Friday Round-Up

December 18, 2015
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Ultimate Rugby

Friday Round-Up

Mitchell's move to Stormers blocked

John Mitchell's appointment as head coach of the Stormers was blocked by WPRU president Thelo Wakefield based on fears over his coaching style.

Mitchell, who was the favourite for the job, had been lined up by WP director of rugby Gert Smal to take the head coaching job over from Eddie Jones, after he agreed a move to England

But fears arose over the manner of his exits from those previous roles with the Lions and Force, with players reportedly unhappy with Mitchell's management style, appear to have swayed against the decision to appoint him.

Robbie Fleck has since been appointed as the Stormers' interim head coach for the 2016 season.

"We made a massive investment in young players like Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi, Scarra Ntubeni and several others. It will be wrong to expose them as well as team management to such risk," Wakefield told Netwerk24.

"As much as I would have liked to have adhered to Gert's request, I remained hesitant. I believe in Gert's knowledge of the game and I let him follow the lead.

"However, there comes a time when a request needs to the denied for valid reasons."

De Allende out for 4 months

Stormers could be without South Africa centre Damian de Allende for up to four months, according to reports.

An ankle injury suffered while playing in Japan for the Kintetsu Liners will now delay his start to the 2016 campaign under intermin head coach Robbie Fleck.

De Allende, 24, had a stellar year for the Springboks after impressing in Super Rugby in 2015.

His absence will be a big blow to the Stormers' options at centre, with Juan de Jongh away playing Sevens for South Africa and Jean de Villiers having joined Leicester Tigers.

Jaco Taute and Huw Jones as a result could see some time at the inside centre until De Allende returns.