Brian Mujati should be given another opportunity at tighthead prop in the South African rugby team, says former assistant Springbok coach Gert Smal.
Stephen Nell writes for Die Burger.
“Brian is a player for the future and combinations should be given an opportunity to become a solid unit. The more Test rugby Brian plays, the better he will become,” the former Springbok loose forward said here on Monday.
The Springboks, who face Wales in the second Test in Pretoria on Saturday, beat the Six Nations champions 43-17 in Bloemfontein last weekend. However, they were made to struggle in the front row and Test debutant Mujati was criticised for his performance.
“It was his first Test at tighthead,” said Smal, who coached the Springbok forwards during their successful World Cup campaign last year.
“There were also many stories in the news media about his father. I don’t know whether that might have had an influence.
“There may be one or two technical things that the Springboks can work on in the scrum but if you want to build combinations you must let the guys play together.
“To see how good someone is, you should let him play three or four matches,” Smal added.
Smal praised new national coach Peter de Villiers’s team for their performance in Bloemfontein.
“They played well, even though they had little time to prepare. This is good for SA rugby. It is important that they we maintain the World Cup momentum.”
Smal confirmed that he was weighing some coaching options. “There are opportunities for me in Ireland and France. It would be ideal to be a head coach again but I will consider a position as assistant coach of a top team.”
It was reported last weekend that Smal was a candidate for a job as assistant coach of the Irish team.
Smal had been interested in applying his knowledge in the Eastern Cape but submissions to SA Rugby’s managing director Jonathan Stones and SA Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins came to nothing.
“I had six months during which I could have done a lot in the Eastern Cape,” Smal said. “It seems as if politics are regarded as more important than rugby.
“I know a lot of things are happening but rugby does not have to stand still.”
Stones confirmed on Monday, through Saru’s communications chief Andy Colquhoun, that Smal had made a submission to him.
“Gert wanted a reply too soon. We were unable to meet his request in time,” Colquhoun said.
Smal said chances were good that he would move to the northern hemisphere soon but he hoped to apply his knowledge to SA rugby again in the future.
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I totally agree. If I remember correctly BJ didn’t exactly set the world alight on his Test debut!
Thought Gert was already appointed as the new Irish forwards coach… very nice job indeed if true…
Interesting that Smal offered his services to Eastern Cape rugby. 😯
I agree regarding Mujati. He has loads of potential and should be given another chance or three.
Not in the Tri Nations though)
Rightly criticised but I doubt I’d drop him all the same this next game…
If BJ is fit and we need him to be by the 3N… where do you put him… CJ is the super-sub capable of being either side and it’s too big an ask to have him (Mujati) there to cover both from the bench so how does one incorporate BJ into the side to get match-fit…
One look at the Kiwi front-rowers this weekend, all of them… in the tight and loose and it’s obvious we’re in for a world of hurt if we’re not at 110%…
I’d suggest our front-row stays the same this weekend… with BJ starting against the Itals and Mujati the super-sub… although again… CJ needs to get game time before the 3N too…
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 4) : BJ has to start if fit. CJ is the best bench option as he can cover both sides. So BJ is first choice, with Mujati covering if BJ is injured. CJ is on the bench either way. You can apply the same logic at loosehead with Beast and Gurthro
Yeah,blood the kid now.
But come the Tri-Nations, keep him off the park for his own good.
I agree bryce.
I don’t necessarily like CJ.
He seems to want to get too involved in off the ball incidents and needs to watch his temper.
Now BJ on the udda hand. Best TH prop in SA by a mile.
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 7) : until TGHMEA is fit 😉
I personally like tight forwards who have a bit of bastard in them.
Its the only thing lacking in Beast – hopefully he can overcome his niceness on the park.
I think EA is klaar wiff rugby hey Rob. 😥
Personally I still think JDP should be in the mix over Mujati and I don’t think Beast is ready for this level either… suppose in a way the Aussie’s are lucky they don’t have a Curry Cup… as they can blood their proper ‘A’ side (not their Emerging Wobblies…lol)…
If we had an ‘A’ team playing under current Bok structures in the Pacific Island comp the likes of Brian, Beast, JDP, Liebenberg, Brits etc would be getting a decent run and it would be easier to gauge where they are at rather than continuing to Cap newbies…
But it’s all a bit too logical for SARU… they’ll continue to waste funds on some kak ‘palooka-Euro-B-division’ comp…
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Arrent EA actually a loskop?
