Humble Stick is in a great space
PROUD: RETURNING ASSISTANT SALUTES NEW CAPTAIN
There was a note of pride in Mzwandile Stick’s voice when he spoke of his own return to the Springbok fold, but all that melted into pure emotion when he saluted the appointment of Siya Kolisi as the new captain for the series against England.
“If I wasn’t involved in the Bok camp, I would probably be in my house, in tears over Siya being named as the first black captain. He comes from the same area as me, just down the road in Zwide, and I have followed and mentored him from a young age. When he joined the Western Province Institute at Stellenbosch, I was there for the Springbok Sevens.
“Siya has a proper head on his shoulders, it’s been coming and it’s about time, he’s been through tough times. It is such a great honour, not only for his family but it’s also a great thing for our country. As coaches, we have to make sure we trust our leaders and I’m sure the same trust and belief Rassie Erasmus has had in me will help Siya as well,” Stick said yesterday.
Of his own return to the Springboks as one of the assistant coaches, Stick said his axing last year under former coach Allister Coetzee had been tough to handle.
“It was a huge punch to me and you ask questions and start to doubt yourself. But I am a very strong character, every day is a struggle and you just make sure you bring your best. It’s part of who I am, I enjoy the challenge and I knew it was part of the job the first day I signed on as a coach.
“I believe I have what it takes and it’s such an honour to be back with the Springboks. Working with the juniors has refreshed my mind and I’m in a good space. Rassie knows me well, my weaknesses and my strengths, so to be entrusted by him with this role is great. We’re all just trying to create the right learning environment,” Stick said.
Stick said his role is no longer that of a specific backline coach working on attack or defence.
“I focus more on the work-rate of the players off the ball. That has been lacking because our focus has always been on what we do on the ball. We never pay attention to movement off the ball, but if you look at a team like New Zealand, all 15 players are in motion. It helps if the Super Rugby coaches see the same picture as us.
“We’ve always been physical and known to run over people, but they have been spending more time there and focusing more on playing into space and what you do off the ball,” Stick said.