Mallett certainly doesn't rate Spies. I couldn't improve on one word in this scathing assessment:
Loose forwards are a big
issue. I don't rate Spies as
a defender, he is poor on
defence and his close ball
skills at the back of the
scrum are also poor. He is
only good against weak
teams. A flat-track bully
who will run in three tries.
We are missing out on
someone who is good from
the base of the scrum.
He is entitled to his opinion, and there is some truth to what he says, but keep in mind that Spies was not one of the best Bok in 2009 or throughout the last World Cup for nothing. Remember, Spies edged Schalk last year, yet Schalk was praised. There is too much bias and too little perspective. And we all know Mallett's track record with No.8s. One of his last supposed masterstrokes was to play Italy's premier 8th man at scrumhalf; a total humiliation it was.
Schalk was a warrior in the RWC QF....Spies was a spectator.
Der Aristokrat
Please I am completely mixed up now. Elsehwere you wrote about Mallett being the best coach SA had since 1995 and how he sharpened up the Italian attack and now you mention that one about no 8 at scrumhalf? Am i seeing double or what?
Is it because Mallett had the audacity to criticize the show pony Spies? Spies is indeed bad news and his best year was before the 2007 WC when he could not play because of blood clotting problems. Since then he has been useless and clueless - so much so that a small guy like Joe Pieterse tackle him and bring him down crashing. Bad news that one
I used to be a huge Spies supporter, but he has just not moved forward as a player. His defense as a forward is weak, and after this long at top level rugby he should have sorted that out. In my opinion he is still a threat with ball in hand, but he seems to find himself in space less and less these days. Having said all that, he is about the only option at 8 at the moment. Not because he is good, but because all the other options are injured or in seriously bad from.
Spies got preferred treatment from the start go. If he had a bad game he just started the next one again. And when he had the odd good game he was praised for weeks. His handling is poor as his defence. He does not make meters any more. Not sure how he was kept in the Bok team all the time. Players like Johnson and Kanko never got decent opportunities to prove themselves. And like Duanne - he never any opportunity. Don't start with me that Kanko got his fair share. He never got it! Always in the last test. Or 10 minutes or so and then on flank. I think in his 15 tests he played he started 2/3 times. One was against Italy when he got injured so bad. Other one Lions last test at Ellispark. One if France and yes then he was terrible. Oh and his first test against Wales (brilliant try on debut). He and Johnson did nothing wrong with the Tri-nations away tour last year but still got dropped. Steyn who had a nightmare in the away leg kept his place.
And NO I am not saying Kanko should now be included in the Bok team. He has not played any rugby for a while now!
Kanko's not an option. Too little game time this year, and the bit he has had he has not done anything special. Anyway, he is the same type of player as Spies and I reckon we need a more abrasive player at 8. Vermeulen maybe? Yes I know he is injured, but possible for the future. He is a bit slow maybe, but seriously, how often do 8th men have space to run these days? Also, when last did we see Spies running off into the distance like in the old days?
on that note then if we prefer someone abbrasive at 8 that also has the explosiveness. We need look no further than Johnson or Alberts for that matter if on song. Johnson loses a bit in the lineouts though.
NotsoCleverMike, if you are going to quote me, then please do it correctly. Nowhere have I ever stated that Mallett is the best coach we have ever had.
As for Spies getting preferential treatment, well I have seen nothing of the sort. In the end Spies was going to the World Cup but alot of that had to do with Big Joe losing some for and Cronje going off the boil. Kankowski had ONE good test in the 2007 EOYT game against Wales, a game the Bok pack was on bruising form. From there on he has done nothing at test level. In fact, he can barely hack it at Super level anymore. Kanko is a terrible player. Johnson struggled last year, but I suspect the muddled Peter reign didn't help his cause, particularly as a whole host of yougsters were thrown to the lions carelessly. Either way, RugbyGal, please be honest in your assessment. If both were as good as you say, they should have taken those opportunities. Kankowski in particular has been practically worthless.
CleverMike, how then about Joe Petersen puting both Shark's props on their backside? Or Genia dumping Bismarck on his backside? LOL! Anyway, Spies was better than Schalk last year and in very good form in 2008 as well as 2009. In fact, he has been significantly better than he was in 2006 and 2007. At present opposition sides asign two to three defenders to contain him. Obviously these opposition coachs consider Spies more of a threat than you do! Something to consider.
Aristo, not sure if I agree or disagree with you regarding Spies. Dangerous players always have a mark on their heads, and that my be why he seldom has space, so you may have a point....either that or he is just unable to break tackles and create space the way he used to....I really can't say for sure which scenario is correct.