There was only ever one TGHM and he was QD…EA was a pretender
😆 Sauce
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 11) : The Eurovision Rugby Contest? 😉
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 11) : Bryce, I reckon Beast is ready for test rugby. He dominated pretty much everything that was thrown at him in the Super 14 and still kept up an immense workrate in the loose. What more can you ask?
QD can skaars make the 3rd team at Bellville Tech,but they let him play because he buys the beers.
PJLD
And to think he has a TN winners medal…
wpw….
Good a reason as any pjld
@Sauce (Comment 19) : Of course! 😉
I disagree…Mujati was a backtracker for most of the S14…his inclusion in the training squad would have been warranted by not in the Bokke final squad nor the match 22….
It was evident from his S14 “performances” that he would not do well…I mean any prop that goes backwards more times than forwards or even hold his ground CANNOT be a Bok prop…
He has cheapened the Springbok jersey.
I guess Smal did not watch much S14!??!
@Hmmm (Comment 21) : he was watching Magners League instead 😉
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
I agree….and he was stand out the best prop in general play…
And second best Loosehead behind Heinke when it came to scrummiging…
@robdylan (Comment 22) :
LoL…it would seem so….
I wonder whose opinion i should take seriously?
Hmmm – a regular blogger on rugby websites
Gert Smal – A former professional rugby player.
– Coached WP to 2 CC titles.
– Coached the Stormers to the S12 semis in 2004.
– Forwards coach of the World Cup Winning Springboks.
Eish, a difficult choice if ever there was one.
I think I’ll go with the latter. 😎
I’m not against giving the oke another chance…but I think we all knew before this game that we have better props that this dude. i don’t know what the coach sees in him but hopefully he’ll come right soon.
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 25) : 😛
It was one average game for goodness sake.
He is NOT our first choice tighthead and will in all likelihhod not even be in the 22 when the Tri Nations starts.
If I’m not mistaken BJ also took some time before he started playing well for the Boks.
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 28) : Correct… I don’t even think he’s our 2nd choice…but that’s subject to debate I guess.
This story shouldnt be about Brian Mujati – it should be about a coach, with the credentials as laid out by the Tankman, OFFERING his services to the Eastern Cape and SA Rugby’s pisspoor response. Good on you Gert Smal.
@Salmonoid (Comment 30) : Yebo ,Voldy reported on it a while back i think.
@Salmonoid (Comment 30) : That’s a good way to look at it…
I don’t know if it would’ve accumulated 300-odd comments…but yes maybe that’s the important bit of the story.
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 25) :
Most definitely the latter…
No doubt he has promise….and could one day become something….but he is not good enough to wear the Bokke jersey now…so I guess Smal and myself are saying the same thing…he never commented on his current performance though….which I did…
But lets be honest….he was average long before the test…any prop that goes backwards 14 times or so in 1 game cannot be considered for international side of a top flight rugby country…
Any prop worth looking at will at some stage stand his ground during a game like that….even BJ who I thought was brought into the Bokke too soon (and was very vocal about it on keo) in his first test managed to stand his ground on occasion…the last 2 games I have seen Mujati play he has gone backwards over 20 times in the scrum…and been average in the loose….on that basis alone he does not deserve to be in the 30 man squad….
I don’t need years of experience to no that we have a problem right there…
I will rather bring Sephaka back in his stead….not meaning this in disgrace of Sephaka…I am being serious….
#33
Please refer to comment # 25.
But seriously Hmmm,was his S14 that bad,after Moller went out he was left to scrum with Schalk”physique of a wing” Ferrerra and Brok “i can like to bench press alot” Harris ,then he had to play musical chairs in the scrum to make up for the other pansies and still the Stormers scrum did “ok”
@PJLD (Comment 35) :
Give up guys…..some people will believe whatever they want to believe even if what they don’t believe walked up to them and hit them over the head and said “Hello I am what you don’t believe and I am really true.”
@Dive Pass (Comment 36) : I should write that down
Ok. So now I’m officially confused after reading Dive Pass’ last comment.
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 34) :
Hey 16 Roller Tank…I did refer to that comment….actually my comment was in reply to that…
I agree…Mujati is a possibility for the future…not a Bok now….not at all…
@Hmmm (Comment 39) :
Now I am confused………the picture Hmmmm painted was so bad that the Stormer and WP should have dropped him yesterday and now he is a future Bok…..
