Erstwhile Springbok coach Nick Mallett is out of the running to become the new Bok coach, South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) president Brian van Rooyen revealed on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference at Ellis Park following an SA Rugby board meeting, Van Rooyen announced the four-man Springbok coaching shortlist and Mallett’s name was not included.
Furthermore, he denied that any discussions with Mallett had taken place as was speculated in the media in the past few days.
”Contrary to reports we have had no discussions with Mallett or any other candidates for that matter,” he said.
The four candidates are: current Bok Sevens coach Chester Williams, former Bok coach Andre Markgraaff, Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer and Border Bulldogs’ Dumisani Mhani. From these names, the new Bok coach and his two assistants will be chosen and announced on January 30.
”A technical committee will interview the candidates and evaluate each of them and make a recommendation to the board on January 20,” said Van Rooyen.
The four come from an original list of 15 names, all of which were South African, while Van Rooyen promised that the onus will lie with the board should the coach ”fail”.
”We take full responsibility and if they don’t work, don’t fire the coach, fire us,” stated Van Rooyen boldly.
It is a list that is short on experience at the top levels in the 15-man game, with Markgraaff the only member who has an international record, but according to Van Rooyen the candidates all live up to the criteria laid down by the board.
”We wanted someone that has a passion for winning rugby and is able to identify talent in South Africa. He also needed to be committed to transformation,” said Van Rooyen.
”Our entire coaching infrastructure is rotten and one of the major problems in our rugby is that we can’t keep quality coaches in the country. We need a pool of good coaches if we want to be successful.”
Markgraaff, meanwhile, was also appointed, along with former Mighty Elephants coach Allister Coetzee, on to the selection panel, with a view to concentrating on the make-up of the Super 12 squads for next year.
”They will work closely with the Super 12 coaches and that, in the interim, will make sure that potential talent will be identified.
”The board will have a meeting next week with the CEOs of all four [Super 12] franchises to lay down the law and explain the way forward. We owe it to the rugby public to play winning rugby again,” he said.
Van Rooyen also announced that the Sarfu investigation into racism in South African rugby would be scrapped with immediate effect.
”We feel there is no need to continue with the full-scale inquiry. The King commission will serve the issue better and we will definitely work together and cooperate with anything they require.”
The post of managing director that was vacated by Rian Oberholzer last week was not discussed and former deputy MD Songezo Nayo will continue as acting MD until further notice. — Sapa