Nick Mallett urges SA Rugby to assist Kings
FORMER Springbok coach and TV pundit Nick Mallett has appealed to SA Rugby to boost the Southern Kings with quality players ahead of Super Rugby next year.
SA Rugby is bankrolling the Kings and providing the vital budget needed for them to sign players.
So far the Kings have announced the signing of 19 players, and the only new face is former Namibian test fullback Chrysander Botha.
The remaining players played for the Kings in either the Currie Cup Premier Division or Super Rugby last year, when they struggled to make an impact.
“What is important is that the Kings are supported by SA Rugby in that talent must be directed in their direction because it is very difficult to be competitive if lots of players are leaving every single year,” Mallett said.
“So this might be a problem area for Super Rugby next year and SA Rugby must make sure that the coach at the Kings [Deon Davids] has the talent at his disposal to make it a competitive side because my belief is that the other South African teams are going to be reasonably competitive next year.”
Mallett paid tribute to the way the Lions had turned their fortunes around after they were out of Super Rugby in 2013.
“A few years ago the Lions were no-name brands and out of Super Rugby but recovered through belief in their coaching staff and their systems, and the confidence the coaches showed in the players.
“The Lions have come through and played in the final of Super Rugby. I’m not sure if this Cheetahs side can go that far that quickly, but that same principle applies.
“If the players are happy and well coached, they will carry on being committed to that coach,” Mallett said.
“Bulls coach Nollis Marais is into his second year and the players are responding well to his systems.
“At the Stormers, Robbie Fleck has the philosophy to play this type of rugby, and Robert du Preez and Gary Gold will be trying to implement the same sort of thing at the Sharks.
“From a Super Rugby point of view we have coaches who can really help their squads develop, and the Kings must be supported by SA Rugby.”
Last week, the Kings Super Rugby squad started to take shape when they announced 12 new signings.
Ten of the new signings played for the Kings in the Currie Cup Premier Division and the newcomers are Botha and lock Cameron Lindsay who missed last season because of a knee injury.
Lindsay, however, played for the Kings previously.
The other new signings announced were Johann Tromp, Sampie Mastriet, Waylon Murray, Berton Klaasen, PieterSteyn de Wet, Ricky Schroeder, Schalk Ferreira, Justin Forwood, Mike Willemse and Martin Bezuidenhout.
They join Louis Fouche, Thembelani Bholi, James Hall, Malcolm Jaer, Tyler Paul, CJ Velleman and Siyanda Grey who had been signed earlier.
SA Rugby must make sure that the coach at the Kings has the talent at his disposal to make it a competitive side