Fiji fever hits Cape Town
19 Apr 2006
Western Province Director of Rugby Nick Mallett is in Fiji on a shopping expedition, confident of luring talented Fijian players to Cape Town.
Mallett confirmed to the Fiji Times that the province was looking at six players, between the age of 17 and 20, to relocate to the Western Province Academy and hopefully to play for Western Province, the Stormers and Springboks.
The Fijian factor is something Mallett has focused on for the past year and he also believes that if Auckland and the like can lure Fijian, Tongan and Samoan players then why can’t Cape Town?
It is an action that will no doubt be seen negatively by some, but it is one that should be applauded. It is long overdue and finally someone has done more than talk about it.
Australia and New Zealand have for years tapped into the Island resources, why not South Africa?
Mallett returns to South Africa at the weekend and he expressed confidence that there was enough talent to identify six promising players, who in three to five years could be playing for the Boks.
520 Comments
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19 Apr 2006, 10:52 am
Nick Mallet is gonna gets his hands burnt later on down the line….OOuch!
19 Apr 2006, 10:54 am
Whats the point of buying talented foreign players when you don’t have the coaching structures with which to fully exploit them??
19 Apr 2006, 10:54 am
Bigg
I’ve been a WP/Stormers supporter for almost 40 years.
It doesn’t mean I have to always take them seriously.
19 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
Any dark-skinned 16 year old Fijian player would have been regarded as just as “disadvantaged” as what any 16 year old pitch black native Zulu would have been at the time of their birth were such a Fijian to have had the misfortune to have been born in apartheid South Africa sixteen years ago
Of course they can therefore be quite rightly regarded as “quota” !
19 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
Ben M and Saffa Guy
I reckon we should have coaches for coaches i.e. more coaching acadamies, and that will help a **** load! Also reckon that we need a change in mindset, and play a more expansive type of rugby from junior level up, as that will force our players to put some time into practicing skills (kicking, passing, stepping)as opposed to spending the whole day in gym
19 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
well done mallett, so much for a director of rugby developing and spotting local tallent.
You just failed in your core function ….
19 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
I think this is fantastic.
Ja ja I know most islanders went to NZ when they were toddlers and learnt their rugby there – who cares.
At the moment WP and the stormers are in the kak and as other countries have seen by importing players, and here i’m talking mostly about the northern hemisphere sides, somehting gets injected into their rugby that they never had before and it has generally been for the better.
For those of you arguing that this is an insult to the coloured and black players in cape town i give you the middle finger salute – again i dont care.
The current black and coloured players (along with the white players in cape town) are just not performing and if you’re not the best and cant handle a bit of competition maybe you should look at another career.
So cry me a river why dont you. Its about time we stopped shetering players from competition and found out who really is worth their weight, be they whatever colour.
I for one just want to see less of the boring rugby evidenced in cape town over the last couple of seasons and more of the beautiful running rugby we are known for. If that takes a few fijians then so be it.
Maybe the Rose brothers and the likes in cape town would have fucked off earlier had this been the case and we would never have had the displeasure of their political and financial maneuvering.
19 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
Dingman the lineouts are a mess already, so what is new. Fresh blood and strong running big guys, beautifull, I love it.
19 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
Imagine Fester coaching a few Lomu’s. The Stormers will still play k*k … and i’m a Stormers supporter.
19 Apr 2006, 10:58 am
At the moment there is equality in SA rugby : every player is equally useless.
The game is professional now, and we may be looking at the start of major importing ala soccer.
After the weekends matches I couldn’t care less. In actual fact we should be fielding at least 10 Islanders in every S14 team. The tinkerbells playing now can f off and go and play in Korea and Russia.
Let the importing begin.
19 Apr 2006, 10:59 am
So SAFFA_GUY, in the prevailing spirit of reconciliation and toleration, what common ground can you identify on which the Stan’s and David’s of this microcosm knows as Keo.co.za can co-exist in harmony?
19 Apr 2006, 10:59 am
Saffa
With you on that one. I do not know why WP/Stormers, with all the funds they have, could not have picked a world class coach (just 1) instead of the 4 mediocre guys they now have.
19 Apr 2006, 11:00 am
saffa_guy
Good point. Look at what John Mitchell has done with the Western Force. Ok the results hasn’t come yet, but they are playing very competitive rugby. Compare that to what the Cats and Stormers are dishing up. Springbok players galore in both teams, but underperforming. Yes, maybe get a John Mitchell to coach a S14 team in SA.
19 Apr 2006, 11:01 am
Agreed bluebull,
This is the professional era and we have hundreds of thousands of saffas practicing their chosen careers overseas including sportsmen. Why should sa not be allowed to import back?
I also cant quite understand why everybody is scared of importing a few players from a tiny country that is ranked 9th or 10th in the world.
Its about time the local lads stepped up to the plate.
19 Apr 2006, 11:02 am
Straueli should take over the Stormers next year.
Look what he did at the Sharks this year.
