Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has thrown his support behind Salmaan Moerat, comparing the gritty lock to the legendary Bakkies Botha. Despite leading the Springboks to a commanding 45-0 thrashing of Italy in Port Elizabeth, Moerat's performance was still scrutinized by social media armchair critics. Yet, Mallett has come out swinging, defending Moerat's less glamorous but crucial role on the field.
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'He does the dark arts. He does the hard work,'
Mallett explained during an interview on Talking Boks. While Moerat may not dazzle with flashy ball carries or dominate the lineout stats, his real contribution lies in the trenches. According to Mallett, a standout game for Moerat at the Stormers involves him making upwards of 15 clean-outs at the ruck. He's the enforcer, much like Botha was, powering through mauls and diving into low tackles."Despite facing setbacks due to injuries since his Test debut in 2022, Mallett remains confident in Moerat’s ability to excel with more consistent playtime. He emphasized the necessity of Moerat's role, stating, "
'You can’t have two RG Snyman-type locks in the same team. Someone has to do the graft. Moerat does that.'
"Beyond just his physical gameplay, Moerat’s leadership has been lauded by Mallett, noting his impressive track record of captaincy from his school days at Paarl Boys’ right through to the SA U21 team. Mallett remarked, "He’s a remarkable person. He’s been a captain at every level and commands real respect from teammates. That matters."
As the Boks gear up for their next challenge against Japan in Brighton, the focus will undoubtedly be on how Moerat continues to develop his role within the team, proving that the dark arts of rugby, though less visible, are just as vital to the game.