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Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has offered Eben Etzebeth some advice after the Stormers lock was yellow-carded in last Friday’s Super Rugby clash against the Blues.
Etzebeth was sent to the sin-bin in the 20th minute of the match at Newlands after becoming involved in a scuffle.
Replays showed Etzebeth raising his hand into Akira Ioane’s face, with the Stormers enforcer sent off for 10 minutes.
Etzebeth returned to produce a stellar performance and helped his side to a 30-22 win, but Mallett has called for the player to not get involved in off-the-ball scuffles.
“When Etzebeth came back on the field, he concentrated on taking the ball up with huge intensity and physicality and he won the contact battle by knocking Blues players backwards in the tackle,” Mallett said in the SuperSport studio at the weekend.
“Someone should advise him that he is going to be niggled by the opposition all the time because they know he reacts quickly. He should just put his hands up, turn around and walk away. Rather get angry inside yourself, so that the next time you carry the ball up or hit a ruck you really make them feel it. But all this pushing and shoving, where no one actually gets hit because it’s not a proper fight, is just a total waste of time.”
