Mallett’s going global
1 Jun 2006
Western Province director of rugby Nick Mallett has finally clarifed his role with the union.
While Mallett has not done any hands-on coaching with the Stormers/WP this year, embattled head coach Kobus van der Merwe was allegedly unhappy with the way Mallett “interfered” with the side during the Super 14.
Mallett has now backed off completely and given Van der Merwe enough rope to hang himself with during the Currie Cup. If WP fail to reach the final, Fester will be history, and Mallett will be able to appoint a new coach.
Here is the press release from Mallett in full, released on Thursday:
“After a scheduled process of evaluation of rugby in the province and a year in the job of director of rugby, WP Rugby have as per my recommendations agreed to a refocus of the director of rugby position.
“The position requires a global focus on rugby strategy and leadership within the province. Operationally over the past few months what occurred, was an on the ground involvement and a focus on the senior teams.
“As the director of rugby, my approach will now be more global and not as heavily elite team focused. More specifically, I will redirect my efforts to include teams at all levels in the province, the immediate establishment of our academy and High Performance Centre and will work more closely with our shareholders, sponsors and the rugby task team, on issues of rugby excellence, leadership and strategy.
“A primary directive remains to provide hands on guidance to the Vodacom WP U13, U16, U18, U19, U21 and Club teams within the province. Skill levels of both players and coaches will be targeted for improvement, ensuring successful feeder systems are in place for the senior teams.
“Building on this, strategic vision, leadership and hands on support will be provided to facilitate the immediate set up (2006) of an Academy and (2007) of a High Performance Centre (HPC). The Academy will serve to provide extended, concentrated support and skill enhancement to youngsters, whilst the HPC will benefit the elite players in the Vodacom Stormers, Vodacom WP (Vodacom Cup and Absa Currie Cup) and Vodacom WP U21 players. These structures will quickly help ensure better rounded and prepared players at all levels.
“For the evolvement and enhancement of the game in the province I will also work closely with our shareholders, sponsor and the rugby task committee of WP Rugby, on a strategic level.
“At a senior team level (Super 14, Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup), my approach will not be a hands on one. I have elected not to become involved in team selection, contracting, or game plans, all of which will be the prerogative of the respective head coach. This remains common global practice and whilst the head coach will have added responsibility within the structures and vision of the game in the WP, my commitment will be to provide expertise, guidance and strategy, as and when required by the respective head coach.
“Given my responsibility as director of rugby, for global rugby focus within the province, all coaches at all levels from U13, to Super 14, will continue to be assessed and evaluated by myself. I in turn will present my findings and recommendations to the board and executive committee of WP Rugby.
“My recommended refocus to the director of rugby position will ensure a more strategically sound use of my energies at all levels within the province to ensure the unlocking of potential and the evolvement of our game.”
34 Comments
1 Jun 2006, 15:54 pm
Again none of you.
1 Jun 2006, 15:54 pm
can post any corny comments…
1 Jun 2006, 15:58 pm
………… DRAGONS…….. millions of corny DRAGONS………
1 Jun 2006, 16:00 pm
bad luck big g…
1 Jun 2006, 16:03 pm
Mallett appointed Van der Merwe to begin with, so who’s to say that should they fail Mallett’s second round of coaches will do any better?
1 Jun 2006, 16:04 pm
was just to pee pee vinnee off…
1 Jun 2006, 16:05 pm
Simon, are you speculating when you say that if WP doesn’t reach the final then VdM will be history. I see no such indication in the statement of NM.
1 Jun 2006, 16:07 pm
Now Mallet can keep his job when fester and wp undoubtedly srews up the rest of the season…smart man
1 Jun 2006, 16:07 pm
Will there be semi finals in the CC this year?
1 Jun 2006, 16:08 pm
these guys dont have a clue…
director of rugby…hahahaaha
1 Jun 2006, 16:08 pm
tsiko,
That was my personal opinion
1 Jun 2006, 16:09 pm
Omtrent tyd dat hy sy rol “clarify” ‘n Jaar is al verby!
As Fester finaal MOET haal, kan hy maar nou al sy sakkie lemoene vat en waai…
1 Jun 2006, 16:10 pm
province lack leadership on and of the field
1 Jun 2006, 16:11 pm
of=off
1 Jun 2006, 16:11 pm
Tsiko
Ja, op keo se home blog is die fixtures.
