Springboks may hold back, says Nick Mallett who expects conservative RWC approach
Former coach predicts unusual South African tactics at Rugby World Cup following recent reversals
Former Springboks coach Nick Mallett said he expected South Africa to adopt a conservative game plan during the Rugby World Cup in England next month.
Mallett, speaking during a television panel discussion on Saturday after the announcement of the 31-man Springbok squad, said the team had played with an attacking, ball-in-hand strategy in Rugby Championship matches against New Zealand and Australia earlier this year – and lost both.
He said the squad selected, together with the tactics used in their most recent loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires, gave an indication of what could be expected at the World Cup.
Let’s hope their injuries are not going to curtail their performances in the World Cup [for South Africa]
"It will be a tactical game, which is basically a kicking game. It will be a conservative brand of rugby. We will play off turnovers, a great defensive system and good set pieces," said Mallett.
Uncapped scrum-half Rudy Paige was the shock inclusion in the squad after being ignored during four warm-up matches.
The 26-year-old Blue Bull is one of a record nine black players selected after the racial composition of the predominantly white Springboks recently became an emotive public and media issue in South Africa.
Fourie Du Preez, captain Jean de Villiers and number eight Duane Vermeulen all made the squad despite fitness issues. Mallett believed the team to be led by centre De Villiers was "a really good squad with lots of experience".
But he expressed concern about the large number of players who had been out of action for long periods, especially among the forwards.