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Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett was not overly impressed by the Stormers’ performance against the Sunwolves at Newlands last Friday.
The Stormers ran in seven tries to beat the Japanese team 46-17, but Mallett highlighted a few flaws in their game.
“This was a forgettable game for me. I know they scored seven tries, but the Stormers were not playing against a very good side,” Mallett said in the SuperSport studio afterwards.
“When you miss 30 out of 120 tackles - that’s one in every four attempts - make eight knocks, concede eight turnovers, make 11 handling errors and only have 40% territory and possession, it’s really not a good performance even though they scored all those tries of which most were long-range efforts and the rest individual brilliance.
“The Stormers don’t have a controlled, well-organised attack. Perhaps I’m nit-picking, but our sides won’t win against New Zealand sides while playing like that. It was fast and loose like touch rugby, lightweight.”
Mallett also noted that a lack of an out-and-out fetcher could cost the Cape side going forward.
“The Stormers had quite a few guys who went in for turnovers - Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Nizaam Carr and Siya Kolisi - but there’s no individual who is permanently making a nuisance of himself like an openside flank should.”
Mallett is also worried about the size of some of the Stormers’ outside backs.
“We musn’t underestimate the role (fullback) Riaan Viljoen played for the Sunwolves. The one thing we have to be a little nervous about was how easily he held off the Stormers wingers. Size is a big issue, they are absolutely brilliant going forward on attack, but there are question marks over the defence. There was Kobus van Wyk being handed off by Viljoen for a try.”
Mallett though was impressed by the performance of flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis, who started his first game at pivot for the Stormers.
“Du Plessis showed good physicality at the breakdown and he's not scared to tackle. I Ioved the accuracy of his passing and how he took the ball to the line. That pass to set up Notshe for the try was excellent. His first game couldn’t have been better.”
