Frans has that Bok look about him
FRANS MALHERBE looks like a fellow with a new lease on life.
He looks like a guy who is enjoying his rugby again, and appreciating every minute on the field after a couple of nasty, injury-ridden years.
He looks like that baby-faced Stormers tighthead prop who was so highly rated in his first few seasons in Super Rugby. He looks hungry. He looks like a Springbok.
Certainly, the Stormers medical team need a bit of a mention here, because they are partly responsible for Malherbe’s resurgence, as well as Steven Kitshoff ’s form in Super Rugby this year. Both struggled with various injuries and form over the last couple of seasons, but both are playing the rugby of their lives.
They look leaner, but they are definitely a lot more meaner as most of their opponents have found out this season. But technically, forwards coach Matt Proudfoot has also done a hell of a good job with the both of them.
Malherbe, one of the more understated fellows in the Stormers side, has made a few big statements on the field over the last month or so. And he is surely in line to anchor the Bok scrum at the World Cup later this year.
However, the big No 3 is just happy to be fit and playing rugby again.
“I have been on the sidelines a lot over the last two years, which is more than I would have liked,” Malherbe said yesterday. “It’s awesome to get some form back and it’s great to be starting a few games back-toback.”
Malherbe has been fighting it out with this season’s surprise package Vincent Koch for the No 3 berth.
Koch was in devastating form while Malherbe was still making his way back from injury at the start of the season, and demolished the teams he played against. But since Malherbe made his way back to form, Koch has been used as an impact player in the second half because of his high workrate and his ability to make a few metres with ball in hand.
In essence, the two really complement each other nicely, but both are extremely good in their primary role of anchoring the scrum.
“The competition is big,” Malherbe said of his battle with Koch.
“A guy like Vincent is a very good player and the competition brings out the best in you. He is a very talented guy and it gives you a lot of confidence because he has my back.”
The Stormers’ scrum has been the main reason why they are in a shout to finish second on the overall standings at the end of the league season. But it has taken some of the attention away from their struggles on attack and at lineout time.
The Stormers have managed to win a plethora of penalties at scrum time. But they haven’t quite taken advantage of this, as their lineout has been poor when they kick the ball out from from a penalty.
In the past, backs coach Robbie Fleck has also spoken about the team struggling to get going from the scrum platform on attack because “they aren’t quite used to their scrum going forward”.
But still, it’s better than not getting any advantage from their dominance.
“The guys like myself, Kitsie and Scarra (Ntubeni) have been playing together for a few years and it feels like it’s coming together,” Malherbe said.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, and we have been training a lot more. It’s process of putting in the hard yards. We have been working hard on it last year as well, and now we are reaping the fruits.
“The scrum has been good, and a dominant scrum helps a lot in the game. I think we have got a lot of penalties.
“It really helps to get the forwards more involved in the game as well. And it helps in terms of territory, because you can kick it out 40 metres every time you get a penalty.”
Malherbe, though, is expecting a big scrum effort from the Rebels on Saturday, as they try and combat the Stormers’ biggest strength.
Over the years there has been a perception that the Aussies aren’t as good as the New Zealand teams in this set piece, but Malherbe says it’s a myth.
“The perception is that the Aussies are weaker at scrum time, but that’s not the case. But you get very good scrumming sides from Australia, and the Rebels will be dangerous.”