Former Bok coach questions Sharks' flyhalf substitution
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Robert Du Preez’s decision to substitute Aphelele Fassie has come under scrutiny.
Following the Sharks’ 17-30 defeat to the Hurricanes on Saturday, former Springboks head coach Nick Mallett criticised the substitution of try scorer Aphelele Fassi by the Durban-based franchise coach Robert du Preez just before the hour mark.
Du Preez brought in his son Robert Du Preez Jnr at flyhalf and shifted Curwin Bosch to fullback.
Fassi was tremendous on attack, the fullback made 85 metres and 10 carries before he left the field after in the third quarter.
“He had a good game but was taken off after his first mistake of the match, a knock-on,” said the coach who took the Springboks to third at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in England.
Du Preez Snr. has come under frequent media fire this season for introducing his son, particular because Bosch – widely regarded as a much better playmaker than Du Preez – has to shift to fullback with Fassi benched.
A Durban daily recently accused coach Du Preez, who has two other sons in the Sharks team, of “nepotism”.
Mallett also slammed the Sharks and Hurricanes captains Louis Schreuder and TJ Perenara for their leadership performance during the match he labelled ‘unpleasant bad-tempered’.
“It was an unpleasant, bad-tempered affair with the rival captains [TJ Perenara and Louis Schreuder] setting a poor example through constant chirping,” said the TV analyst.
“Once you match the Sharks physically, they are in trouble,” said Mallett. “The Hurricanes had skill and physicality and superior game management so they won.”
The Hurricanes were far too physical at times with Vaea Fifita red-carded five minutes from time for a late, dangerous tackle on rival loose forward Daniel du Preez.
There was also a mini-brawl as the match drew to a close, which ended without any players being punished as the Australian referee blew for full-time.
A Juan Schoeman try for the home side helped narrow the gap to just three points before the Hurricanes regained control and scored 10 unanswered points.
Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape and South Africa-born Wes Goosen scored a try each for the Wellington outfit, who won the competition for the only time in 2016.
The other 15 points came from the boot of All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett with three conversions and three penalties from seven shots at goal.
Fassi and Schoeman were the Sharks’ try scorers and Bosch slotted two conversions and a penalty.
Agence France-Presse
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