|
Mallett new England coach?
26/11/2006 22:05 - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé
London - Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett could be named as new coach of the England rugby team this week.
Mallett, who has also been tipped to return as Springbok coach if Jake White is replaced, is said to be in line to take over the England job from Andy Robinson.
The BBC's Radio Five Live's Sportsweek reported at the weekend that the match against South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday was Robinson's last as England coach. His team lost 25-14.
The radio station reported that Robinson would be asked to resign or would be fired because England, present holders of the World Cup, had failed under his coaching.
The English have lost eight of their last nine matches and are now seventh on the world rankings list. They lost 13 of the 22 matches in which Robinson was the coach.
Mallett, who was at the match here on Saturday, is not at the top of the list of candidates to succeed Robinson. It has been rumoured that former England captain Martin Johnson is the first choice.
Major setback for SA
If Johnson is unavailable, Mallett and Warren Gatland could top the list.
Robinson said after his team's latest defeat that he would not resign.
Mallett, who now holds the position of Western Province director of rugby, was named as a candidate when the England Rugby Union started looking for a chief of their elite division.
When Mallett coached the Springboks they equalled the world record for the most-successive victories. If he gets the England job, it will be a major setback for SA rugby.
And if he does take over from Robinson, England could turn into formidable opponents for South Africa in the Test matches in Bloemfontein and Pretoria as well as the World Cup tournament next year.
- Volksblad
|
