The Extraordinary Springbok Coaching Career of Nick Mallett
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
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Nick Mallett is a legendary name in South African rugby. In 1997 Mallett took over a struggling Springbok team and immediately transformed them into an unbeatable machine that would go on and win 17 consecutive Test matches - a world record at the time. During that time Mallett’s Springboks thrilled crowds with their entertaining and attacking approach to the sport. Along the way there were thrilling wins against the Wallabies and All Blacks.
But in South African rugby controversy and drama is never far away. After the record run ended Nick suffered a few heavy defeats and the pressure was on. He dropped popular captain Gary Teichmann ahead of the Rugby World Cup but the Boks still managed to finish third at that tournament.
Less than a year later he was relieved of his Springbok coaching duties but there can be no doubt that Mallett’s time in charge of the Boks was a thrilling ride that has lived long in the memories of South African rugby fans privileged enough to have lived through that time.
Nick Mallett is perhaps the best Bok coach not to have won the Rugby World Cup and in this enthralling conversation he speaks openly and honestly about his achievements and mistakes. Buckle up for a rollercoaster episode of Front Row Rugby!
00:00 Introduction by Peter
00:52 Missing out on the Bok job
02:31 Becoming Springbok coach
04:46 Talking Key Boks out of quitting
09:19 First Test against Italy
11:28 Winning the French series
15:54 Beating Australia in Perth
19:05 Beating New Zealand in Wellington
24:11 Famous win over the All Blacks in Durban
28:15 Winning the Tri-Nations
30:06 1998 End of year tour
33:58 Missing the record
36:46 Coaching philosophy
40:14 Man management approach
45:45 Losing to Wales
45:52 Heavy defeat in Dunedin
49:33 Dropping Gary Teichmann
55:00 Jannie De Beer’s drop goals
1:01:00 Semi-final defeat to Australia
1:05:45 Bronze medal
1:08:54 How to beat the All Blacks
1:12:07 Final Test against Australia
1:19:54 Funny moment
1:24:14 Favourite current player
1:26:57 These days
1:30:40 Trivia Question
Peter says: I love the Springboks and rugby is one of my favourite sports. Although as a sports journalist I am supposed to remain neutral, I always like to point out that before I became a professional, I was just a big fan! I hold a Masters Degree in International Journalism so at least you know I should be able to ask a good question or two!
My dream is to do this TH-cam Channel permanently. You can help me out by liking the videos, subscribing to the channel and hitting the notification bell.
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Kudos Peter! It has never been in doubt that you have credibility among Springbok players who would otherwise not agree to come on your program. To land a guest of the calibre and reputation of Nick Mallet is pure (green and) gold! Coming out of nowherre, you have earned your success through hard work and evident talent. Good luck - keep it up!
Thank you very much for those extremely kind words. Really appreciate it and so happy you get value out of my channel!
Look, nick has a real passion for rugby, cool interview
Great St Andrew's College guy >> Nick Mallett
Well done Nick for standing up and saying when you've been wrong.
Cheers Cliff. Glad you enjoyed it!
One of the greatest ever. I loved him as a player. I loved him as a coach and really value his comentary. Thanks for this one!!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
Nick is one of the legends of rugby!
This interview is pure gold! Thanks to both of you.
Thank you so much! So happy you enjoyed it.
Nick is the kind of guy you would love to have a few beers with, as a Zimbabwean with South African heritage really enjoy Nick's commitment, honesty and passion. Thanks Nick!!.
I agree. He proved to be a superb guest. I got everything I wanted out of this interview and more!
@@frontrowrugby I kind of forgot he's a Whenwe, although most of his formative and rugby years was spent in Cape Town. Small wonder he couldn't speak Afrikaans 😁. I used to have a guy from Maritzburrow as a flatmate, and he always called me to translate when the SAUK Nuus was on, so it's not just the Whenwe's who skipped Afrikaans at school😁
Yeah I think it depends on where you grew up in the country. I had a lot of Afrikaans kids in my school and neighbourhood but there are some places where you only have people speaking your language.
I'm always jealous of the kids who grow up in Soweto. They all seem to speak about eight languages!
@@frontrowrugby There's also the fact that most Afrikaans people are proud of their ability to speak English, and almost force the conversation to be in English. So the poor Souties get no practise, no matter where they come from. In my immediate family, my father was Afrikaans speaking but my kids who grew up in Fish Hoek can't speak the language. My ex-wife who grew up in Bedfordview claims to understand it, but when she speaks she makes such as a gemors of it that I don't believe the understanding part 🤣
Haha, yes, I know what you mean. I remember telling a Zulu friend of mine that I wanted to learn Zulu and she said, "For what? Black people just speak English to you anyway."
