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Cape Town - Nick Mallett says Western Province should consider giving Kurt Coleman a run at flyhalf in the Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions at Newlands this Saturday.
Demetri Catrakilis started in the No 10 jersey in the past weekend's 31-23 semi-final win over the Blue Bulls. He contributed 16 points with the boot as WP defeated their old rivals for a third straight time in this year's Currie Cup.
However, Mallett believes Coleman has the ability to bring the best out of WP's dangerous outside backs like Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla and Kobus van Wyk.
Speaking in the SuperSport studio after the game, the former Springbok coach said:
"Western Province went into this game with Demetri Catrakilis - who is a great tactical, territorial kicker, but he's not a guy who gets the best out of his backline. Kurt Coleman gets the best out of his backline.
"So if you're wanting to play an attacking, ball-in-hand game and make use of Seabelo Senatla and Kobus van Wyk, you've got to have a flyhalf that can actually threaten the defence, which (Handre) Pollard can, Coleman can, Pat Lambie can, Morne Steyn can't and neither can Catrakilis."
Mallett also expects the WP pack to struggle up front and believes the only way for them to emerge victorious is if they play to their strengths by attacking from the back.
"The biggest problem that Province have got heading into the final is that both front rows that the Lions will field - the first-half and second-half front rowers - are all better than the Province front rowers. Province struggled against the Bulls and the Bulls struggled against the Lions. If Province don't get good scrum ball, and their lineout continues to be a little bit dicey, they have to use every ball that they get to the best of their ability to score tries," stressed Mallett.
"You can't play a territory game and play a set piece to set piece game, unless you're dominating the set piece. No matter who they pick for the final, they're not going to beat the Lions by playing a negative, territorial-based strategy. They're going to have to beat the Lions by exploiting turnover ball to the best of their abilities.
"Given a good referee, we're going to see a really good game of rugby. I can't see the Lions changing the way they play. Province are going to need to counter-attack from the back - hopefully they'll give Coleman a run - and we're going to see a fantastic final."
Saturday's final at Newlands is scheduled to kick off at 17:00.
Demetri Catrakilis started in the No 10 jersey in the past weekend's 31-23 semi-final win over the Blue Bulls. He contributed 16 points with the boot as WP defeated their old rivals for a third straight time in this year's Currie Cup.
However, Mallett believes Coleman has the ability to bring the best out of WP's dangerous outside backs like Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla and Kobus van Wyk.
Speaking in the SuperSport studio after the game, the former Springbok coach said:
"Western Province went into this game with Demetri Catrakilis - who is a great tactical, territorial kicker, but he's not a guy who gets the best out of his backline. Kurt Coleman gets the best out of his backline.
"So if you're wanting to play an attacking, ball-in-hand game and make use of Seabelo Senatla and Kobus van Wyk, you've got to have a flyhalf that can actually threaten the defence, which (Handre) Pollard can, Coleman can, Pat Lambie can, Morne Steyn can't and neither can Catrakilis."
Mallett also expects the WP pack to struggle up front and believes the only way for them to emerge victorious is if they play to their strengths by attacking from the back.
"The biggest problem that Province have got heading into the final is that both front rows that the Lions will field - the first-half and second-half front rowers - are all better than the Province front rowers. Province struggled against the Bulls and the Bulls struggled against the Lions. If Province don't get good scrum ball, and their lineout continues to be a little bit dicey, they have to use every ball that they get to the best of their ability to score tries," stressed Mallett.
"You can't play a territory game and play a set piece to set piece game, unless you're dominating the set piece. No matter who they pick for the final, they're not going to beat the Lions by playing a negative, territorial-based strategy. They're going to have to beat the Lions by exploiting turnover ball to the best of their abilities.
"Given a good referee, we're going to see a really good game of rugby. I can't see the Lions changing the way they play. Province are going to need to counter-attack from the back - hopefully they'll give Coleman a run - and we're going to see a fantastic final."
Saturday's final at Newlands is scheduled to kick off at 17:00.