1 Jun 2006, 16:15 pm
Hopefully he shuts the hell up too cause I am tired of hearing from/about him.
Going to seriously limit the content on ths site though… perhaps you Keo boys will have to lift your noses above the mountain
1 Jun 2006, 16:16 pm
Jinne Simon
If you have a personal opinion post in between our posts, not in the original article! You gave all the rugbrekers hope there for a moment…
1 Jun 2006, 16:18 pm
suparugby ad 15,
Cheers! In which case (semis): Keo himself always says you can only coach into the semis, thereafter it becomes a gamble, which by the way is one of the reasons why it was ridiculous to fire Carel.
1 Jun 2006, 16:20 pm
sounds like a gravy train position?
1 Jun 2006, 16:21 pm
ahhh see the problem with wp is they pathetic the sooner they realise this the better for them. They need to get rid of there hooligan fans and get a new scrumie and a decent flyhalf.
See only reason why sharks did so well was tony brown.
1 Jun 2006, 16:22 pm
who is nick mallet anyhow
1 Jun 2006, 16:23 pm
i’ve been thrown out of better places than WP’s boardroom.
1 Jun 2006, 16:25 pm
die Currie Cup kom huisetoe…..
‘PROBLEMS!!!!’ oh – i mean ‘PROVENCE!!!’
1 Jun 2006, 16:33 pm
Yup,
Agree with Simon here, Mallet is setting fester up bigtime here.
Fester will be fired, and Mallet will be able to coach in 2008.
1 Jun 2006, 16:52 pm
paul delport should be our scrummie for the whole cc.
naas olivier should be the flyhalf.
gio aplon should be fullback and joe pieterson should be outside centre.
What does everybody think
1 Jun 2006, 17:26 pm
I am a WP fan. Those blue and white stripped shirts with the collar are the ultimate rugby jersey (can’t buy one for love nor money mind).
How about get WP (ala Skinstad/ Fitzpatrick) buy up an English team and work it through the divisions (before the RFU ends promotion and relegation)
1 Jun 2006, 19:31 pm
All that money.
All that ****.
Why is it that the two richest provinces in SA are also the poorest in terms of results. Lions and WP.
Good thing that SA still have the Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs who know what rugby is actually about.
1 Jun 2006, 20:28 pm
If Mallett gets the England job, does this job description still apply to the replacement?
2 Jun 2006, 01:59 am
Sack mallet en koop een of twee ordentlike spelers met sy salaris!!
Ek is gladnie ‘n WP fan nie, maar Mallet is duidelik ‘n suurstofdief daar onder in die kaap!
FIRE HOM!!!
2 Jun 2006, 05:27 am
Get rid of the cancer…then again why should I care?
“Global focus…on the province”, Nick, you should get out more, weepee is not the world!
2 Jun 2006, 06:18 am
The eagels are coming home to roost…Nick Mallet is now suffering all that bad Karma for dropping class like Andre Joubert and Gary Teichman just before the World Cup…in 99…then he had such a ****** attitude problem, he couldn’t control himself to load the boks up with absolutely faarkin useless WP flashy blue-eyed model-wannabe players, and failed…sadly the trend continues under the current coach…at least Nick got to heaven for him anyway, meaning he is stuck firmly in the WP now, and the whole ****** team can be filled up with this product, but now he cannot find any class players over there anywhere…ha, ha…shades of Dante and the Inferno if you ask me…
2 Jun 2006, 07:34 am
Folanke
You may have a poin there.
Since mallet joined stormers they have done badly but it may be too soon to tell whether the effects are the results of him.
2 Jun 2006, 09:13 am
NM was interviewed on Cape Talk this morning.
He has nothing to do with the appointment or firning of coaches anymore. He can only recommend to the WP Executive and appointments and dismisaals are their decisions.
Regarding the coaching, he also confirmed that he will not coach in SA, even if the restraint to end of 2007 has expired, for personal and other reasons.
He also gave Fester and his co-coaches feedback on comments generated from all the players re the Super 14 season. He declined to discuss the comments from players, but said that the coaches are now fully aware of what the players thought or think.
2 Jun 2006, 14:10 pm
Thats what he was suppose to be doing in the first place
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