@PJLD (Comment 35) :
No he was not that bad…if the conversation was around him being a future prospect I would have been in his corner…
He is NOOOO Bok now…
Come-on…you telling me there is no problem when a prop backtracks so many times….last 2 games he has not moved forward a centimeter in over 20 scrums…
And prior to that too excluding his minutes at the other side…
And no the Stormers scrum was not all that bad…vs the LIONS the other prop help his own and did not backtrack (ok the ugly model wannabe prop LIONS had on the other side is no powerhouse)…but when Mujati went off the Stormers scrums actually did better in that game….so you tell me!??!
@Dive Pass (Comment 40) :
Nope…
You read it wrong…I said any prop that backtracks that much in a season does not deserve a place in a top flight international side…
Never said he is no future Bok…and I never painted anything….just gave the facts on his scrummaging…he went backwards in his last 20 odd scrums…
Hmmm
You’ve continued to use the term ‘useless’ when refering to Mujati.
Many of us agree that he is not (or should not) be the 1st or even 2nd choice TH in the Bok squad.
He is however NOT useless and he could possibly play a role for the Boks in the not too distant future.
And I never compared him to any other props…
Merely making statements based on his performances….
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 43) :
No he is useless as an international player and has cheapened the Springbok jersey….that I am not moving away from….and does not deserve to be in the 30 man squad…
I had no beef when he was called up for the training squad…none…but when he made the last 30 I was appalled…
Two dif matters…
@Hmmm (Comment 42) :
It would appear your reality maybe frequently inaccurate….
@Dive Pass (Comment 46) :
Based on?
“I don’t believe it. Prove it to me and I still won’t believe it.”
Douglas Adams
@Hmmm (Comment 47) :
You memories of Mujati continuely going backward….
Groundhog day?
My sentiments exactly Salmonoid.
It is like in a business world…and I have an employee rated highly in his current position…that shows great potential (business sense, hard work, etc)…but we all know there is a lot more to the role than that….
Had I appointed him in the senior role I would most probably lose my job….and come under huge criticism…the same people that praised him at his current level will be ruthless of his ability in the current role…cozz he is just not good enough now…
Potential is one thing…ready is a completely separate issue…
Hmmm
You are entitled to your opinion. I for one can’t wait for Mujati to prove you wrong.
I’m done with this topic now…
Hmmm….where has Mujati gone backwards? Did you WATCH Super 14? Tell me which Super 14 opponent drilled him? I did not see all the games but the ones I did see, he certainly held his own and looked extremely promising as well as showing a decent work rate in the loose.
I admit he got a going over against the Welsh but it was the guys first test….give him time to prove himself. A lot of quality players take a few games to get used to international rugby. You can’t judge him on one test.
Talking about Sephaka, he was awful in his first few tests and then actually won Man of the Match in an away test against NZ and actually had a decent Tri Nations that season, before he went totally off the boil and wasn’t even good enough for provincial rugby! (probably more of an attitude problem)
guys – don’t enter an arguement with Hmmm unless you don’t mind losing it. He doesn’t let facts and reasoning get in the way of his bloody-minded rhetoric. Ever! 😉
@Hmmm (Comment 42) :
“just gave the facts on his scrummaging”
Sounds more like your opinion…
(Walk down the corridor)
M: (Knock)
A: Come in.
M: Ah, Is this the right room for an argument?
A: I told you once.
M: No you haven’t.
A: Yes I have.
M: When?
A: Just now.
M: No you didn’t.
A: Yes I did.
M: You didn’t
A: I did!
M: You didn’t!
A: I’m telling you I did!
M: You did not!!
A: Oh, I’m sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?
M: Oh, just the five minutes.
A: Ah, thank you. Anyway, I did.
M: You most certainly did not.
A: Look, let’s get this thing clear; I quite definitely told you.
M: No you didn’t.
A: Yes I did.
M: You didn’t.
A: Did.
M: Oh look, this isn’t an argument.
A: Yes it is.
M: No it isn’t. It’s just contradiction.
A: No it isn’t.
@robdylan (Comment 55) :
😆 Rob…just dig out this thread in 2 years time when Mujati is starring regularly for the Boks and everyone is singing his praises!
