WEDNESDAY, 9.20AM:
SOUTH AFRICAN rugby coach Nick Mallett has called on the Springbok supporters to give him and the team some time to get to know each other better. Mallett said he has selected the best South African squad but the fans must not expect a faultless perfomance against Italy on Saturday.
“I’m flattered by the positive things which have been said about me since my appointment. I hope the SA public don’t think you can assemble a side and immediately get it right on the field,” said Mallett.
Mallett, who has been entrusted with the job of taking the Springboks back to their rightful place in international rugby, said the had seen some improvement in the team since he took over. He said the players like each other now and play like a unit. “There might be confusion and looseness to begin with. However, it’s better to start the new things on this tour than half-way through next season when the Tri-nations comes around,” he added
He urged the public to understand that he only had the players for 10 days and they are doing new things some of the players had never heard of.