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FORUM / RUGBY /  Mallett questions the recruitment of Fatt Stevens'

Mallett questions the recruitment of Fatt Stevens'

Started by sharkbok30 REPLIES1,997 VIEWS· 10 Mar 2015, 17:22
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sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,256 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,256 posts
10 Mar 2015, 17:22
#1
10 Mar 2015, 17:22#1
Mallett questions the recruitment of Fatt Stevens' 

2015-03-09 10:34POST A COMMENTSHARE THISMatt Stevens (Gallo Images)RELATED LINKS
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    • Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has questioned the Sharks’ recruitment of prop Matt Stevens from English club Saracens.

    Stevens, 32, started at tighthead prop for the Sharks in their Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday night.

    He replaced Jannie du Plessis who was 

    given off to be with his wife who gave 

    birth to their second child.

    Stevens though had a torrid time in the

     scrums and struggled heavily against 

    Steven Kitshoff as the Sharks conceded several tightheads.

    Mallett, speaking in the SuperSport studio 

    after the Stormers’ 29-13 win, said:

    “You’ve got to question, perhaps question, 

    the recruitment of Matt Stevens . 

    He’s a guy 

    at the very end of his career at Saracens.

    “Obviously there is a very strong Saracens connection with the Sharks. 

    You’ve got

     (CEO) John Smit who played there, 

    you’ve got (consultant) Brendan 

    Venter who was Director of Rugby there, 

    so they know him (Stevens) very well as

     a person and I’m not saying he’s not a 

    great team man, but his job is to scrum.

    “His job is also to help poor old 

    Jannie du Plessis have a bit of a break this 

    season, but if every time he plays they’re 

    going to give away three or four tightheads, 

    then it wasn’t a very worthwhile recruitment.”

    Stevens played 39 Tests for England between 

    2004 and 2012.

sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,256 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,256 posts
10 Mar 2015, 17:28
#2
10 Mar 2015, 17:28#2
Initially his value was that he could play equally well on both sides of the scrum, 
but now it seems that he can play equally  poorly on either side of the scrum.
Why recruit someone at that age who is clearly not of the fitness levels to play in SuperXV rugby. What about that his half brother Mouritz Botha who started one game and looked far behind the pace. 
Ship them back to Sarcaens. I am sure that Becs will be happy to support them.
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
10 Mar 2015, 17:46
#3
10 Mar 2015, 17:46#3
 Don't worry SB, they do not face the Stormers pack every week, so the teightheads conceded should not become a trend. All in all, looks like Venter and Smit misjudged his value a bit. Many coaches backed donkeys in the past, it happens. How the Sharks respond to the challenge will be telling though.
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
10 Mar 2015, 18:16
#4
10 Mar 2015, 18:16#4
 No thanks, you can keep them both...they are South Africans after all and have simply come home after making pots of cash, haven't they ? 

DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
10 Mar 2015, 18:26
#5
10 Mar 2015, 18:26#5
 Becs, Stevens is as English as they come. The fact that he is SA born and raised from English parents does not make him non-Pom. I don't see the problem. What bothers me is players with extended family ties qualifying for other countries. 
SA
Saffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
10 Mar 2015, 18:36
#6
10 Mar 2015, 18:36#6
You cant beat Mallett for getting it right....if only he was coaching our Bok side now  
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
10 Mar 2015, 18:46
#7
10 Mar 2015, 18:46#7
 Oh he really isn't English !! He wasn't raised here either and still has his very strong accent. He doesn't even seem very English. Never has done. And he was never a very good player ! He would also never have played again after he was found guilty of cocaine abusr, if I had anything to do with it !! 
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
10 Mar 2015, 20:06
#8
10 Mar 2015, 20:06#8
 Was Freddy Mercury English in your book Becs?
CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
10 Mar 2015, 20:46
#9
10 Mar 2015, 20:46#9
 Jobs for pals seems to be securely embedded in certain rugby circles in SA.   Steven and Botha are top examples of that scenario.   However, it goes much further than that we have the same sick system to an even worse extent in Meyer's pals - Victor Matfierld,  Bakkies Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp, Morne Steyn - all flops and useless.
Unless that BS is stopped in its tracks - it will be disastrous for SA Rugby.   We will in the WC duplicate the early exit strategy shown so clearly by England in the cricket world cup.  
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
10 Mar 2015, 20:51
#10
10 Mar 2015, 20:51#10
Freddie Mercury's parents were Persian and he was born in Zanzibar. He was British not English. I hope that clears that up, Draad !  
BE
Beeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
10 Mar 2015, 20:53
#11
10 Mar 2015, 20:53#11
 Ou maaaikie all is not well that I grant you. One can only hope Meyer has seen the error of his ways and gets on track fast.Do we really need Wentzel as well. We are now loosing top young tal ent and importing has been ous!
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
10 Mar 2015, 21:50
#12
10 Mar 2015, 21:50#12
 Becs, some of your views come across as a bit xenophobic,  but I suppose the English aren't so fond of getting back what they've been handing out for the last 300 odd years. I mean, most of your unwanted immigrants are from former colcolonies where you weren't wanted in the first place either. I guess what goes around comes around. Only difference being that no one is forcing themselves onto your little island by the might of the gun.
AG
AgPleezDeddy
Club Pro900 posts
AG
AgPleezDeddyClub Pro900 posts
10 Mar 2015, 23:22
#13
10 Mar 2015, 23:22#13
Becs, England may not be the only country to cap players born in other countries but I'd imagine their probably top of the list.
Just of the top of my head: Hartley, Vunipola brothers, Tuilagi, Corbisiero, Barritt, Botha, etc
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
11 Mar 2015, 00:09
#14
11 Mar 2015, 00:09#14
 No, we are far from the top of the list. Do your homework and get back to me....but, just to help out, you could look at Wales and the " Grannygate " saga ( and even the team now !!! ), Scotland and the " Kilted Kiwis " ( and the team now !! ), Ireland ( look up their SA Captain of a few years ago and Brian Smith and oh just do your homework !! ) 
Corbisiero is half English and the family came back here when he was a kid. Hartley has Englush heritage but should never have played for us as far as I am concerned. He has, however, been here since he was in his teens and did not solely come over to play for this country.Tuilagi played Schools Rugby and has been here since he was a kid. He may never play again, at this rate.The Vunipola brothers have been here since they were children and were schooled here, playing Schools Rugby. Barritt was parachuted into the team straight off the plane from SA. He does, however, have English parentage.Botha was playing here and resident for many years before he was selected for the Saxons and then England.As far as I am concerned, no-one should be brought over to play for us, no-one should come here because they can't get into their own team in their country and be selected for mine and no-one should be selected ahead of someone born and bred in this country, if those players are better than them. Too many English players are missing out just because our teams are crammed full of old mercenaries from abroad. Your teams do not do this, why should we ? 
Oh give it up, Draad. Playing the racism card does not wash anymore and neither does the pathetic Colonialism spiel. It purely serves to prevent sensible conversation about serious subjects that need a proper solution from ever being had. And that is just pathetic. 
AG
AgPleezDeddy
Club Pro900 posts
AG
AgPleezDeddyClub Pro900 posts
11 Mar 2015, 00:35
#15
11 Mar 2015, 00:35#15
I'm well aware that other countries do it too, I said you were probably top of the list, you may not be but you're definitely up there.
I also agree that I don't think it's healthy to have so many non 'english' players in the team and in domestic rugby. In fact I think it's affected you in your three main sports - Cricket, Rugby and Football. 
In the case of football, I think the future is a bit more bright though.
Ironically enough, it seems that English club fans would rather see young English born talent given a chance and South African fans would rather see more players stay in the country but neither are getting their wish.
Out of curiosity how do you see your chances come world cup time?
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
11 Mar 2015, 02:17
#16
11 Mar 2015, 02:17#16
 I see our chances as I have always done....unknown.I think it is certainly a RWC too soon for the changes that had to be put into place regarding the restructuring of the team and whole ethos of the England camp but this group of players are not as poor as they have been made to think they are and injury issues have really blighted their progress.But new players should have been integrated sooner and that gas been a grave error, in my opinion.If they had more time, I think they could have become more settled and really been challengers for at least the Semi's.
We could do well...or we could do not so well ! It really us very up in the air. As ever, I am not confident. 
But that is my way.
CE
Ceradyne
Pro9,374 posts
CE
CeradynePro9,374 posts
11 Mar 2015, 10:57
#17
11 Mar 2015, 10:57#17
 @Becs:
"As far as I am concerned, no-one should be brought over to play for us, no-one should come here because they can't get into their own team in their country and be selected for mine and no-one should be selected ahead of someone born and bred in this country, if those players are better than them. "
You do know that Matt Stevens never came to England to play rugby, don't you? He came here to study and was spotted while playing for his university. 
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
11 Mar 2015, 11:58
#18
11 Mar 2015, 11:58#18
 Yes, I do know that.Like Mike Catt before him, who came to visit his relatives and has never gone home. 

CE
Ceradyne
Pro9,374 posts
CE
CeradynePro9,374 posts
11 Mar 2015, 12:07
#19
11 Mar 2015, 12:07#19
Good. So, from your entire list, Barrit was the only one who was "parachuted" in.  
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
11 Mar 2015, 13:48
#20
11 Mar 2015, 13:48#20
 Did I say otherwise ? 

