‘It is quite tricky’: Nick Mallett on SA URC teams and the difficulties of 4G pitches

The Stormers will have another 4G pitch to contend with when they take on Cardiff in their final match in the league stages of the United Rugby Championship on Friday.

The synthetic surface is something that all South African teams have struggled with in the URC in recent years, particularly as it can lead to injuries, as they are not used to playing on it.

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Speaking to the media this week while they prepare for Cardiff, defence coach Norman Laker admitted that the Stormers could have been far better in their 38-38 draw with Ulster last Friday night, particularly on defence, where Ulster managed six tries on the night, with a hat-trick for Werner Kok.

Laker said that playing on a 4G pitch was very different from playing on grass.

“We've never won here before, and it's a 4G pitch, which is obviously different from grass,” Laker told reporters.

“Every time we get to a 4G, we say we've been here before and stuff like that, but it's different.

“No excuses, we should have been better," Laker said.

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Andre-Hugo Venter, who played a full 80 minutes at hooker following the injury to Deon Fourie, said that the Stormers shouldn’t use the 4G pitch as an excuse.

“To be honest, my own opinion is I don't enjoy the 4Gs at all. But in saying that, I don't think you can use it as an excuse,” Venter said.

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Speaking exclusively to KickOff Rugby, former Springbok coach Nick Mallett explained the difficulties that South African sides have playing on 4G pitches.

“The European winter is so poor. So, it is what it is, you know. Unfortunately, you are going to have to play on 4G pitches,” Mallett said.

“Certainly, if you train on them, and you're not used to them, you know, your lower back gets incredibly stiff, and you can tighten up your hammies and stuff.

“And then your studs can get caught in there, and apparently, the chances of an ankle injury or a knee injury are greater.

“[Those] who are used to playing on 4G, they don't seem to have a much higher injury rate themselves, and they're doing it every second weekend.

“So, you know, I think you'd have to do a lot more analysis, you know, on the sides in Europe that play regularly on 4G, what is their injury rate, what are their injuries like, as opposed to people who play, you know, like the Stormers?”

Mallett said he understood why teams like Ulster and the Glasgow Warriors, who want to play fast, attacking rugby, opt for 4G pitches.

“It's very hard to stop [them on the attack],” Mallett said.

“If guys can stay on their feet and keep driving, you know, with support, they play in a certain way that makes it harder for you to defend.

“Instead of passing and creating gaps like that, if you just hammer away by going dead straight, dead straight, dead straight, and then play out wide when there's space, that's what guys are particularly good at, like Glasgow, and as Ulster were last weekend.

“So, those teams are very used to playing on that 4G pitch, and I think for the sides from South Africa, where we've never ever done it, it is quite tricky,” Mallett added.

The Stormers' match against Cardiff on Friday kicks off at 20:45.