Mallett cheers Italian moxie
2 Feb 2008
Italy coach Nick Mallett was not happy with Saturday’s loss to Ireland but commended his side for their tenacity on defence.
The 16-11 scoreline suggests a close match, but it has to be said the Irish were hopelessly out of sorts. Eddie O’Sullivan’s side missed several try-scoring chances in the first half, a fact Mallett was quick to acknowledge after the match.
“I didn’t enjoy the first half. I thought we were comprehensively outplayed and were lucky only to have one try scored against us,” said Mallett.
The former Springbok coach did see potential in the Azzuri side and took heart from the way they improved in the second period.
“We needed to tighten up in the second half and we were better defensively. I didn’t think we deserved to win but I’m proud of the way we defended and we put together some good passages of play.”
Ireland will need to sharpen up significantly if they are going to compete for the crown, and O’Sullivan admitted all that can be taken from this fixture was the win.
“Maybe it wasn’t the performance I wanted, but sometimes you have to win ugly and today we dug out an ugly victory,” he said.
7 Comments
2 Feb 2008, 20:58 pm
Maybe off the topic , KEO please report on this later.
Dont think many of you listenned to the SABC2 news just before the England game.
Another storm in SA rugby over broadcast rights
February 02, 2008, 15:30
Another storm is brewing in South African rugby. This time it’s about a new broadcast rights deal announced yesterday.
According to a statement SA Rugby and Supersport have entered into a multi million rand broadcast rights transaction which extends to 2015. Although no details have been issued it is believed that the transaction, which is effective from 2011, is worth R670 million of which R30 million has to be paid up front. SA Rugby MD Jonathan Stones says the deal had the full and unanimous backing of the board and that he personally obtained the consent of the members of the presidents council.
However, two provinces, Western Province and the Eastern Province Rugby Union, earlier objected about the manner in which the deal had been concluded as they were only consulted after the deal had been signed. In a letter written in December last year, Western Province president Tobie Titus said his union reserved its rights concerning the matter while Eastern Province co chairperson Pat de Silva and Cheeky Watson said that they had never seen business conducted in this manner. They said the market should have been explored and all broadcasters be given an opportunity.
Last night Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile said he had been in confrontation with the South African Rugby Union about broadcast rights since the days of Louis Luyt in 1994. Stofile said the majority of South Africans don’t have access to pay channels and cannot watch rugby games on TV. SARU president Oregan Hoskins and SA Rugby Board chairperson Mpumelelo Tshume could not be reached for comment.
2 Feb 2008, 21:09 pm
I smell a fish!!! Wonder how many $$$ is going into Hoskins and Tshume’s pockets. Do you remember the ABSA/soccer deal?
2 Feb 2008, 21:13 pm
w w w.sabcnews.com/sport/rugby , more sh…..
We are lulled, hope thats the right word , watch the interview on SABC2 , remove the spaces between the www,s
3 Feb 2008, 04:05 am
Mallett’s Azzuri should have been able to edge past the Irish.
3 Feb 2008, 08:31 am
Ireland for 4th
3 Feb 2008, 10:56 am
One of the most boring games I’ve seen … couldn’t watch until the end.
3 Feb 2008, 22:16 pm
agreed kaksioex… Like watching boring green and blue paint dry.
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