Powell gets nod from Stick

SPRINGBOK Sevens coach Neil Powell has received a nod of approval from former captain Mzwandile Stick ahead of the team’s gruelling season during which they take part in the World Series and later the Olympic Games in Brazil.

Stick led the BlitzBoks to their first series title in the 2008-09 season and now believes his “intelligent” former teammate, now coach of the national Sevens side, could take the team to greater heights in 2016 — a year in which the team will vie for the series as well as an inaugural Olympic gold medal.

Powell earlier in the week named his 12-man squad that will take part in the opening leg of the World Series in Dubai after cutting down the numbers from a 33-man preliminary squad. The squad included new faces in scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and centre Juan de Jongh — players better known in the 15-man game. Stick believes the inclusion of the duo is a masterstroke from the coach.

“It’s great to see a guy like Ryno Benjamin and De Jongh back. Also seeing Hougaard in the team — this is good for him, and the fact that he signed for the full season with Sevens is good for him and the team,” Stick told the Sunday Times.

“Neil is very smart and he has realised that when it comes to Sevens a team needs as many playmakers as possible,” he said. “So to have a team that has [Cheslin] Kolbe, [Cecil] Afrika and a Hougaard will make us a very difficult team to beat.”

Powell spoke about the season ahead.

“It is going to be a very tough year, so we will need to manage the players very well,” the coach said. “We did not do well at the back end of last season.”