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
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments