In the wake of criticism targeting Springboks' Salmaan Moerat for his performance against Italy, despite leading the team to a 45-0 win, former Boks coach Nick Mallett has stepped up to bat for the second-rower. Moerat, who also captains the Stormers, has been under fire from fans but Mallett points out the essential qualities Moerat brings to the table, which align with coach Rassie Erasmus's strategy.
Mallett, speaking on the Talking Boks podcast, emphasized the gritty, behind-the-scenes work Moerat excels at. "When he plays a really good game for the Stormers, you’ll see that he’ll have made 15, 16 clean outs of rucks," Mallett noted, highlighting Moerat's prowess in the less glamorous aspects of the game.
"He’s very, very good at stopping mauls"
Mallett added, drawing a parallel to the aggressive play style of legendary Bok Bakkies Botha.Focusing on Moerat’s defensive skills, Mallett pointed out, "His tackling is one of his great strengths. I mean, it’s why he’s knocked himself out so many times, because he actually just launches himself into guys from the waist down and occasionally gets his head on the wrong side."
While acknowledging that Moerat is not typically the go-to for ball carrying or primary lineout jumping, Mallett stressed his essential role at the front of the lineout. "You can't have two guys like RG Snyman playing lock. Who's going to get the ball for you?" he questioned, reinforcing the need for Moerat's 'workhorse' role.
Beyond his on-field contributions, Moerat’s leadership qualities were also highlighted by Mallett, who sees parallels with former Bok captains Gary Teichmann and John Smit.
"He’s been captain all his life"
Mallett remarked, underlining Moerat’s deep-rooted leadership experience from school to senior professional levels.Mallett concluded by stressing the importance of recognizing Moerat's tactical contributions and leadership, especially considering his potential as a future captain for the national team, provided he maintains his fitness. This defense of Moerat by Mallett underscores the complexity and often unappreciated aspects of rugby, where every player's contributions, visible or not, form the backbone of the team's strategy and success.