THURSDAY, 1.30PM:
NEWLY appointed Springbok coach Nick Mallett on Wednesday announced his management team for the forthcoming tour of Italy, France and the United Kingdom.
Mallett included unknown and inexperienced Alan Solomons and Pieter de Villiers — both from the Western Province — as his two assistants, and Gauteng Lions’ Jake White as his technical adviser.
It had been expected that Mallett would include heavyweights such as Hugh Reece-Edwards as one of his assistants, with either Ian McIntosh or Andr Markgraaff as his technical adviser.
Rob van der Vlak is the new adminstration manager. The two have worked together both at False Bay and Boland. He now replaces Koos de Beer, who was unavailable due to other commitments.
Mallett’s support team shows five changes and one addition to the one that served under Carel du Plessis.
Arthob Petersen remains as manager as do four other longstanding members of the management team. They are team doctor Frans Verster, physiotherapist Evan Speechly, biokineticist Dan van der Heever and baggage-kit master Ampie le Roux.
Jonathan Goslett is the team secretary and fills a role which the British Lions’ tour earlier this year proved was vital to the success of any touring team.
THE TEAM: Arthob Petersen (manager), Nick Mallett (coach), Rob van der Valk (administration manager), Alan Solomons (assistant coach), Pieter de Villiers (assistant coach), Jake White (technical assistant), Frans Verster (doctor), Evan Speechly (physio), Dan van der Heever (biokineticist), Ampie le Roux (baggage master), Alex Broun (media liaison), Jonathan Goslett (team secretary).