19 Apr 2006, 11:03 am
I agree yoda. I think that to concentrate on the racial or nationality aspect is to miss the point. Even if Mallet was off to the Free State to scout for talent I would still think it a lousy idea. WP produces tons of talent (Im a Shark by the way) as do the other provinces and the problem is that we struggle to identify and nurture talent. The Sharks have learnt the hard way where this leads and the Bulls revival was built on identifying talented young players. If the head honcho at WP thinks the problem is talented players and not his staff, then heaven help the Mountain Goats.
19 Apr 2006, 11:07 am
I am just enquiring….
I still beleive its the wrong structure
19 Apr 2006, 11:07 am
Vinnie
We arent scared of it, I for one just think its ****** stupid getting these players to come play here. It wont make the slightest bit of difference, because playing in SA, their handling wont improve, and all that magic you see when wathing NZ teams wont happen because we dont play that brand of rugby in SA. O, and our coaches are stuck in the amateur era (when they all played) and still think what worked then will work now i.e. they are KAK!!!!!
19 Apr 2006, 11:08 am
Vinnie, I agree with you. It’s a professional game, you need to move with the times or get left behind.
19 Apr 2006, 11:09 am
Whilst we’re on the topic, if I was a super 14 coach I’d import:
1) Sumo wrestlers for props from Japan
2) Masia cattle herders from Kenya as line jumpers
3) Pygmees from somewhere in deep Africa as scrummies
4) Polinesians to make up the rest of the backline
5) Loosies I;m not sure about
19 Apr 2006, 11:10 am
At the end of the day…if the stormers win the CC with the Fijians, then lets see which stormers fan will be complaining…
19 Apr 2006, 11:10 am
Dingman,
what are you asking or saying?
19 Apr 2006, 11:11 am
This is fantastic!! Finally we’ll be seeing some innovative free running talented rugby players for a change. Unfortunately our coloured, black and white players are just not motivated or talented enough to hold a rugby ball (or kick a soccer ball for that matter). The Fijians will be a welcome breath of fresh air to the ranks of the sick, lame and lazies of South African rugby.
19 Apr 2006, 11:12 am
We have more than enough talented players in South Africa….he should be importing selectors and coaches !!!!!!!!!!!!!
19 Apr 2006, 11:12 am
Vinnie, nice stir, still you have a fair point, but when the boks take to the field in 5 years time will they be playing Nkosi or the fijian national anthem?
19 Apr 2006, 11:12 am
I wish I could take this story seriously but the idea of Nick trying to genetically re engineer the bloodlines of SA rugby players by introducing some PI blood is taking things a bit far.
19 Apr 2006, 11:12 am
Yoda,
NZ do have several quality coaching academies. Even some of our big name coaches are sent over there. Needless to say, they not gonna give away all their secrets to the competition …
19 Apr 2006, 11:14 am
Predawn #123 –
Can’t agree more
19 Apr 2006, 11:14 am
Saffa – Agree re Fester. Even if he had 5 carters & 10 Richie Mc Caws he would not win a game.
FESTER THANKS FOR ******* UP MY BELOVERED TEAM – NUMNUT.
19 Apr 2006, 11:14 am
Mullett is no different to other franchise coaches – apart from being a director . All franchises have raided the WC/Boland/EC to satisfy quota requirements , so raiding is perfectly acceptable .
Look outside the box gentlemen !!! How did most of you non indigenous types end up in Africa . Your lineage were inventive or inquisitive in disposition and explored . Is it any co incidence that the further you move away from africa (cradle of mankind) the more civilization took place .
Mullet is one of the men with that inquisitive disposition and hopefully it works for him and WP – remember in the corporate world , if you contain fixed (labour) costs , you add to the bottom line . Most of those South Sea Islanders cut sugar and are not particularly well paid .
Sebenzisa e mehlo wakho (Use / open those eyes)
19 Apr 2006, 11:14 am
Yeah Richard, and at the moment we are being left behind. At provincial level anyway.
Yoda, at least Mallett is trying new things. He obviously can see something is wrong and what we are currently doing isnt working.
As for Fijians not have ballskills they are consitently the best sevens side in the world.
I just dont see competition as a bad thing.
If it causes somebody like chavanga to go out and work that little bit harder then so be it.
The boys in the WP, and i specifically refer to guys liek shimange, jouba and co just arent performing and its not liek they havent had the opportunity. Shimange especially has had chances time and time again but hasnt delivered.
Its time for a lot of the boys to shape up and **** off and if it takes a few talented game-hungry islanders to make them realise this then maybe they shoudlnt be there in the first place.
As for talent in the western cape, yes there definately is but again these boys arent stepping up to the plate and putting their hand up.
19 Apr 2006, 11:17 am
Tackler can you confirm that in NZ if you coach any rugby team from School level you have to have a coaching diploma?????? Some of our 1st team coaches are just teachers and think they can coach. EG Wynberg Boys High my old school. The only professional coach they EVER employed was Basil Bey. Otherwise they just had Polden & Kriel.
19 Apr 2006, 11:17 am
Predawn
I agree, this is great for South Africa. Now for a Harbajan or Murilitheran in our cricket. Come now Micky follow Mallets example.
