Bok scrum coach Matt Proudfoot has likened the influence of Beast Mtawarira to that of legendary prop Os du Randt, writes CRAIG LEWIS.
Du Randt formed part of the Springboks’ successful World Cup-winning squad in 1995, but his colourful career appeared set to come to a premature end when he decided to retire in 2000 as a result of ongoing injury problems.
However, Du Randt cemented his legendary status when then-Bok coach Jake White eventually coaxed him out of Test retirement, with the veteran loosehead prop going on to start all seven games in the Springboks’ victorious 2007 World Cup campaign at the age of 35.
Some 10 years later, and the Boks have a ‘new’ gnarly stalwart in the front row, with Mtawarira now just five matches away from his 100th Test appearance.
At 32, Mtawarira has wound back the years to continue making an impression at the highest level, with Proudfoot highlighting the importance of his role in a largely new-look Bok pack.
‘I’ve said it from last year, a guy with 95 Tests caps just brings so much wealth of experience. He’s the most experienced South African prop of all-time. Os du Randt won two World Cups, and they’re pretty much similar types of players. You can’t chuck that sort of player away.
‘When Jake went and fetched Os out of retirement to come back for the 2007 World Cup, he was incredible. The front row is about experience, about learning, because every scrum presents you with a different challenge, and you only pick that up by learning the trade at the coalface.’
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Proudfoot said Mtawarira continued to set the standard for others to follow.
‘I think Beast is comfortable with where he is, he’s such an integral figure in the team. When he stands and talks, guys listen. And I think the way Steven [Kitshoff] has dovetailed with him has been incredible … Beast is really focused on what he wants to achieve, and he’s met the parameters that Allister set out at the beginning of the year about conditioning and work rate. He’s taken that on board at his age and looked to match the younger guys.
‘When a senior guy sets that sort of standard, then it’s easy for the youngsters to follow. That’s leadership, so I’m very proud of what he’s achieved, not just with his scrummaging, but with his defensive play and his passing ability, which he has as a former back-row player.’
Mtawarira will look to once again lead the Boks’ scrum in the right direction against the All Blacks this Saturday, with Proudfoot suggesting that they would need to be prepared for absolute brutality at this set piece.
‘When an opposition front row presents you with a problem, you need to adapt quickly because errors at set-phase time can cost you games, so we needed to adapt quicker [against Australia last Saturday]. We’ve learned from that experience and I think it will be a different challenge this weekend. The All Blacks take you on physically, they have a very settled scrum system, so they don’t tend to try and present you with different pictures, but more brutality than tricks.’
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