Nucifora blames South African fitness

Blues coach David Nucifora has cited a lack of fitness and slow learning as the reason why the South African teams are struggling in the opening stages of the Super 14.

Blues coach David Nucifora has cited a lack of fitness and slow learning as the reason why the South African teams are struggling in the opening stages of the Super 14.

Nucifora's Blues destroyed the Lions 55-10 in Johannesburg on Saturday to follow the Crusaders' equally-comprehensive 54-19 triumph in Pretoria on Friday.

This is in stark contrast to last season where New Zealand teams struggled on South African soil, managing just one win between them.

While some are trumpeting the results this weekend as a symbol of South African decline since the Springboks lifted the World Cup four months ago, Nucifora disagreed.

“There's not really a correlation between what happened at the World Cup and this competition,” he told the NZPA.

Several of South Africa's premier players are injured or have left for European contracts but Nucifora cited more ingrained issues.

South African teams were still coming to grips with the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) introduced this year, he believed, while New Zealand teams simply appeared fitter in the opening weeks of the competition.

“Fitness is a very important factor,” Nucifora said.

“I do think it's showing up. To play the pace we're playing at for eighty minutes is a credit to the players.

“Add to that the ELVs have come in, and I think traditionally Australian and New Zealand teams adapt to change a little bit quicker than the South Africans do.

“It's probably some advantage playing their teams a little bit earlier in the competition.”

Nucifora predicted the Sharks, also unbeaten after two narrow wins, would adapt best and become a major threat in the competition.