Nick Mallett Praises Paul de Villiers as Springboks' Most Reliable Loose Forward
- Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett singled out Paul de Villiers after the Boks' defeat to the Wallabies in Perth
- Mallett spoke on the Talking Boks podcast about the depth Rassie Erasmus has available in the loose forwards ahead of the Nations Championship
- The ex-coach also weighed in on which senior Springboks could feature in the upcoming end-of-year tour
- Briefly News spoke exclusively to a rugby analyst who shared his thoughts on Mallet's views
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Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has identified Paul de Villiers as the standout performer in the Springboks' loss to the Wallabies in Perth, describing the loose forward as the most dependable player in Rassie Erasmus's squad.
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Speaking on the Talking Boks podcast on 28 September 2026, Mallett was effusive in his assessment of De Villiers despite the team's defeat.
"I think Paul de Villiers was outstanding," he said.
"One person we can honestly say gives 100% every time he plays, is reliable as the day is long, and that's Paul de Villiers."
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Bok loose forward depth on display
Mallett used De Villiers' performance to illustrate the wealth of options Erasmus has beyond the first-choice trio of Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese and Pieter-Steph du Toit. He pointed to Cameron Hanekom at number eight and Ruan Venter or BJ Dixon at the seven flank position as players capable of forming a formidable combination.
With the Springboks returning to Nations Championship action against Italy, France and Ireland, Mallett believes Erasmus will pursue the title aggressively.
"I think [Erasmus] is going to go for this league. There's no competition South Africa is involved in which we don't want to win," Mallett said.
He anticipates a rotated side for the Italy fixture, followed by a fully loaded squad for the clashes against Ireland and France, to finish top of the league and contest the final.
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Etzebeth and senior stars could tour
Mallett also pushed back against suggestions that workload concerns would rule out senior players from the end-of-year tour. He pointed specifically to 147-cap lock Eben Etzebeth, arguing that limited game time over the past six months means the veteran has more than enough in reserve.
"There's no problem for him. There's no problem for Siya or Pieter-Steph du Toit," Mallett said.
He added that a competitive group of backs would be eager to force their way into contention, naming Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse as players who would be desperate for selection.
"You can't tell me that [Damian] Willemse won't want to go on this trip and win this competition," Mallett said.
Speaking to Briefly News exclusively, rugby analyst Thabang Mokoena said:
“Paul de Villiers is exactly the type of player every coach wants in his squad. He gives you intensity, consistency and reliability, and when you have that level of competition for loose-forward places, nobody can afford to switch off. His performance in Perth only strengthens Rassie Erasmus’ selection options going forward.”
Fans name players who could miss 2027 RWC
Briefly News previously reported that Aphelele Fassi drew the sharpest criticism from supporters after a difficult outing in South Africa's 42-38 defeat to Australia in Perth
Marco van Staden, Franco Mostert and Quan Horn also featured in social media debate about the Springboks' World Cup planning
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Source: Briefly News
