DAVID SHAPSHAK, Johannesburg | Wednesday 5.30pm.
SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett, who shocked race-sensitive South African rugby administrators this week saying he would not be pressurised with his team selections, says his comments have been misunderstood and has apologised.
With government and sports bodies clamouring for greater racial representativity, South Africa’s most successful coach, who has a reputation for advancing young black players, has found himself an unlikely, and undeserved, victim.
Mallett was forced to issue a statement on Wednesday from Cardiff, where the Springboks face Wales in the inaugural match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, after the controversy erupted in a Johannesburg newspaper.
Mallett was quoted as saying he would not be pushed with his selection choices, or “ever take part in anything that can be construed as window-dressing”.
But, he says, “My statements referred specifically to the situation at Springbok level, where I am required to select the best possible team.
“I apologise if my comments earlier this week were of such a nature as to anger administrators who are strongly campaigning for representivity at all levels of the game. I am committed to the goal of creating opportunities for players of colour at all levels of the game.”
Mallett’s remarks were blasted as “disgusting, provocative and arrogant” by Sas Bailey, the general manager of development at the SA Rugby Football Union.
However, Mallett’s track record in transformation speaks for itself. As Mallett says himself: “In fact, my track record of selecting players of colour is better than in most provinces. In my term as coach my squads have included five players of colour, three of which have played at Test level.
“I say this without arrogance. It is the reality and I will continue this trend as long as I am assured that there are a sufficient number of players coming through the ranks who are good enough to play for South Africa.”
Mallett, a firm believer in the effectiveness of the squad system in the modern game, said his selections are focused on finding the right blend of players to defend the World Cup and Tri-Nations.
“My selections have been an attempt to give exposure to black players of talent and to balance this with the core objective of finding the right blend of players with which to face Australia and New Zealand in the Tri-Nations. I am making use of a squad system for this purpose and this is evident in the selection of the team to face Wales.
“Defending the World Cup and transforming the sport at the same time is a task that can only be achieved if rugby collectively commits itself to this process, which is something I fully support.”