Mallett: ‘Kolbe could be SA’s best No 9’

‘Kolbe could be SA’s best No 9’

• 15 May 2016
 
• More by Nick_Mallett

 383  3Stormers fullback Cheslin Kolbe

What former Bok coach NICK MALLETT had to say on SuperSport about the past weekend's Super Rugby matches involving South African teams.

Sunwolves vs Stormers

'It was a shocking performance by the Stormers. They looked overconfident, and they were really poor with ball in hand, going sideways instead of forward. Their defence was too passive and frankly they looked half asleep. This was a serious case of overconfidence and a lack of experience in key positions. The Stormers were very lucky to come away with a draw today.

'They just didn’t take the opposition seriously enough. When you play a team that you should dominate, you must dominate with your forwards. So many times today, the scrum was going forward, but instead of milking the penalty and kicking to the corner to set up a driving maul or kick a penalty goal, the Stormers tried to play ball-in-hand rugby and that played right into the Sunwolves’ hands. I don’t know what happened with the Stormers. Their tactics were just wrong.'

'This reminded me of the Springboks’ performance against Japan in the World Cup. If you want to win a rugby game, you have to get all the basics right. An example of this, which South African teams need to look at, is the Highlanders-Crusaders game. There was no problem with defence, attacking and/or defensive kicking, the set pieces were incredibly intense and there was great offloading when going forward. What we’re trying to do is play an offloading game without dominating physically and that doesn’t cut it.

'Jean-Luc du Plessis needed to control the game better and he missed a crucial touchfinder. Cheslin Kolbe is incredibly brave, he has very good feet and a good kicking and passing game. I’m not sure he can compete internationally at fullback, being as slight as he is. A year or two ago against the Sharks, he beat them twice from the base of the scrum and created chaos when he stepped two forwards. I think Cheslin just needs experience playing at scrumhalf and he could be the best No 9 in South Africa. He and Pieter-Steph du Toit were two of the few players who played with a bit of go forward and didn’t let themselves down today.'

Lions vs Blues

'The Lions had a very strong set piece, their defence was aggressive, they counter-rucked well and won the breakdown situation, and most importantly their tactical kicking on attack and exit-kicking was good. The Lions did everything right today.

'The Blues didn’t look motivated, they didn’t show tremendous tenacity under the high balls and made a lot of handling errors. But I think those two exquisite kicks from Elton Jantjies that set up the first two tries, set the tone of the game.

'I should also mention the use of the mauls. Driving mauls in conditions like this are absolutely invaluable and the Lions scored two great driving-maul tries as well. Scoring 40 points in the rain against a New Zealand side is an outstanding and complete performance. And it will give the Lions confidence that they can beat a Kiwi team at home in a playoff match.

'It’s going to be very hard to leave Jantjies and Lionel Mapoe out of the Springbok side at the moment and the explosive performance of Malcolm Marx will put a lot of pressure on the incumbent Springbok hookers.

'Jaco Kriel is multi-skilled. His job as an openside flanker is in the Richie McCaw mould. He has to play as a ball carrier, but also someone who disrupts the opposition’s ball and makes numerous tackles. Kriel has great hands, passes well, carries strongly and isn’t scared to get in over the ball and steal it.'

Cheetahs vs Kings

'Both teams are very poor defensively and the less said about this game the better.

1. 'Lood de Jager has not been the player we saw at the World Cup last year, but judging by today’s big performance I think he realises that there is some keen opposition in that position. You’ve got the two Stormers guys, Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, and then there is Franco Mostert, who is also playing well. And Lood will have to play out of his socks to keep his place in the Springbok team.'
   

A scrum half' primary role is to pass the ball. His passing at the base of the ruck looked pretty good- although he was allways passing left. He was also not put under much pressure when he was picking up at the ruck. Need to see more of his passing to the right-hand side. 
It would be good to give him a run at 9 to see how he goes. Or just give him the last 30 minutes at 09. 
His break around the base of the ruck allmost won the game- and maybe he should have backed himself on the outside instead of cutting back in

The Boks need to call up a decent amount of Lions to the Bok squad.Jantjies, Jack Kriel, Faff, Mapoe. 
Jaco Kriel should have made the Bok side for last years world cup as an opensider. He could have been a darkhorse

 I know Beeno has been propagating Colbe at 9 for years and Mallet has also supported a move to 9 before. The first time I saw Colbe play was during an u20 RW Championship match. He slotted in at 9 when the actual scrummie wasn't able to be at the breakdown in time. He immediately looked like a natural scrummie. Nothing to do with size. Scrummies doesn't have to be small. There's nothing wrong with his defence when playing at 15 or wing, BUT, anyone playing in the back 3 should be able to compete in the air for the high ball, especially the FB, and it's in this facet of play where the shorter players will always have a disadvantage. I would like to see him at 9, but it's already too late in his career to make such a drastic change of position. Muscle memory and instinct plays a huge role in top flight rugby and it's only real exceptional players that can successfully change position at top level. I think he might be one of them, but if it's a real option, it must be done now.

