Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has backed current coach Heyneke Meyer NOT to rest his key players on the end of year tour, despite the risk of player burn-out.
Speaking to BallzRadio, Mallett said that the Springbok Tests should take precedence over the Currie Cup and Super Rugby, and said franchise coaches should take responsibility for managing players better. Mallett also praised Sharks Director of Rugby Brendan Venter as one of the few coaches using proper player rotation.
Sport24
Mallett said Meyer shouldn’t be responsible for resting players due to the negligence of franchise coaches.
“Our players play too much rugby, these players should be rested during the Super Rugby season.”
“Springboks shouldn’t be playing 13 Super Rugby games, they should be playing seven or eight and there should be a rotation policy.”
Mallett pointed out that key All Blacks had been given a three-week break from the ITM Cup in New Zealand, whilst the Springboks were expected to return for the Currie Cup semi-finals and final.
Mallett also said the national team should trump provincial rivalries.
“Heyneke Meyer has only got 12 games a year to keep his job. He understands perfectly well that his players should be rested, but he doesn’t want to take a weakened side over and suddenly lose to Wales and France because then his record won’t look good,” Mallett opined.
“I can sympathise with Heyneke because if he wins his three games on the end of year tour, then it will have been a good year.“
Mallett said he believed that until South Africa had a central contracting system like the All Blacks, and could enforce the rest and rotation of top players, they would continue to lag behind the world’s top-ranked team.
The Springboks face Wales on November 9 (kick-off at 19:30), followed by games against Scotland (November 17 at 17:00) and France (November 23 at 22:00).