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 53) :
Me either….but I doubt that is going to happen soon…
@Villie (Comment 58) :
Nah Villie that wont help because Hmmmm mentioned it over and over and over that he actually does think that Mujati is one for the future but was not one of the current form tightheads.
@Villie (Comment 54) :
Heinke drilled Mujati in every single scrum….he went backwards in 14 or so scrums in that game alone…
On Saturday he went backwards…Wales had a left shoulder with every scrum when he was on…and that changed when CJ came on (and I have never praised CJ for his scrummaging abilities…he will struggle against the NZ …and at best hold his own)…his only bonus is his general play and that he can pack on both sides…
So what facts do you have…mine are that a prop that has gone backwards in the last 20 or so scrums in a row cannot be Bok quality…
@Villie (Comment 58) :
That is a huge possibility that that could happen….and I for one will be pleased if that the case…
But lets wait till then before we call him a Bok to….
@Hmmm (Comment 61) :
Broken record
Techniques > Resisting persuasion > Broken record
Method | Example | Discussion | See also
Method
When the other person repeats their request to you, simply repeat the same words of refusal.
You may have to do this a number of times, but eventually they will get the message.
You can add other words of acknowledgement, but
Example
Yes, I know it’s important, but I don’t want to go…Sorry, but I don’t want to go…I realize what it means to you, but I don’t want to go.
It’s too expensive…I know it’s good value, but it’s too expensive…I know about finance deals, but it’s too expensive.
Discussion
When a person is trying hard to persuade, they often do not really hear your refusal. At best, they may see it just as objection that can be overcome.
When you repeat the same words, the pattern-recognition ability of the brain eventually notices that something is being repeated here and the other person starts to take notice of what you are saying. When they realize they are bashing their head against a brick wall, they will eventually give up (with most people, this will be quite quickly).
The origin of the ‘broken record’ name is that a scratch in a (now old-fashioned) vinyl LP could cause it to repeat one section of the record time after time after time.
@Villie (Comment 54) :
Mujati does seem promising but nothing more at this stage….
Sephaka was his best in his first few test partnering Willie Meyer (his provincial team mate)…they were almost all we could be proud of in most games in that era…and I don’t know if it was co-incidence but when Willie retired due to a neck injury Sephaka’s form dropped…
@Dive Pass (Comment 63) :
Have you ever said anything that you have not copied from someone else!??!
When you done quoting…how bout you come out and lets talk…
@Hmmm (Comment 65) :
Plenty of original stuff my friend…don’t you know the difference?
@Hmmm (Comment 65) :
But you are right to keep up with your arguments by volume ….I do need to quote 😉
@Hmmm (Comment 61) :
Jissus mate, what Super 14 match did you watch because I certainly did not see that.
@MorneN (Comment 68) : Hmmm is right, Mujati went backwards at speed against most opponents this season. His head spent most time up his arse when playing against both the Beast and Heinke. This is not a new campaign for me, I have been saying that he is a very poor scrummaging tighthead since day one, and especially remember commenting on how poorly he scrummed against Beast when they played the Sharks.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 69) :
Take cover Hmmmm’s reinforcements have arrived………..
handbags again?
@Dive Pass (Comment 70) : Well let me throw it back at you, I have shown several examples where he went backwards. Show me any games where the Stormers got a real right shoulder with Mujati at tighthead. Didn’t happen.
I have shown where Mujati lacks, now all you Mujati defenders, give me specific examples of how he is a good player and an asset to the Boks. Poor scrummaging and invisibility around the pitch does not make a good prop.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 72) : unless you’re an Aussie 😉
@Dancing Bear (Comment 69) :
I did not concentrate so much against the Sharks. But I did against the Lions where such a big hoohaa was made about the Heinke/Mujati match-up – and obviously I watched something completely different on the day.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 72) :
Believe it or not I last week I was question Mujati ahead of BJ Botha…. I just believe you 2 are making him out worse then he was…. I mean in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King and in Stormers Mujati was their best prop ( That’s just to stop MorneN thinking I am actually on his side for once 😉 ) ….
@robdylan (Comment 73) : Donut Dunning!
@Dive Pass (Comment 75) : I understand DP, my only issue is that he is not ready for National colours yet. Any tighthead prop that gets penalized for scrumming in on his own put in needs to learn more about scrummaging. That is a u/11 mistake and should not be made by a provincial player let alone an international. That penalty was quite simply unacceptable. BJ has a tendency to scrum in and get penalized, but he has never done this on his own put in.
