/ 30 October 1997

Mallett gets tough on forwards

THURSDAY, 9.15AM:

FORMER Springbok prop Guy Kebble and former Northern Transvaal coach Chris Buitendach, who heped coach Nick Mallet with scrum work at Wednesday’s training session, said they were not very impressed with the Boks’ work rate.

They, however, believe that given more time, Springbok would be a formidable side. After the intense training Buitendach singled out tighthead prop Adrian Garvey as the man who can make things happen in the first Test against Italy in Bologna. “I don’t think Garvey’s technique is right, but that can be put right before the tests,” added Buitendach.

There was a healthy and good competition between the packs of forwards. “They are hungry to play and that’s why they will do well on the coming tour,” said Buitenbach about Boks pacey forwards.

Coach Mallett shouted at the players as another scrum collapsed: “Come on, you are wasting my time,” showing how determined he is to do well in the coming tour.

But with the overall perfomance of the team, Buitendach was not very impressed. “I’m not totally happy with what I saw today [Wednesday],” he said.