Springboks dismiss their style critics with a 'dog peeing' proverb
Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has rebuked the ongoing criticism of South Africa’s style of play, claiming he is confused by it but admitting there is nothing he can do to change people’s minds. Jacques Nienaber’s squad is currently on the Gold Coast in Australia preparing to play their first away matches since their November 2019 World Cup final win over England in Japan.
The Springboks have arrived for their remaining four Rugby Championship matches against the Wallabies and the All Blacks amid an avalanche of disapproval surrounding their style of play in their recent Test series win over the British and Irish Lions followed by their back-to-back wins over Argentina.
Even ex-All Blacks coach Steve Hansen joined the ongoing denunciation, claiming last weekend about the Springboks versus Lions series: “It’s not a game that anybody wants to watch… it turned a lot of people off.”
The criticism of the Springboks’ style was initially led by a chorus of critics from Britain and Ireland over the course of the series versus the Lions, but it now looks set to continue in the coming weeks in Australia and New Zealand if the damning remarks from Hansen are anything to go by.
Backs coach Stick has since attempted to dismiss this outside noise as irrelevant, that the negativity is merely part and parcel of the Springboks becoming a winning team that is envied by its rivals.
Ex-All Blacks boss Hansen didn't hold back in his weekend criticism of the Springboks, stinging remarks that were put to South African boss Jacques Nienaber at his Tuesday media conference in Australia https://t.co/LYPpSdHKXd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 31, 2021
Asked by RugbyPass at the latest virtually held Springboks media conference if this continuing criticism was a distraction from their mission to go on and clinch Rugby Championship title success, Stick replied: “We are not going to lose focus on what we want to achieve as a team. We know our strengths, we know our DNA, we know what works for us – so we are not going to try to listen too much to other voices out there as long as we keep on winning as a team, as long as we keep on getting better in the things we want to achieve as a team.
“It’s something we need to make peace with – we are the No1 team in the world currently, we are world champions currently so people always talk about us. Even if it is positive or negative – unfortunately, it is the nature of the position where we are. There is also a saying I believe in, a dog doesn’t bark at the car that is standing still. He just pees on it.
“A dog only barks at the car that is moving, so people always have a view. The Springboks in the past probably weren’t winning games and people didn’t really pay that much attention to us, to what we did and how we played at that time, but now we are winning so you have to expect that people will always talk about you. It’s something we have made peace with and it doesn’t bother us. It is what it is.”
Stick, though, revisited the hot topic later in the media briefing when asked a follow-up question by a fellow South African and he responded by outlining his confusion over why the Springboks attack wasn’t getting kudos and was instead being constantly criticised. “I’m still confused by the criticism, I don’t understand it, that people keep on criticising the game,” he said about a team that has won five of its six Test matches since it resumed playing in July following a 20-month layoff due to the pandemic.
The Springboks have outscored their opposition by an aggregate of 164 points to 78, registering 15 tries to a meagre opposition tally of three. Even when their 40-9, six-try win over Georgia is excluded, the numbers still look healthy – 124 points and ten tries for the South Africans against 69 points and three tries for the Lions and Argentina combined.
“If you look at our wings, Makazole Mapimpi is scoring a lot, 16 tries out of 18 games. Cheslin Kolbe is scoring brilliant tries (nine in 18 matches). Lukhanyo Am has been playing great rugby. Willie le Roux at the back has been one of the best guys to use space around the field. We are scoring more points than the teams we are playing against and we are winning games.
“When people are talking about the style of play and they have got a problem with how we are playing, there is nothing you can do about it unfortunately but we are not going to change who we are. We are always going to stick to our DNA, we are always going to stick to what we do best. We are not really going to be influenced by the noise out there that wants to see us play a different style of play.
“We are currently on the right track, winning games. It was a tough series against the British and Irish Lions, it was very physical. There were a lot of battles under the high balls, there was a lot of physicality in the set-pieces. We have done everything in our power to make sure we won those Test matches, so I don’t think we are going to change much.
“We are not going to listen to people telling us how we must play. They must just focus on whatever they are involved in, try and play that touch or champagne rugby. We are just going to focus on what we do best and keep on improving it.”
Rising star Damian Willemse has featured in all six of the recent Springboks games but Friday's Gold Coast media briefing included an interruption that suggested he can't take selection for granted https://t.co/3U3AeCnAc1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
1 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to comments