by Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett says the Sharks tight
five raised the white flag in the second half of their PRO14 Rainbow Cup SA
loss to the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
The game was seemingly in the balance with the Bulls leading
12-9 at half-time before the hosts ran in four second half tries to win 43-9.
Speaking in the SuperSport studio, Mallett noted the impact of
Springbok props Lizo Gqoboka and Trevor Nyakane as being pivotal in the turnaround.
Loosehead Gqoboka dominated national team-mate Thomas du
Toit at scrum time and there was one particular scrum surge which led to the
penalty that swung momentum into the home side’s favour.
He then made a couple of prominent carries, before
brilliantly diving over from close range to score the Bulls’ opening try.
Nyakane was less spectacular but brought stability to the
set-piece and worked hard on defence as the Sharks eventually capitulated to
hand the Bulls a bonus-point win.
“We saw the arrival of Trevor and Lizo and there was a change in plan. Their
driving maul suddenly got some purchase, they dominated in the scrums and won
three penalties, and we saw them with more possession,” Mallett said.
“When they (the Bulls) got to 19-9 ahead, they played more
ambitiously and came out of their shells to score three tries in the last 10
minutes. There was the superb line by (Elrigh) Louw that led to a great try by (Stravino)
Jacobs in the corner. Then the 20m driving maul try, and then another walk-in
try at the end.”
Mallett said the Sharks should be disappointed with their
tight five’s efforts.
“The white flag went up. We need to ask questions about the
replacements in the tight five. Ox (Nche) and (Thomas) du Toit held up but as
soon as they went off the Sharks fell away.
“The Bulls slow poison can really drain a pack of forwards.
They’d given up, there was no fight left. The Bulls comprehensively outplayed
the Sharks’ loose forwards, but when the tight five are dominated the loose forwards
disappear.”
Mallett also heaped praise on Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn’s man-of-the-match
performance.
Steyn’s boot kept the Bulls ahead in a tight first half and
in the end he slotted all seven of his kicks at goal.
“That is what experience gives you. Morne is not known as an attacking
flyhalf, but today we saw him take it flatter behind the first pod of forwards
and find (Cornal) Hendricks with his passes,” Mallett said.
“There was a moment when Morne wasn’t looking at the ruck,
his head was already turned to find the next running option. It’s a good lesson
for any young flyhalves.
“He’s moving into position and looking at the defence and
his own men and picking the option to hit. It looked like training ground
rugby.”
