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Mordt: Coetzee made wrong selections

Cape Town - Former Springbok wing Ray Mordt believes current coach Allister Coetzee has missed a trick with his selections.

After the Boks’ humiliating 57-15 loss to the All Blacks in Durban last weekend, Coetzee said he will have to be patient with his players.

“If there are players out there who can strengthen the squad we will certainly have a look at that, but I can guarantee you that there are not many out there," the Bok coach said.

Mordt though disagrees.

“He clearly doesn’t see what the rest of us can see,” Mordt told Netwerk24, calling for the inclusion of players like Seabelo Senatla, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Francois Venter and Malcolm Marx.

“I believe some of the coaches are too afraid to pick some of the promising young players. I would also like to know what the situation with someone like Senatla is. Do they only view him as a sevens player, because if that’s the case, then it’s a mistake. The guy can play rugby and could make a big impact in the 15-man code.

“Allister erred from the start with his selections against Ireland. Here at home he should have shown more courage with his selections.”

Mordt used 1995 World Cup winning coach Kitch Christie as an example of a man who was no shy to drop older players.

“It doesn’t help to only pick experienced players. When things didn’t always go so well at Transvaal, Kitch Christie would on the odd occasion call us together and talk about the story of the dog.

“He said if you had a dog that you love very much but is about 15 years old and not as lively as before, then some day you have to take the decision to put it down.

“He told us there were some of us who needed to be put down in rugby terms to make way for younger players. Allister will also have to make this decision to put down some of his older men,” said Mordt.

Mordt, who played 18 Tests for the Boks between 1980 and 1984, also feels Coetzee should rope in advice from the likes of Nick Mallett, Gert Smal, Johan Ackermann and John Mitchell to work out a proper strategy.

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