And I've found it's the same where I am here in Qatar. I wanted to learn Arabic but everyone just speaks English to me.
It's obviously very convenient but it also means I don't get to learn other languages!
I have a friend in Mexico who told me that they had an American colleague who was very passionate about learning Spanish and was keen to try and speak at every opportunity. But because he spoke better English than the American could speak Spanish they just ended up speaking English anyway!
Probably the best interview yet. Honest and reflective
Thank you so much. It's really all about the guest. I ask the questions and they provide the insights. I knew Nick would be great and I think it's fair to say I got even more out of him!
I really feel Nick and Mark Andrews are really good in story telling.
Great interview, Nick was certainly one of the best, I realy enjoy his comments and insights, and the fact that he acknowledged his mistake, hats off for that, well done Peter, well done Nick.!!
Thanks Johann! Really happy you enjoyed it!
Always enjoy listening to Mallet, good rugby brain and visibly passionate.
Glad you enjoyed it, Ryan. I was confident Nick was going to be a great guest and I think it's fair to say he overdelivered!
Great interview, thank you, Nick Mallet, for your service as a player and a coach 👏
Glad you enjoyed it, Denis! Thank you as always for the comment.
Fantastic interview with Nick...fascinating listening to him. Appreciated, his openness and honesty and admitting his mistakes with Gary. I also believe we would have won the 99 world had Gary's played and led the boks
Glad you enjoyed it, Dev! I knew folks would mostly want to hear about the Gary/1999 RWC saga but there were indeed many gems in this discussion!
Cmon guys...8 likes and 120 views...
Peter this was the best one yet..the technical know how of Mallet is just amazing...he could easily still be a Bok consultant...I would love to see that BJ Botha video..lol..Quite impressive how he admits to the mistakes he made and takes responsibility for it...our politicians can learn from him...
Gutted this morning as a Bulls supporter but all credit to Franco and his Warriors for an amazing fightback and win..well deserved..
Not to worry, Sakabula. The numbers tend to change quite dramatically in the evening plus it's still quite early after the upload. And remember this is a very long video compared to the others. Longest one yet!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Agree, Nick was wonderful - I got everything I wanted out of this interview and more!
Please do go check out that BJ Botha interview if you haven't yet.
Commiserations on the Bulls result last night.
I've been asking the question for nearly a year now: Franco Smith - future Springbok coach?
@@frontrowrugby I wonder if any other coach would want to take over from Rassie? The next guy is definitely gonna look kak, and the guy after him can be the hero who does the hospital job.
We need to establish a culture of excellence and a handover system. Before Rassie a new coach would come in and start from scratch. Peter De Villiers actually told me once that he was going to put together a file that he would leave in the office for his successor. I don't know if he actually did that in the end though.
But I think these days it's more professional and structured as well so whoever does eventually replace Rassie will be handed the best possible opportunity at success.
@@frontrowrugby I think the whole problem has always been at Board level, with everyone there having their favourite and the next guy often comes from outside the camp.
I agree. A professional sport run by amateurs - but just of late it looks like they're finally getting it right. Let's hope it now continues.
Brilliant interview with a great guy. As mentioned before, I knew the name Nick Mallet since 1974 when he became the captain of the first SA U18 Bok team that toured France and Italy. My brother was a member of that team and we still have a team photo with Nick as the captain in the centre front row.
I knew you were going to enjoy this one!
Great stories from the past and great memories!
The best episode yet. Nick is such a great human, so interesting. Wish it was twice as long.
Thank you so much! Really pleased you enjoyed it. I knew we had the potential for a longer interview and sure enough that's exactly what happened!
Kudos to @frontrowrugby for an outstanding interview with the legendary Nick Mallet. His unparalleled expertise and dedication to rugby, especially his passion for the green and gold, were truly inspiring. This interview was a delightful journey down memory lane.
Thank you so much Gerhard. Glad you enjoyed it. I'm so happy I could get Nick. I knew he would be a brilliant guest.
Wonderful interview. Still one of my favourite coaches and the 97/98 Boks were the best Bok team of all time in my view.
Glad you enjoyed it, Bhupendra! That 97/98 Bok team brought many special moments when I was in high school. Will always be special.
