Mallett under pressure

Thinus Delport gives Springbok fans something to cheer

The future of South Africa rugby coach Nick Mallett will hang in the balance when he faces a charge of bringing the game into disrepute on Wednesday.

Already under pressure after losses to England, New Zealand and two reverses at the hands of Australia this year, the former Springbok number eight is in trouble for allegedly accusing the national rugby union of "greed".

A Durban newspaper stirred up a storm ahead of the Tri-Nations championship clash with Australia in the Indian Ocean city by quoting Mallett who said that match tickets were too expensive.

The cheapest tickets for the test cost 310 Rand (£30), but that did not prevent a capacity 50,000 crowd turning up for a thriller won by the Wallabies with an injury-time Stirling Mortlock penalty.

Speculation

Cape Town-based Mallett was furious with the report, claiming the journalist did not identify herself during an eve-of-match team photo session barred to reporters.

The reporter, who denies allegations by Mallett that she pretended to be a fan, has rejected a South African Rugby Football Union request to give evidence during the disciplinary hearing.

There has been media speculation that the union want to fire Mallett after only one win in four Tri-Nations matches, and finding him guilty of breaching his conditions of employment would free them from paying out his contract.

The pressure on Mallett is increasing

Unconfirmed reports say Mallett, who succeeded former Springbok wing Carel du Plessis in 1997, is paid 65,000 Rand (£6,200) a month with his contract expiring only at the end of next year.

The hearing marks another backward step for Mallett, who was a national hero just two years ago when South Africa equalled the world record of 17 consecutive test victories.

His recent decision to move the Springboks away from a forward-based game plan to running rugby has attracted considerable media and public fire and speculation regarding his successor is rife.

Laurie Mains, coach of the 1995 New Zealand World Cup team and now in charge of the Johannesburg-based Lions, has ruled himself out, leaving former Lions, Sharks and Western Province coach Harry Viljoen in pole position.