Mallett to hunt for top coach

2005-05-08 21:15

Herbert Pretorius

Cape Town - Western Province's director of coaching, Nick Mallett, will start the search for a new Stormers coach as soon as South Africa's rugby bosses have sorted out the Super 14 allocation debacle.

Even though there are disagreements in the rugby corridors about who will be responsible for the appointment and remuneration of Super 14 coaches (Saru or the various franchise holders), it now seems a foregone conclusion that Gert Smal will not coach the Stormers in the southern hemisphere's new series.

Mallett has already indicated that he will play a leading role in trying to find a new Stormers' coach.

"As soon as the Super 14 problems have been sorted out and Province receives the green light to appoint a coach, I will start the process," Mallett said.

Smal said after his team's victory over the Cats on Saturday that he had probably coached the men in black for the last time at Newlands.

The coach said: "I think I'm finished. I cannot be involved with the national team and the Super 14.

"This double role is easier when your team wins, but it is tremendous pressure to put on one person. You and your family suffer," an emotional Smal said.

Smal said he could not give as much time and energy to the Stormers' preparation as what he would have liked, because he did not want to shirk his duty in the Bok squad.

What Smal is saying now and what he said a few weeks ago are totally different. He said then he would like to coach the Stormers next year.

Even though he still want to have talks with Province's management and Saru about his future, he will definitely not be involved with the Stormers in his present role.

Chances are good that the new Stormers coach could be someone from overseas or even a South African with overseas experience.

Mallett said he would "cast the net as wide as possible".

"The Province and Stormers coaching post is a prestigious one and we will not be satisfied with anything but the best. We have to follow the example of Western Force (the new Australian regional franchise based in Perth).

Mallett was referring to the appointment of John Mitchell, a former All Black coach highly regarded in rugby circles.

Mallett, a former Bok coach, was very careful not to step on toes and said the present coaches (Smal and Province coach Carel du Plessis) "would be welcome to apply".

Even though Smal does not want to be coach (unless he is asked specifically to do so by Bok coach Jake White or by Saru), he asked that his experience as Super 12 coach should not be binned.

"I now have a lot of experience and have built up complete records of all aspects of the Stormers' preparation and performances since 2002. I think my services as a consultant could mean a lot," Smal said.

- Die Burger