Springboks’ world cup winning captain John Smit calls Nick Mallet the right choice for England coaching role
Springboks' international hooker, John Smit, has termed former Springboks coach, Nick Mallet, as the best option for the England head coach position.
He said, “Any coach like Nick who is available would be an option for England if they decide a job is there.” He made these comments while talking to the officials of London Evening Standard
on Monday, November 14.
Springboks captain, who lifted the 2007 Rugby World Cup title, is currently in the Northern Hemisphere where he has made his debut for the Aviva Premiership side, Saracens, in their 2011/12
Heineken Cup encounter.
Smit arrived from Southern Hemisphere at the end of South Africa’s unsuccessful 2011 Ruby World Cup campaign. South Africa made their exit from the tournament following their quarter-final
defeat at the hands of the 2011 Tri Nations champions, Australia.
Following England’s poor performance during the 2011 Rugby World Cup and in the aftermath of their poor off field performance, the pressure is increasing on their current head coach and their
former World Cup winning captain, Martin Johnson, to resign from his current post.
Earlier last week, the governing body of Rugby Union in England, Rugby Football Union, had terminated the Elite Player Squad contract of their international backs player, Mike Tindall, for
his actions at a bar. Johnson has defended Tindall, which has earned him a suspension and fine of £25,000. Although Johnson’s decision to support Tindall can be an error in his judgment yet, this bad judgment may very well cost him his position.
Smit has praised Mallet’s approach to the game and his playing style. He said, “He (Mallet) has a huge drive for the game and it spreads through the people he works with.” He added that Mallet
believes in hard work each time a team takes the field.
Smit further added, “Nick was my first Springbok coach and went out on a limb to pick me at hooker and what you get from him is tremendous tenacity and competitiveness.”
Smit has praised Mallet’s performance in his last role as the head coach of Italy’s national Rugby Union team. He termed England’s challenging job as the right one for Mallet, which will provide
him with a new challenge.
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