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Nick Mallett (Gallo Images)
- Nick Mallett and Swys de Bruin have raised concerns about the quality of the product offered by SA rugby franchises.
- Mallett says scrums, driving mauls and kicking up and down “are not a good visualization.”
- De Bruin feels the team’s tactics are predictable, “almost like a storybook.”
Two renowned experts have expressed concern about the quality of the product distributed by the South African franchises during the Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup events.
After a double round of action, the Currie Cup semifinals are scheduled for next Saturday, with the Bulls hosting the Lions at Loftus Versfeld and the Western Province entertaining the Sharks in Newlands.
But the former Springbok coach Nick Mallett and former mentor to the Lions Swys de Bruin they were a bit frustrated by what they witnessed since the country’s return to rugby after the Covid-19 lockdown.
The duo shared their views on SuperSport The final whistle program after the completion of the Currie Cup free-for-all action on Sunday.
“It’s hard not to be a bit negative about the performance of our teams, frankly. If you compare it to the way New Zealand entered the Aotearoa competition, with teams really embracing fast ruck ball and ball in hand. [style]… they were reasonably high matches, but the defenses were excellent and their attacks were great. And it was rugby that was worth watching, “Mallett said.
He continued: “When we started, obviously there were problems with our fitness and conditioning. There were a lot of games riddled with mistakes at the beginning. And then it seemed that all the teams that got into a difficult situation simply resorted to the tactics of the Cup final. which basically means driving mauls, pushing scrums for penalties and kicking an up-and-under from 9 or 10 throughout the game. “
Mallett said that this type of game “is sadly not a good visualization.”
“If you’re expecting other people to make a mistake … it’s like watching us play Wales in the 2019 World Cup semi-final, which wasn’t a good show, it was great that South Africa won, but it wasn’t. No. it’s a good rugby spectacle for spectators. And we have to remember that we are in the entertainment business in rugby and we need to entertain people. And people are entertained by watching attempts are scored through good passes, good lines of race, timing and good pace.
“To see a Kolbe (Cheslin) score a try, it’s worth sitting there for an hour and a half in an afternoon. But if I have to look up and down and drive mauls all day … and collapsed scrums and sanctions … I’m not enthusiastic about that product. So I think we have some issues to talk about. “
De Bruin, who was also an attack adviser for the Springboks, agreed with Mallett.
“I want to add to what Nick said, it’s almost like a storybook now … I can see there is a scrum that will restart and restart again, then the advantage will come, then the next chapter is the penalty. From there The maul begins Before the maul there is a small meeting with the strikers which is more time consuming After that meeting the lineout begins, but before the lineout begins, the officials walk up and down through the lineout first. .. what is going to happen now, who is going to join, who is going to lift and lift legs … for me that has almost become history.
De Bruin highlighted a disturbing trend in which the amount of actual playtime during games was decreasing.
“In Super Rugby in 2017 and 2018 we had 35 minutes of continuous play on average. We were aiming for 40, if we had 35 or 36 we were happy. I spoke to one of the analysts and in the Currie Cup they are hitting 24, 25, 26 (minutes ) … then 80 minutes, you watch 25 minutes of rugby and that’s a problem. ”
However, De Bruin added that he understood why teams were employing these tactics and said that SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, along with Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber, understood the system well.
“They are used to playing up and down, with that they won the World Cup, their pressure system is good, they know how to play it. They understand it.”
With South African franchises heading to the Northern Hemisphere to compete in the PRO16 Rainbow Cup event, De Bruin noted that a more conservative style of play was sometimes needed.
“They (Erasmus and Nienaber) trained in Munster (in Ireland). So they know it very well (the style of play). But if you look at Jacques and what they represent … they know the system up there. We have to remember, let’s go to play up there on their terms.
“But for the sponsors, for the viewers, for everyone, the sooner we put our foot down and say ‘all role players, let’s make this game interesting again.’ We must put action plans in place so that our product is right where it is. we need ”. . ”
– Compiled by Herman Mostert
