concession of 60 points against arch rivals the All Blacks and Wallabies delivering a pallbearer's pallor to a suffering South Africa.

Former Springbok assistant coach Gysie Pienaar has lambasted the idea of recruiting foreign coaches and Mallett's accompanying criticism of domestic officials. World Cup assistant in 1995, Phil Pretorius pointed out the problems were specific to the Springboks and should not be blamed on other domestic coaches.

"Regarding our players' skill level we have always been known for our skill," said Pienaar. "Last year when the Boks were winning we heard they had a lot of talent and skill.

"But now in the space of six months it has supposedly all disappeared. Yet not too long ago we were scoring great tries. This cannot be used as an excuse."

The size of the Bok defeats in the Tri-Nations, the lack of organisational style in those losses and the massive selection changes have added to the ructions. The pressure on Mallett is extreme but it is salient to point out that a coach who pushes a team to 16 straight wins does not suddenly become a poor coach.

In explanation, Mallett has a horrendous injury toll to deal with, but the absence of a vital pattern outside the dominating work of a gargantuan pack worries many.

The unavailability in Brisbane of Gary Teichmann, Corne Krige, Andre Vos, Mark Andrews, Japie Mulder and Pieter Muller was a factor and when you look at Joost van der Westhuizen, Henry Honiball, Andre Snyman, Bobby Skinstad, Ruben Kruger, Adrian Garvey and James Dalton all recovering, Mallett does have many more options.

Then there are those who feel that the "merit with bias" system does not apply to coloured or black quotas at all but describes Mallett's preference for players from the Cape rather than the high veld. His reluctance to pick fullback Andre Joubert, midfield backs Brendan Venter or Hennie Le Roux, Kruger or AJ Venter are examples used by high veld supporters.

There is friction between the two regional factions, a combustion which will grow with each defeat and manifests itself in the side's reluctance or inability to play the expansive rugby Mallett espouses.

Some fear Teichmann and other senior players were being set up for a fall and the 27 different changes in the last five tests have left some players feeling very insecure about their World Cup chances.

The selection rotation, forced or by design, has created instability in Springbok circles rather than benefited others by giving them test experience.

Mallett brought a reputation as a strong communicator, an organiser in touch with his players. He needs to rediscover that decisiveness in a hurry to help the Boks redeem themselves in the Tri-Nations and World Cup.