Stick should be the next Springboks coach
Opinion polls aren’t necessarily accurate predictors of the future. If they were, the UK would have voted to remain in the European Union and Donald Trump would never have set foot in the Oval Office.
Polls have even less sway in undemocratic bodies, such as SA Rugby, where decisions are made by a select few regardless of the whims of the masses.
Even so, polls are a handy barometer to gauge public perception. And after the widely read SA Rugby Magazine received close to 10,000 votes on a particular query, my only assumption is that the forecast is set to ‘crazy’.
The question was simple: Who would you pick as the next Springbok coach? The incumbent, Jacques Nienaber, will leave his post at the end of this year’s Rugby World Cup to take on an assistant role with Leinster. More on that later. What’s pertinent now is the baffling result that left me mildly irritated and feeling like the only sane person in the world.
That’s not quite true. I wasn’t alone. From the group of nearly 10,000, 6.15 per cent agreed with me that Mzwandile Stick, currently the Boks’ backline coach, should be promoted once the campaign in France comes to an end.
The clear winner of the poll was Johan Ackermann, in charge of the Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan, with 29.26 per cent of the vote. Next came John Dobson, the current Stormers boss, with 21.78 per cent. Completing the podium was SA Rugby’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, with 19.36 per cent.
Stick was a distant fourth, marginally ahead of Glasgow Warriors coach, Franco Smith (5.33), as well as other big names including the Bulls boss, Jake White (4.91) and Johann van Graan (3.45), presently battling to get a tune out of Bath, but well respected after his time as South Africa’s forwards coach for five years in the mid-2010s and then as the leader of Munster.
Of all the coaches listed above, Stick has the least amount of experience leading a team. In 2015 he steered the Eastern Province U19s to domestic glory but eyebrows were raised when he was fast tracked to the Springbok set-up to serve as an assistant to Allister Coetzee.
During Coetzee’s disastrous tenure, Stick was demoted to the South African U20 set-up but those eyebrows were once again lifted when Erasmus recalled him to the senior fold in 2018. Clearly the World Cup winning coach saw something in the former sevens star.
Stick’s primary mandate was to develop the finer skills of the Springboks. So often derided as a one dimensional squad, the reigning world champions now possess a backline that would be unrecognisably South African only five years ago.
Lukhanyo Am is the most skilful outside centre on the planet. Damian Willemse’s development over the past two seasons has been astronomical. The flair demonstrated by Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe points to an outfit that can cut opposition teams to shreds if given half a chance. The Springboks have always had, and will surely always have, enough grunt up front to gain front foot ball. Now more than ever, they have dazzlers in the backs to do something with it.
To give Stick all the credit would be disingenuous. But to not portion at least a sizable share in his direction would be unfair. Smarter rugby minds than me would be better placed to explain exactly what Stick has done, but the nuts and bolts are irrelevant. According to the naked eye test from last year’s Autumn internationals, the Boks’ blunt instrument now has a newfound edge.
If Stick has an astute assistant who could marshal the forwards – perhaps Van Graan if he could be tempted back – would supplement any of his shortcomings. What Stick does not lack, and where he needs no help, is understanding the ethos of a team that, more than any other international side, carries the responsibility of representation on its shoulders.
Let’s not dance around the subject. Stick is Black African, one of around 42 million who make up more than 80 per cent of the country’s population. Coetzee’s appointment was a landmark moment for a team that still plays under a badge that was once a symbol of apartheid. Like Siya Kolisi’s selection as the team’s first Black African captain, Stick’s elevation to head coach would be another marker that the Springboks are an evolving force.
This would not be a political move. His work with the backline and his status in the team cannot be questioned. In press conferences he is belligerent and honest, two traits that are highly valued in South African rugby. He confronts probing journalists and leans into challenging questions. When his team is accused of playing ‘boring’ rugby he simply points at the groaning trophy cabinet back home and the scorecards that more often than not favour his team. More than Nienaber, who often looks uncomfortable in his media engagements, Stick has embraced this off field role.
Selecting Stick would also send an important message to any aspiring coaches. It would demonstrate the value of participation; that being ensconced within the system holds value. And that is an important message right now.
Nienaber’s exit should be a concern for everyone involved in South African rugby. The leader of the reigning world champions has been lured by a provincial team to work as a deputy. Lienster are immense, and Nienaber is perhaps better suited to a role that the South African journalist Craig Ray called, “mud on the boots” coaching, but the transition is jarring nonetheless.
Felix Jones will also make way after the World Cup and there are questions around Erasmus’ long term future. The World Cup could also be the end of Kolisi’s tenure and the tournament will surely see the likes of Duane Vermeulen, Willie le Roux and Frans Steyn exit stage left.
Whoever is at the helm will need to impart tactical nous, skills transference and a strong sense of identity onto a team in transition. Stick, more than anyone else, ticks these boxes.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments