Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stik stated on Friday that the team will not allow itself to be drawn into psychological games ahead of the second match in the greatest rugby rivalry against the All Blacks, which is scheduled for Saturday in Cape Town.
Mzwandile Stik refused to participate in the tactical games employed by All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie before the second test match in Cape Town. He emphasized that despite the difficult situation, the Boks team's focus remains on actions between the four lines and achieving desired results as they aim to start their campaign.
Rugby Rivalry
Rennie had previously raised questions regarding the Springboks' tactics in scoring after the first test match in Johannesburg, adding a new level of intrigue to this famous rivalry. This week, Rennie informed the media about working with World Rugby on several issues, noting that the team would be significantly better in terms of scoring.
However, Stik was not going to take these games into account. He joked, mentioning it was a shame Daan was absent to answer questions, but then clearly stated that psychological games were not his concern. He explained: 'I am not particularly a person prone to psychological games. Especially considering all the other events happening, I think we leave these things to someone like Rasie (Erasmus) to decide. He is our leader. My job as an assistant coach is to ensure that the players are ready to act between the four lines. I don't think I am very good at those things. My job is to train, not to play psychological games.'
Stik also believes that the involvement of former international referee Jaco Pepier on the Springboks staff as a rules consultant helped the team understand the technical aspects of scoring and match officiating. Instead of waiting for feedback after the match, Pepier can work with the team during training, helping to identify areas needing improvement.
The South African team enters the second match with several changes and setbacks due to injuries; for example, flyhalf Andre Pollard injured his calf on Wednesday. Nevertheless, Stik insists on the squad's ability to adapt. He is confident that by Saturday, the players will be fully prepared, understanding what is required of them. Regarding weather conditions, he noted that they are accustomed to playing in any conditions and does not expect the weather to change their mindset. The most important thing, in his opinion, is to ensure the execution of the plan. Regardless of rain, they must convert the opportunities created last week into points. He hopes for dry weather, but believes they will be fine in a wet match too.