News

Mallett backs De Villiers' revolution

June 20 2008

As a former Springbok coach, Italy boss Nick Mallett feels South African players have honed their skills enough in recent years to be able to play less a structured game.

Springbok fans were given their first real glimpse of the Peter de Villiers' new style of play in the last Test against Wales, where it was employed with limited success, but Mallett feels De Villiers is correct to push forward with his 'cultural revolution.'

Speaking to the South African press ahead of Italy's one-off Test at Newlands on Saturday, Italy's coach raised and few eyebrows and provoked a few smiles by still referring to South African rugby as "we."

Mallett was full of praise for his former team and their new management.

"I can only be complementary of the way they played (against Wales)," he said.

"South African rugby players over the last three of four years have generally really improved their skills levels.

"We (South Africans) have lost none of our physicality in competing for the ball, and in the contact situations and we're looking to get off-loads in 50-50 situations. It's what New Zealand and Australia have been doing effectively for years.

"So if you start bringing it in at national level perhaps it will start appearing at Super 14 and even at school boy level. So it's a good thing and with the new laws as well, with the fact that the ball is in play so much more.

"You need to be able to hold onto it to get continuity. It's been fantastic to see South Africa trying to run it out of their 22 and taking quick tap penalties, it's been very positive rugby and you've got to complement them on that."

Pieter de Villiers went on tour with Mallett as an assistant coach in 1997 and Azzuri coach is not surprised that his former assistant is now the Springboks Head Coach given the political climate in the country and De Villiers' track record - which is remarkably similar to his predecessor, Jake White.

"Quite frankly Head Coach - with the support of good assistant coaches and a manager and really good preparation at Super 14 level of your players - is an easier job than it used to be," Mallett commented.

"Obviously you have to handle the media and the player relations, but in terms of the coaching you have a lot of support structures through the Super 14 teams and the choice of your assistant coaches, and I congratulate him on his choices (Gary Gold and Dick Muir) - they're both fantastic people and very good coaches."

Mallett was pleased to hear the news that the Emerging Boks struggled to get the better of Italy A in the Nations cup, but was quick to point out that the result should be seen in it's context.

"You have to put that result in perspective. The Emerging Boks are being used a South Africa development tool while that Italy team is our genuine "A" side," he said.

"But I'm really pleased for Italy when you consider that South Africa have 350 000 rugby players and could pick ten teams that could be competitive compared to 60 000 rugby players in Italy."