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/ 7 May 2008

De Villiers eyes large Bok training squad

South African rugby coach Peter de Villiers said on Wednesday he is to name a national training squad of up 45 players for the forthcoming international season. De Villiers, who took over the reigns from Jake White in January this year, is expected to include Europe-based players John Smit (Clermont), Butch James (Bath) and Victor Matfield (Toulon) in the squad.

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/ 16 March 2008

Italy’s Mallett lays foundations for solid future

With a solitary win over regular wooden-spoon rivals Scotland, Nick Mallett did not disappoint in his maiden Six Nations as Italy coach, but he did not surpass expectations either. Results-wise, the campaign is a step back from last season, when the Azzurri secured their best showing of two wins under his predecessor Pierre Berbizier.

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/ 11 February 2008

Mallett frustrated by Italy mistakes

Italy’s South African coach Nick Mallett said he was frustrated by his side’s two crucial first-half mistakes that cost them a first-ever victory over England. Italy lost 23-19 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in the Six Nations on Sunday in a match where they came as close as ever to beating England in 14 attempts.

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/ 25 January 2008

Look who’s talking

It was with growing astonishment, anger and finally disgust that I read Corné Krige’s recent comments on new Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers. The most nauseating part of what read like a racist attack by the former Bok captain on De Villiers was a line from his final paragraph.

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/ 11 January 2008

So long Whitey

”I want to be honest with South Africa and say that the appointment was not entirely made for rugby reasons. We as an organisation have made the appointment and taken into account the issue of transformation very, very seriously when we made it. I don’t think that tarnishes Peter — I’m just being honest with our country.”

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/ 9 November 2007

Saru sidestep no surprise

Hot on the heels of Springbok coach Jake White’s announcement of his imminent departure, the South African Rugby Union (Saru) seems set to add the name of Dick Muir to its shortlist of candidates to replace White. This is the same Saru that claimed White could not be considered for an extension of his post because he had missed the deadline for applications.