Mallett rips into Marcel

 'However, the front five is a problem. The Bulls desperately need a tighthead prop. The props that came on were heavily penalised again. It is unbelievable that a union as strong as the Bulls has not had a tighthead prop, who can hold up his side of the scrum, for four or five years. Both Marcel van der Merwe and Werner Kruger are going overseas, but they won’t be missed. Van der Merwe is the most penalised player in Super Rugby. He conceded 26 penalties before this game and gave away three again in this match. Any replacement is going to be better, quite frankly. I’d say the Bulls have to buy at least three tighthead props before the next season.’
 'Any replacement is going to be better'.....poor old Dave is going to have a conniption. But of course I have been telling him this for years.

 Not that I'm biased or anything but props ,and tightheads in particular are the most undervalued and unrecognized players in our game .Unlike the nasty wee sea-gulling backs who hog the limelight and all the glory the bloody scazz-wazzers !

Tightheads that can reliably scrum in test rugby are national treasures.  

 Vow - so Jannie was a national treasure in your book over the  last two years when his scrumming and game as already that of a has-been.    I have never been impressed by Van der Merwe anyway = even though his general game was better than that of Janni e. 

Seriously Mong, who cares whether you rated Marcel.....Malherbe was your man until that Irish prop had him for breakfast.
1 Jack McGrath 
Out played all other frontrowers, seeing off Springbok tight head Frans Malherbe, so the hope is he somehow finds the resolve for one more shift, because without him Ireland cannot win this series. Rating: 7

Mike, nobody said anything about Jannie....please stop resurrecting that old argument? He is history, please please please leave Jannie and your argument with Moz about him just there...as history.