Open letter to Nick Mallett

2002-12-08 22:16

Cape Town - After Nick Mallett "attacked" South African rugby in recent weeks, Mark Keohane, the Springbok communications manager, has written an open letter to the former Springbok coach in which he raises some interesting points.

"Among the accusations are that the players are fed up with the manner in which the game is being governed in South Africa - hence their departure to Europe," writes Keohane.

"Other claims refer to poor coaching in South Africa, unsatisfactory results at Super 12 and Test level and general disillusionment among players in South Africa.

"Mallett lashes out at the SA rugby administration, the national coach and the contracting system.

"The media, the very same who called for Mallett's resignation as national coach in 1999 and then 2000, have lapped up Mallett's comments without once challenging his remarks.

"Mallett claims that Springbok players are leaving the country because they are fed up with the game and he expresses his amazement with how many are playing abroad.

"'I thought it was nearer 10 than 20 and we are talking about guys who are still at an age when they could represent South Africa,' said Mallett.

"What Mallett does not mention is that during this three year stint as Bok coach the following Springboks were playing abroad and the majority were making an impact on a weekly basis: Gavin Johnson, Pieter Muller, Joe Gillingham, Franco Smith, Jeremy Thomson, Grant Esterhuizen, Brendan Venter, Joel Stransky, Henry Honiball, Jannie de Beer, Hentie Martens, Gary Teichmann, Francois Pienaar, Wayne Fyvie, Fritz van Heerden, Steve Atherton, Selborne Boome, Botha Rossouw, Adrian Garvey, Gary Pagel, Marius Hurter and Naka Drotske.

"That's a total of 23, one more than the 22 figure that 'stunned' Mallett in 2002.

Tiaan Strauss

"Mallett, when coaching the Boks, also publicly stated he would not select Tiaan Strauss unless he was playing in South Africa. Strauss, when returning to rugby union for New South Wales, expressed an interest to be considered for South Africa.

"Given Mallett's stance, Strauss stayed in Australia and played for the Wallabies in 1998 and 1999.

"Mallett, in 1997, did not consider Brendan Venter among the top 12 centres in South Africa. Venter left South Africa and returned in 1999 when he did make the World Cup squad. He has subsequently left South Africa again.

"Fritz van Heerden also left South Africa during Mallett's early reign and returned in 1999 to challenge for a World Cup place. Jannie de Beer followed a similar route to the 1999 World Cup.

"When Francois Pienaar, Joe Gillingham, Garry Pagel, Marius Hurter and Gary Teichmann left South Africa to pursue a club career Mallett made no effort to keep them or to lure them back. They were also at an age where they could still have played for South Africa.

"South Africa is not losing players to Europe because of poor administration.

"The buying power of the English pound is the reason and it has affected New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand has lost 20 All Blacks to Japan and Europe in the past three years with prominent All Blacks Josh Kronfeld, Alama Ieremia and Todd Blackadder recent departures at an age when they too could still be playing for New Zealand.

"At the 1999 World Cup there were 45 New Zealanders representing other countries. Australia, in the past three years, has lost 10 Wallabies to Europe and Japan.

"Mallett dropped Mark Andrews in 2000 and now questions how Rudolf Straeuli could let him go - two years later.

"Mallett argues that coaches in South Africa are giving up on experienced players too easily. How then would he defend his decision to ignore quality Test players Andre Joubert and Hennie le Roux for three years, while also dropping Gary Teichmann a month before the World Cup, selecting Kaya Malotana ahead of Chester Williams for the 1999 World Cup and never giving James Dalton and Johan Ackermann a look-in?

"He also took experienced Test players Ruben Kruger and Chris Rossouw to the World Cup and gave them one match (against Spain) out of a possible six.

17 successive Test wins

"Mallett questioned the standard of coaching at the highest level and when he did so the articles were accompanied by a Bok coaching record described as 'guiding South Africa to a world record-equaling 17 successive Test wins'.

"It was in fact 16 as Carel du Plessis' Boks won the first of those 17 Test matches.

"What is not included is Mallett's Springbok coaching record in 1999 and 2000. During this period the Boks lost 10 of 15 Tests played against New Zealand, Australia and England.

"In 1999 Mallett's Boks lost four Tests in succession, including a first ever defeat against Wales.

"In 2000 Mallett's Boks lost four Tests in succession.

"In 1999 and 2000 Mallett's Boks failed to score a try in four Tri-Nations matches in Australia and New Zealand.

"In 1999 and 2000 Mallett's Boks failed to score a try against Australia and New Zealand on six occasions.

"In 2000 Mallett's Boks lost by 21 points in a Mandela Cup challenge against Australia. He took the squad to Couran Cove in Queensland and put them through 10 days of physical torture in preparation for the two away Tri-Nations Tests.

"The result: the Boks did not score a try in losing by 13 points to New Zealand and did not score a try in losing by 20 points to Australia.

"Mallett's record in his last two years as Bok coach read: 11 wins in 21 and of those 11 wins, there were two against Italy, one against Uruguay, one against Spain and one against Canada.

"Mallett in 2000 defended a record deemed unacceptable by the South Africa public, as a reflection of the ability of South African players. When losing to New Zealand and Australia Mallett declared that South African players were lacking in technique, size and rugby intelligence.

"I don't recall him ever suggesting his coaching was not up to standard as he does now that others have followed him as national coach.

Contracting system

Mallett is also critical of the Springbok contracting system. However, when he alone determined which players would be contracted and what their worth would be more than R10 million was spent on players who played no more than two Tests for him in two years.

"Mallett, in making a judgement of the Springboks and SA rugby, conveniently seems to have forgotten his 1999 and 2000 international seasons.

"This is merely a reminder that his is not a wizard with all the answers but an international coach whose record in the last two years showed him to be as vulnerable as any other in the game.

When passing judgment on South African rugby in the future, perhaps he should analyse his shortcomings in 1999 and 2000 first and offer constructive advice instead of the emotional outbursts of recent weeks," said Keohane in his letter.

- News24