Nick Mallett couldn't pile enough praise on the Springboks for their "remarkable resilience" after a gutsy 32-17 victory over France, despite being reduced to 14 men. The match saw Lood de Jager sent off with a straight red for a high tackle just before halftime, yet the Boks rallied to dominate the second half with a score of 19-3 against the hosts in Paris.
Mallett, speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, acclaimed the performance as one of the Boks' best this year, comparing it to their stellar games against New Zealand and Argentina. "The second half was courageous, brave, and really intelligent. We kept the ball in the air, carried with venom and our pack stood up," Mallett explained.
"To say it was 'always illegal from the start' felt harsh. Lood’s right arm is trying to wrap and Ramos is falling after the previous tackle."
Mallett questioned the decision for a red card, suggesting that the game's pace and the dynamics of the tackle made the harsh penalty questionable, especially without a substitution option after 20 minutes which he thought might have been a fairer resolution.
With Siya Kolisi out at halftime and a man down, Mallett highlighted how strategic substitutions and set-piece prowess turned the game on its head. "Our bench timing really worked for us, especially the front row. Once we got scrum dominance, and with two fresh locks on, we got stronger and France got weaker," he noted.
André Esterhuizen's entry as a hybrid player was particularly effective, blending into the flank and backline roles as needed. The bench's impact was undeniable, sparking three tries in the last quarter of the game. Mallett also praised the backline's adaptability, noting Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu]'s smooth transition from flyhalf to fullback and Manie [Libbok]'s resilience despite a few hitches.
Mallett remains bullish about the Boks' prospects, dismissing concerns about upcoming matches against teams like Ireland, which recently suffered a defeat to New Zealand. "This team keeps winning when things go against them – the resilience, team spirit, the South Africanness of the group – playing for values bigger than themselves – is remarkable," he asserted.
As the Springboks continue their tour, the focus will be on squad management, player rotation, and maintaining their high performance levels, especially in upcoming matches where players like Handré Pollard will be returning to the fold.
2,193 posts
Nick Mallett couldn't pile enough praise on the Springboks for their "remarkable resilience" after a gutsy 32-17 victory over France, despite being reduced to 14 men. The match saw Lood de Jager sent off with a straight red for a high tackle just before halftime, yet the Boks rallied to dominate the second half with a score of 19-3 against the hosts in Paris.
Mallett, speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, acclaimed the performance as one of the Boks' best this year, comparing it to their stellar games against New Zealand and Argentina. "The second half was courageous, brave, and really intelligent. We kept the ball in the air, carried with venom and our pack stood up," Mallett explained.
"To say it was 'always illegal from the start' felt harsh. Lood’s right arm is trying to wrap and Ramos is falling after the previous tackle."
Mallett questioned the decision for a red card, suggesting that the game's pace and the dynamics of the tackle made the harsh penalty questionable, especially without a substitution option after 20 minutes which he thought might have been a fairer resolution.
With Siya Kolisi out at halftime and a man down, Mallett highlighted how strategic substitutions and set-piece prowess turned the game on its head. "Our bench timing really worked for us, especially the front row. Once we got scrum dominance, and with two fresh locks on, we got stronger and France got weaker," he noted.
André Esterhuizen's entry as a hybrid player was particularly effective, blending into the flank and backline roles as needed. The bench's impact was undeniable, sparking three tries in the last quarter of the game. Mallett also praised the backline's adaptability, noting Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu]'s smooth transition from flyhalf to fullback and Manie [Libbok]'s resilience despite a few hitches.
Mallett remains bullish about the Boks' prospects, dismissing concerns about upcoming matches against teams like Ireland, which recently suffered a defeat to New Zealand. "This team keeps winning when things go against them – the resilience, team spirit, the South Africanness of the group – playing for values bigger than themselves – is remarkable," he asserted.
As the Springboks continue their tour, the focus will be on squad management, player rotation, and maintaining their high performance levels, especially in upcoming matches where players like Handré Pollard will be returning to the fold.