No 'fear factor' at Newlands

'I've never been unapproachable'

Nick Mallet, the Western Province Director of Rugby, has admitted to having "bollocked" the team on a couple of occasions, but he vehemently denied that he is South African rugby's version of the "fear factor".

Mallett was reacting to recent reports that there is a "climate of fear" in the province and that this was a contributing factor to the decision of the Rose brothers - Earl and Jody - to sign for the Lions for next year.

Mallett said it was "bitterly disappointing" to lose the services of the talented youngsters, but blamed it partly on their father, Enver Rose, and the huge cash offers (reportedly well in excess of ZAR300,000 - US$100,000 per year) for each of the players.

The reports quoted the Rose brothers' father, Enver, as saying that: "Of course money played a part in the decision for my sons leaving. But that wasn't the only reason," Rose snr told a local newspaper.

"The atmosphere at Western Province just wasn't good for a youngster wanting to play rugby. There was an atmosphere of fear in that dressing room this season.

"No one in that team can go against Mallett. Players can't speak out or say what's worrying them. They're all afraid of him."

Mallett rubbished these reports, saying the players are all adults and professionals who earn a lot of money.

"I can't do anything about it if these players are scared of me," Mallett said.

He added that he had given the (Cape Town-based) team - be that the Stormers or WP - a tongue lashing on only two occasions.

"The first was at the [Stormers'] Super 12 match against the Bulls [at Loftus - a 75-14 defeat]. It lasted only one or two minutes and I stated very clearly that performance was unacceptable if they wanted to stay at Western Province.

"The second time was after the game against Boland [First Round of the Currie Cup Premier Division]. That game was lost because of overconfidence and that is also unacceptable for a team in the top two or three in the country.

"We should not have lost that game, even without our Springboks.

"If I can't shout at the team because they are over confident or don't have the right attitude, then there is a problem.

"I use tongue lashings at the appropriate moments and I'm experienced enough, after 20 years of coaching, to know when the appropriate moment is.

"We've got channels  of communications .. the players can approach the forwards coach, backs coach, the head coach, the team manager or come directly to me. I have never been unapproachable.

"You may not like what you hear, but I have never been unapproachable," Mallett said.

The WP Director of Rugby also took a swipe at Rose snr, saying he should not act as his sons' agent, since he can't look at the issue objectively.

"You do need a bit of objectivity," Mallett said. "It is really tragic that they signed with the Lions, because we desperately wanted to keep them. But he [Rose snr] simply said: 'I know what is best for my sons'.

"I said the same thing to Hennie Bekker [father of WP lock Andries Bekker] that he should not discuss his son's contract with us and I would say the same to Schalk Burger (snr) if he wanted to discuss Schalk (jnr) with us."

Mallett also rubbished reports that he offered Earl Rose gamer time at fly-half.

"I can't offer him that. It is the decision of [head coach] Kobus [van der Merwe] to decide what players to use when and where."

By Jan de Koning