They were not/are not the best players available at the time, however and are still taking places from our own players, whether you like it or not.
CE
Ceradyne
Pro9,374 posts
CE
CeradynePro9,374 posts
11 Mar 2015, 14:32
#21
11 Mar 2015, 14:32#21
 Matter of opinion. The national coaches obviously do/did no t agree with you but what do they know, after all?
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
11 Mar 2015, 18:00
#22
11 Mar 2015, 18:00#22
 Becs, I never mentioned race. Colonialism has got more to do with this than you might care to acknowledge. I was needling a bit, I know, but I am of opinion that the institution(laws and admin) should always be more accountable than the individual(player).  You seem to weigh the individual more. Close the doors and they can't come in. Simple. Open doors are an invitation. 
sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,256 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,256 posts
11 Mar 2015, 18:47
#23
11 Mar 2015, 18:47#23
Heritage should not matter. It is not as if any white South Africans originated from South Africa. Their was the original dutch, french and German decedents that were the first white South Africans.
Then only in 1800- onwards was their British decedents. This is not long ago. This was only the first batch of decedents from the UK. Most arrived allot more recently. 
I know many people in Durban that were either born in the UK and moved to SA as children, or had parents born in the UK, or grandparents born in the UK.
Their was a steady influx of new people from the UK moving to South Africa- at least until about 1995. Around this time, it when people started leaving South Africa. When I got a British passport the British Embassy was packed. Their was lots of people leaving that had family originally from the UK.

The English sometimes forget that their forefathers, are actually also our forefathers. Many people in Durban especially have English surnames, as do other places like Capetown and Johannesburg. 
England cant however lay claim to sports people with origins in the UK, because much of the USA, Australia and New Zealand were originally from the UK.
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
11 Mar 2015, 20:11
#24
11 Mar 2015, 20:11#24
 Agreed SB. The aftermath of colonialism.  Not a bad thing, but part of history/heritage. I can't understand the big who-ha. Most of the immigrants ad value, sports or business,  doesn't matter. 
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
11 Mar 2015, 20:13
#25
11 Mar 2015, 20:13#25
 Best of all, if you go back in time a bit, the English are immigrants themselves!
BE
becs
Pro4,378 posts
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
11 Mar 2015, 21:16
#26
11 Mar 2015, 21:16#26
 Oh dear lord, here we go again.....go back a bit in time ? How far is a bit ? Or are you just another who outs the Labourite claptrap designed to belittle and eradicate the English from the face of the Earth ? Some of us tend to know our History a little better and tend to ignore the Maoist leanings being bandied about these days. 
As for adding value to our sports teams, rubbish. They purely serve to erode our National side ever further.And in the world of work, they have driven down wages so far that we now have Zero Hours contracts all over the place, a living wage is an impossibility, less Tax is being collected ( in many cases no Tax is being collected as they are not in any Legal employment ) and balancing the books slides ever further.I won't persist with the rest of the problems this is causing us, because you will only tell me I am talking rubbish 
DB
DbDraad
Captain26,388 posts
DB
DbDraadCaptain26,388 posts
11 Mar 2015, 21:52
#27
11 Mar 2015, 21:52#27
 Becs, remove ALL the non "born and bread Poms" from England, and your economy will most probably implode. At the end of the day it's the British citizens making the policies your complaining about. Who the hell was belittling the Poms and want's to eradicate them from the face of the Earth? And if foreigners don't add value, why do you lot keep on selecting them? As for wages and tax? Supply and demand for wages and efficient administration for tax collection. Cry me a river, if the English don't like the way their island is run, they should elect a different government.
sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,256 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,256 posts
31 Oct 2015, 21:44
#28
31 Oct 2015, 21:44#28
 

European champions Toulon have confirmed the arrival of former England prop Matt Stevens as cover during the Rugby World Cup.

The South African-born prop, who won 46 caps for England, arrives from the Sharks on a short-term deal.

Although he mostly played tighthead for England, Stevens can cover both sides of the scrum and his experience makes him an ideal option to fill the gap created by the absence of internationals Xavier Chiocci and Levan Chilachava – who are on World Cup duty with France and Georgia respectively – as well as the retirement of Carl Hayman.

32-year-old Stevens played 120 games for Bath before moving to Saracens, with whom he won the Premiership title in 2011. 

He joined the Sharks in 2014 on a two-year deal a nd should return to the Durban side in time for Super Rugby in 2016.

So Fatt Stevens is returning to the Sharks next season?

CA
carpetmuncher
Pro1,667 posts
CA
carpetmuncherPro1,667 posts
31 Oct 2015, 21:49
#29
31 Oct 2015, 21:49#29
 cant they keep stevens up there........
he can sing too expect the sushi bars in and around durban to suffer record losses
sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,256 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,256 posts
16 Jan 2018, 19:11
#30
16 Jan 2018, 19:11#30
sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,256 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,256 posts
16 Jan 2018, 19:13
#31
16 Jan 2018, 19:13#31

Where h as he been lately. His wiki page has him eating again.

— END OF THREAD —

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