 SB
Don't say anything about Lions be called up to the Springbok squad - Mozart will have a seizure.   He becomes livid when anybody mention anything positive as to their game plan and player performances.   We do not need another case where smelling salt is required.  

 This is why one has to laugh at Mallett, how many of these backline position changes have ever worked? How many outside backs can you recall becoming great 9s? There is too much to learn, too much that is instinctual for this work at senior level. Silly stuff.
Remember the Git at scrumhalf and be afraid of the things failed coaches say.

 Remember - be afraid what the witless Dofdose say - they know nothing about rugby.  

 Lomp has always been energized by bullying lesser players. It's no surprise seeing him beating up on the Kings.....just remember Etzebeth took him apart.

 Etzebeth took one ball in a line-out from De Jager - you lied about three others, so how an we believe anything you write on this site?  

The best scrummies have always been smaller guys. Being smaller is obviously an advantage since the ball can be picked up more quickly, digging the ball out is easier, shorter levers mean snappier passes and shorter legs mean better accelerarion. There's not much more to it than that. Have been watching Faf very closely this year and he really gets to and distributes the ball the so quickly that I get frustrated when watching our other 9s in action. I think Kolbe could be a similar type of 9 and he's got a good boot too. Way better than Reinach or Page. For me anyway. Kolbe is a good candidate for 9 and we lack attacking 9s in SA. He is wasted at fullback. In cricket the best batters are higher up the order because you want them to spend the most time at the crease. Players like Kolbe need to be given the most opportunity possible to affect the game. I agree with Mallet.

 Mallet, the same bloke who moved Mauro Bergamasco to scrumhalf. Yeah that went well. Leave Kolbe where he is. A good fullback at super level but no more.

 Per Draadie -  I know ***Beeno*** has been propagating Colbe at 9 for years and Mallet has also supported a move to 9 before.
That should really be the end  of the discussion but the okas have to have their say I guess.Kolbe plays scrumhalf in the sevens side and has a great pass. He is the perfect scrummie. Far, Far better potential than wee aaron smith of the wee abs! Cant thin k where wee aaron might be better.Kolbe is faster, a better runner, tackles better, has a better boot and his pass is as good. All he need is a chance.
Look it doesnt take a lot to make a call like this but for some its a bridge too far. hahahahahahhaahhahahahaha
I think it a great pity Mallet isn' t coaching a SA side in the Super comp.

 @ Beeno.
Sure Kolbe has a good pass and boot but so do a number of backline players. Its about decision making and vision.Could Willie throw those passes or make those box kicks, I reckon he could but that wouldnt make him the perfect scrummie.
Also 7s and 15s are different in so many ways.
If you want a small nippy scrumhalf give Faf a go but blood him in slowly, last twenty min or so till hes confident and bossing the game.

 Beeno, on Kolbe you have my full support for putt ing him in the no. 9 shirt for the Boks against the mighty ABs... what could possible go wrong?

 JW I would of course test the guy. Give him a half dozen matches at 9. Nobody must get a free lucnh. Once he has proven himself, as he will in all likelihood do, then put him in. Xavi, Kolbe has great vision and decision making ability. He would not have survived at fullback given his severe size limitations had this not been so.Oaks as always be guided by Beeno, the one who knows! Conversely ignore all ou JW most unfortunate ramblings. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

plenty of great halves in SA that already spend a ton of time in the position, so theres no need to for this possible positional change

surely janties has got to be the front runner for the Boks 10??? this would be another icing on top for faf to get called up, keep the successful 9/10 combination from the lions going.

if kolbe makes it to the Bok team, he shouldnt be playing 15, he will always be behind the 8 ball on the high balls, and hes the last line of defence u want vs some of the big players out there like savea and kurindrani.
slot him on the wing IMO.

 Kolbe is a talent ... but he's a tiny man ... and that I'm afraid disqualifies him from national duty.
We have talented bigger boys better suited to playing at outside back.
Courage isn't enough when playing against the monsters of the modern game.