Hi Peter! This was one of your best - if not your very best interviews - to date. I watched my beloved Griquas play in Stellenbosch against his Boland team before he became Springbok coach. That Boland team had Dale Sandton who, on that day, completely dominated the Bester brothers, as well as Marius Goosen who had a blinder. I asked Nick's autograph during the game and he was like "Oh wow, I never get asked for these!". He obviously became a very famous coach in due course. That Henry Honiball move on the back of the envelope is forever inscribed in Springbok rugby folklore, not to mention the quintet of De Beer drop goals! As for the trivia question, I wonder if Adriaan Richter is the first Springbok captain to score a brace in his first test as captain? Also, well done on your channel growth - onwards and upwards!
Hi Willie.
Great hearing from you! Thank you so much for those kind words.
Love your autograph story! Remember some of those names: Sandton, Goosen etc they were very good players.
Great question about Adriaan Richter ... now we need to go do a deep dive and find out!
Thanks for the kind words re the channel. I've got two of your videos in my "Watch Later" section. As soon as I can find some spare time I intend to do a bit of binge watching!
Nick Mallet has such integrity, a very inspiring man.
Agree! Superb guest.
Thoroughly enjoyed that, especially the stories-behind-the-scenes (Pieter Rossouw's NZ try, de Beer's drop goals, etc.) Credit to you, Peter, for your wide research on guests and knack for identifying their seminal career moments, good and bad. You've forged a unique interviewing formula over the years. We saw revealing sides to Mallet, like his honesty when criticizing himself, and his painful regrets. Good to see how well-balanced he is, not holding grudges about past dramas, making good with people he wronged, and being able to see the bigger picture in all things rugby. The interview enhanced what we already knew - that Mallet is an iconic rugby man - and makes respect him more. Would have liked to hear his reflections on the up-yours he flashed the selectors at Newlands when a player - ask him about that next time. Thanks, Peter - great job.
So glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for the kind comment.
Haha, that Newlands moment is one I actually missed but perhaps we can discuss that one next time!
1 of Bokkes best coaches,well done sir!🙌🤟👌🤝🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦
Nick and Rassie are my two favourite Bok coaches. 71% winning record - except for Kitch Christie, it's the best by a Bok coach since readmission!
Fantastic interview with a fantastic rugby man.
Thank you so much, Douger! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great interview Peter! Nick is one of the all time greats and a true rugby man who owns all of his decisions!
Thank you so much, Bradley. Glad you enjoyed the video.
'98 Springboks were amazing. Best jersey too.
Very special team and equally special memories!
How blessed SA rugby is to have world class coaches like Nick, Rassie and Jake in their arsenal .... 1:13:41
Indeed.
And I tell you what, if we truly got it right, no team would ever compete with us ever again!
Great interview. Erasmus, White and Mallet the only 3 coaches that we had that were great. Rest….mm..
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, we will always judge the coaches by their winning percentages and the trophies they've won.
And sure, some are clearly better than others but I can also tell you many of those who failed or did not do as well were also set up to fail.
T about Kristy
Amazing
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you.
Well done. I felt the passion of those few years! 🍻
Thanks Henk! Glad you enjoyed this one. Appreciate the comment.
Awesome interview, thank you Peter! Although it's the longest interview, it passed as quickly as a normal one. I think I did say earlier in the week that you could probably do 4 parts no problem, lol. Nick is such a good story teller and is such a student of the game and has so much more value to add to our great game. I've always loved his candid honesty and also appreciate that he owns his mistakes like a true gentleman. Thank you Nick for the many happy memories you have given us and goodness, you deserve 99 all over again, not only for yourself, but for Gary, the team and the rest of SA!! 🎉
So happy you enjoyed it, Gareth.
And you're quite right, Nick is a tremendous story teller and his insights are remarkable. Further to that his ability to communicate those things in a discussion like this are second to none. I was always confident this would be a great chat and I think it's fair to say Nick delivered on that many times over.
@@frontrowrugby It was also interesting to hear Nick asking Mac to rest Gary over the Currie cup which would have ultimately changed a lot of things. In today's setup, that wouldn't be as big a problem and shows why unity within our structure as a country is vitally important. I hope that the structure that has been created within SA rugby now will remain intact so that we remain at the top of the game for generations to come.
Yes, very interesting. That was certainly not something I was aware of. That's what I'm aiming for in these videos - getting little bits of information that we didn't know.