19 Apr 2006, 11:18 am
Check out http://www.internationalrugbyacademy.com as an example of a quality NZ coaching academy. Its like the Oxford/Harvard for coaches.
19 Apr 2006, 11:18 am
Saffa
So why, WHY!!! doesnt SA have this kind of thing? We have the most rugby players in the world and yet we perform like ****. This must be the problem, and I cant understand that money is not being put into this worthy cause.WTF????
19 Apr 2006, 11:20 am
zinto,
Our cricket needs only 2 changes.
A new coach and a new captain.
19 Apr 2006, 11:23 am
Why is he going to the Islanders, he should be innovative. I think S.A should seriously look at importing rugby players from our own backyard…Africa. If you look at the genetic build of Nations like Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory coast, congo..These guys are impressive natural athletes. Leanmuscle mass, natural strength, good height, big strong upper legs and calves. Yes, most of the people play soccer and have never played rugby. But we can bring them over at a young age and give them the exposure. I am sure they will produce some great rugby players
19 Apr 2006, 11:23 am
Yoda,
Understand your frustration. Surely its clear as day to the sport’s top management – i.e. SARFU Executive Management.
I sometimes wonder what the findings of the Accenture investigation/report into SA rugby were. True business principles being applied to sport. Would have made for interesting reading.
19 Apr 2006, 11:24 am
Zinto / Vinnie / Yoda / Bigg
Ha ha ha ! With names like these you should all fit in nicely in a Mafia movie !
19 Apr 2006, 11:24 am
Boys,
The days of the ossewa are about as far gone as the style of rugby played in SA at the moment.
The forward dominating maul has been laregly defeated by better tactics from the oppo and a change in the law books.
But can you imagine a bit of fijian spark behind the bulls pack?
I think we just dont have all the answers in SA. We have only one style of play and that it.
When looking at club rugby in the uk for example, you see a miriad of influences in the clubs and this can only be good for rugby in the uk, as it evidently has been since rugby went pro.
I feel it short-sighted, albeit very romantic, to entertain the notion that a whole team of wonderkid players are busy practicing on the dusty street of the cape flats just waiting for a call-up to the provincial team. There may be one or two quality players coming through the ranks every few years but nothing liek the flood of players everyone would like to believe. Is it genetics? Laziness maybe? I dont but the point is WP rugby needs a sprak injected and big up to Nicky for thinking out of the box and at least going to look instead of sitting on his hands wishing things better.
19 Apr 2006, 11:24 am
Stan
Are you a Mackenzie man or a Benkenstein man . My choice would be Benkenstein , but I think the fact that dad Martin , played for Rhodesia , is perhaps being whispered in certain corridors . Martin did well to send all 3 boys to DHS – the leading producer of Springbok and more recently Protea cricketers .It is a travesty that Dale has not played consistently for SA and captained us .
19 Apr 2006, 11:26 am
It doesn’t matter how many talented rugby players WP will get. Kobus van der Merwe can’t coach anyway. Until he leaves, WP rugby will be in the doldrums.
19 Apr 2006, 11:27 am
Are we talking about school coaches??? My Std9 coach was useless. We didn’t have anybody (read male…) teachers to coach so they asked the ‘bybel onnie’ if he could lend us a hand. The doos knew nothing about rugby and copied things he read from magazines and books onto his hands to ‘coach’ us… We soon learned to ignore the plank and just play. We went to the finals that year but got our asses handed to us then. The ‘coach’ only drove the ‘bussie’ to matches… Kind of like Uncle Fester and Fransie…
19 Apr 2006, 11:27 am
Rudebud – LOL S&*% it does look real
19 Apr 2006, 11:27 am
Vinnie
Youre missing my point. The fact that they are such great handlers of the pill, is directly linked to the brand of rugby they play. They play a very expansive game and that is how they learn those skills. If ,however, they were sent to SA, they will not be playing that expansive brand of rugga and therefore their skills wont be developed as it is when they play either in the islands or NZ, because we play “safety first” type of rugga. Thus they will be no differnt than the players that we have in our country. We should rather be concentrating on developing coaches on ALL levels of the game, because that is where SA is truelly lacking
19 Apr 2006, 11:28 am
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This actually makes more sense to me.
19 Apr 2006, 11:29 am
yoda,
I would agree if it was HM recruiting for the bulle but dont forget WP play a very open traditional game. Well they did when they used to get some ball anyway…
19 Apr 2006, 11:29 am
Madie one only has to walk through Hillbrow to find these guys. They’re standing on every street corner.
19 Apr 2006, 11:30 am
Vinnie
You epitomise what is wrong SA rugby.
What on Earth makes you think their is a vast pool of world class players in the PI waiting to be signed up by rugby scouts?
If the current mob of coaches can’t get their own people to perform, what chance do you really think they will have managing someone from Tonga.
Looking for quick fixes is not the answer. All it will do is extend the misery!
19 Apr 2006, 11:31 am
Bigg: Mafia Names
Cousin Vinnie
Mr Bigg
Yoda the Gun
Zinto Fast Finger
Lol !
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