Still going…? 😯
@blackshark (Comment 78) : oh yeah. 42 kms, this one
@blackshark (Comment 78) :
Hey it’s only 78 comments so far…..but battle has been bloody 🙄
@Dive Pass (Comment 75) : The best defence i’ve heard for Mujati was he kept the scrum going while he had to scrum with the pansies.
😆 I’m sorry…but did the pansies actually do any scrumming or did they just stand there to complete the scrum? What if it was actually the pansies who made Mujati look good?
I can’t believe I’m on Hhhmmm’s side…but maybe Mujati should be with the Emerging Boks…for now. He shouldn’t even be on the Bok bench.
Hey I only joined 5 minutes ago, have been having the same argument elsewhere though but too tired to repeat it all.
Please… the dude can’t even keep up with the Joneses… 🙄
Stormer’s fans are the new Bull’s fans… it’s unbelievable… they all have that same glazed look Jaco V D Westhuizen had at the end of the S14 finals when he was dribbling and swinging from the crossbar… every time someone gives a bit of constructive criticism over Mujati or one of their other players… I’d never thought I’d see the day… insane…
Mujati should never have been capped for the Boks… not yet!
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 84) : oh please, we’ll never be that bad.
@molly (Comment 85) :
Have you seen PJLD’s pic Molly… LOL!
And Wes now call’s himself ‘The Tank’… PA has been seen talking in the third person in his posts… 😆
no worse than all the “shark_lover”, “sharkfans”, “madaboutsharks” nicks that I see around these days
🙂
why am I entering this debate… its just silly.
@molly (Comment 89) : like a moth drawn to the flame 😉
What wrong wiff my pic?
@PJLD (Comment 91) : I think it’s very pretty 😉
Why thank you Rob 😐
@PJLD (Comment 91) : they’re just jealous of us wp supporters 😉
I just want to point out that Mujati did return the penalty he gave away. thats it… thats all I’ve got to say.
Mostly cause I know squat-all about scrumming and the difference between LH and TH and scrumming in/down/up (is there out?) bla bla bla.
@MorneN (Comment 68) :
Stormers vs LIONS
@MorneN (Comment 74) :
If you don’t think that Mujati backtracked then you did…
On this site it was discussed a few times how Mujati backtracked in every scrum…
He went forward in one but it was a bad hit and was reset…so he went backwards in every ligit scrum….
Rasie even replaced him after 50 and put on your “pansies” (as DP calls them) in stead….and your scrum actually held better…
He went back in over 10 scrums by my calculation (which could be off) on the day…
@MorneN (Comment 74) :
Even Beast gave him stick…not as badly as Heinke did though…
go find something else to debate, you lot! This is tiring and getting us nowhere 😉
@robdylan (Comment 99) :
Why?
😯
I’m no major Mujati supporter,but I didnt see him get stuffed all season. I’m not saying he dominated, but he never got rolled back.
And lets settle this now – Heinke is useless around the park and was not nearly as good this season.
@Big Fish (Comment 101) : Hmmm does tend to watch a different game to the rest of us
Good morning everyone!
Round 2:
Hmmm
Mujati didn’t go backwards! 🙄
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 104) :
Morning Jaco…
Morning Bruce…
Mujati murdered that Welshman in the scrums hey. 😉 😆
:lol:Jaco… 😆 Morning guys…
I thought the comments were closed on this thing already…
Ah…what the heck…you lot will find a way to take it to another thread anyway…
I heard the tunnel-boring machine they are using for the Gau-train broke down and they’ve called Mujati to take over.
😆 blackshark
@wpw aka The Tank (Comment 110) : GAHHHH!
I think you should close off the comments on this thread Rob.
@wpw (Comment 112) : no… I will just trust you all 😉
Where is Hmmmm….. 😆
@Villie (Comment 114) : Don’t speak of the devil…he will make an appearance 😈
@Villie (Comment 114) : watching the lions game again
candy man candy man …..
@PJLD (Comment 116) : 😆 I think we can all guess which game …
@PJLD (Comment 117) :
😆
Is that the game where Mujati goes back 14 times? Or was it 20?
@wpw (Comment 119) : I think it was 124.