I agree with you - we've got a wonderful thing going right now. We just have to maintain it. Who would have thought a few years ago we'd be saying SARU is the best-run sporting federation in our country?
NiceOne Peter, thank you.
Really glad you enjoyed it. Nick was a wonderful coach and I was confident he'd be a great guest on the show.
What a fantastic interview with a real strategist and gentleman.Thanks.
Thank you so much, Bruce. Glad you enjoyed it.
Qn outstanding rugby man.. great interview 👌👌👌
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
Fantastic interview! Thank you for this!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you!
Nice chat.
Saw Henry Honnibal a month back. Dude still looks like a racehorse and ready for a test match.
Brilliant! I invited Henry to be on the show too but he politely declined. He was my favourite in the late 90s.
Thanks Nick very good interview I enjoyed it. Thank you for being honest about why the Springboks have not broken the record winning streak of 17 consecutive Test victories. I knew that the chosen players could not last. That's too bad about Gary Teichmann.
The best rugby player of all time is Joost van der Westhuizen.
Glad you enjoyed the interview, Nick and thank you for the comment.
All the best!
I really felt bad for Jannie de Beer, one of the best goal kickers, but only played a handful of tests. He could have played in the 2003 World cup even. Springboks went through a period of no consistent fly halves in the early 2000s- Butch James, Werner Greef, Gaffie du Toit, Andre Pretorius, Louis Koen.
Yip, Jannie was great and could easily have been our 2003 RWC flyhalf.
@@frontrowrugby I was also curious what happened with Ashwin Willemse on live TV saga with Naas and Nick.
Yeah these interviews only deal with the playing or in this case coaching career so that was never going to be part of this conversation.
@@henryshen5445 Keep that can of worms closed!
Nice one. Possible to get more 2008-15 era players ?
Thank you. Yes, the original plan was to go for 1992 Boks coming out of isolation and then gradually work through the years.
I've jumped around a bit but not really much further than 2007. I'll see if I can get some of the newer guys on for you.
Such a shame that Nick didnt have those mentors and I can imagine the culture then was still old-school where men dont admit when they need help. Nick couldve and shouldve been more involved and more influential in SA rugby, but SARu in those days was also cut-throat and seemed to enjoy firing coaches. Seems there were too many egos around. Rassie seems to have changed the culture, I was pleasantly surprised how Jake spoke after the URC final, he sounded different to the Jake of 2004 -2007. Seems SARU and the pressure of being Bok coach can really affect the guys. I admire them for stepping into the cauldron
Yes, it really was a different time. Rugby was an amateur sport and had only just become professional but for many years the players were being paid but the sport was still run by the amateurs!
Glad you enjoyed this video!
I remember going to OR Tambo to see the Boks returning from a successful UK tour when Nick still had black hair and Joost and Andre Venter were in their prime,...now I see him that's he's aged appropriately like meself in my neighborhood. Don't have the nerve to approach him but rather respect him from a distance.
Very cool. Yes, he's hair has changed colour ... it's been a few decades!
He's actually very friendly and approachable. Don't be afraid.
Articulate gentleman. All these guys from whatever nation must remain involved in some form or capacity
Thanks a lot for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the vidoe.
Nick forgot the name of the AB fly half who missed a few kicks in the 1998 test, his name is Carlos Spencer. I remember Kiwis watching that match yelled "I could throw the ball over the posts!"
Carlos Spencer indeed.
SAs can be so graciousl. An AB observer.
Less easy to manage = Less easy to trample on 😂
Haha ... yes, that's another way of putting it!
Does he now live in London?
No, he was visiting his son and grandchildren in London at the time of the interview. He was kind enough to give of his time during his trip.
Adriaan Richter
Correct!
Adriaan Richter.
The correct answer! Yes!
HI Nick
You f**k up by drop Rasie and replace by Skinstad You are nothing but could be great No comparison with Rasie as a couch
No-one seemed to find it strange that Nick goes to France and learns French, goes to Italy & learns Italian goes back to SA & coaches Boks with no Afrikaans language skills and no intention to learn? Happy to learn French and Italian but nah...don't have to talk Afrikaans. What a doos! That is typical of English speaking Saffers of the day.
Never liked Mallet. Thought he was overrated as a player and he was a disaster as a coach. Egotistical and narrow minded. Took a fantastic team that had been built by Carel Du Plessis and ruined it. The first few years after his ruinous impact were almost as bad as the Coetzee era.
Adriaan Richter
Correct!
Adriaan Richter
Spot on!