BACK TO REALITY
STICK: BOKS CANNOT AFFORD TO GET CARRIED AWAY
Coaching staff worried complacency could creep in.
It is vital for the Springboks not to remain stuck on their sterling recent performance against the All Blacks in Wellington, Bok backline coach Mzwandile Stick has said, with a fear of complacency seemingly reverberating through the national team’s camp this week.
This weekend’s Rugby Championship rematch against Australia in Port Elizabeth is therefore the ideal opportunity, according to Stick, to maintain a level of excellence and a high standard.
“The main thing is that we have our own team goals that we are focusing on,” he said ahead of Saturday’s match.
“Yes, it was a great game and it was great in general for South African rugby, but we can’t get carried away with one performance because there’s still a lot of areas we need to improve on.”
While in some circles it was argued that coach Rassie Erasmus was too focused on next year’s World Cup in Japan, Stick stood up in defence of the head coach, pointing out it remained a big goal for the management team.
“We are looking at the bigger picture and of course the World Cup, so we might see in the next few weeks there will still be changes made by Rassie to the squad,” Stick said.
“But the win (against New Zealand) was great for our supporters, and we can never underestimate their impact and we never take them for granted.”
At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the Boks had previously racked up four wins and one draw, and they were eager to turn out in the Windy City once again.
“The stadium was named after an icon in our country and this year he would’ve turned 100 years old,” Stick said.
“PE is a special place for the team and not just for me, a home boy. The Boks haven’t lost at Mandela Bay Stadium and I have been there as a supporter, so it’s special.”
While the Boks were expected to name Andre Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel in midfield tomorrow, Stick said the addition of Blitzboks star Ruhan Nel had added real value to the squad.
“In the couple of Currie Cup games we saw Ruhan play for Western Province, we saw there was something special in this boytjie,” he said.
“To see there’s potential in youngsters and give them opportunities, especially in view of the World Cup, it’s necessary that we turn all the stones, and that’s one thing that Rassie is doing well at the moment.”