Rugby: 'Scrum Spice' centre of attention

By Wynne Gray

Bobby Skinstad. He is a recurring subject in South African rugby.

Advocate or detractor, it does not matter. People want to discuss the life, credentials and persona of the loose forward.

He was seen as the villain this week by many in the republic, the upstart, Nick Mallett's favourite, who had ousted Gary Teichmann, that calm, pleasant gentleman who had been a fine Springbok captain for the ast four years.

Blame Skinstad for many things, for his style of play, for his motoring skills, but it is not fair to condemn the flamboyant 23-year-old for making the Springbok squad. Who, apart from Greg Denholm, turns down international rugby selection?

Without question, Mallett was banking on Skinstad in his World Cup plans.

Earlier this year, he told a business lunch in Auckland that his master-plan was for the talented young man to be No 8 and also Springbok captain. The coach had spoken of that grand scheme to many in South Africa as well.

Mallett was cautious last season but was ready to deliver the plan this season until Skinstad's car accident late in the Super 12 which has kept him out of rugby for the best part of three months.

"The media are dying for sporting stars, but I'm taking a more patient approach with him," Mallett said of Skinstad last year.

He loved the young man's attacking invention but was critical of his offensive tackling, which was not in the class of Andre Venter and Rassie Erasmus.

Skinstad delivers a ready smile, enthusiasm and athletic charm which have brought him the "Scrum Spice" label. He is Mr Marketable.

His management team have mapped out the next five years for the student of English and psychology. Television advertisements have him extolling the benefits of cars and jewellery.

There is phenomenal interest in his life, but many rugby people find the media's obsession unhealthy and unrealistic for a man with just 10 international caps.

He has been largely an impact player for the Boks, and did the business last year in coming off the bench to score match-turning tries against the All Blacks at Durban and the Wallabies at Johannesburg.

He shows that x-factor for Western Province too, but some seasoned coaches and observers believe he does not do enough of the hard yards needed from loose forwards to win the very highest quality tests.

Some suggest the staggers in Mallett's team this year can be traced back to the Springboks' test against Scotland last year, when Skinstad was picked ahead of Venter. It started ripples of concern. The test family was being tinkered with.

Some Afrikaners resented the attention and adulation for Skinstad. They also felt he had clouded Mallett's planning and were not looking forward to his elevation. Then came the car crash and some of the anxiety eased.

Now Skinstad is back on the flimsy evidence of 30 minutes off the bench last weekend. He will play off the bench again this weekend for Western Province in Currie Cup action and it is thought that, at best, he will only be a reserve against the All Blacks.

But reports that new skipper Joost van der Westhuizen has made speeches in Pretoria in which he has been critical of Skinstad's play show the potential for disruption.

Van der Westhuizen used to be the Springbok glamour boy but the advent of "Scrum Spice" is rocking his reputation. Whether it rocks Mallett and the Springboks too, will be fascinating to observe.