Latest news with #MzwandileStick
The Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Siya Kolisi gears up for 100th Bok cap as he shows no signs of slowing down
'Rassie said, 'You can be 36 and make the squad, as long as you are the fittest 36-year-old'. He always speaks openly and honestly with us, he goes through each player so everyone knows where they stand. 'In this squad, we all know we have a chance of making the World Cup squad and we also know that no-one is guaranteed a place. You just try to do things better in training and the coaches will work out whether you're good enough.' Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has no doubt Kolisi still has what it takes — physically and mentally — to lead the team forward. 'Siya is in really good shape and we took Schalk Brits and Duane Vermeulen previously to the World Cup because they were still producing the goods. Even if you are 38 or 40, that's all that matters,' Stick said. 'At the start of our year we had a heavy fitness test and Siya had one of the best scores. Our training sessions are tough and if you can keep up with those then it would not be right for us to look at your age.' With the fire still burning and his body in prime condition, Kolisi's return has reaffirmed his status as the heartbeat of the Springboks — with history, and perhaps more silverware, just around the corner. SportsBoom
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks target win over tricks in Georgian Test
The Springboks are targeting the win first, before unleashing new tricks, in their final mid-year Test against Georgia, says assistant coach Mzwandile Stick. Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says they are focusing on the win over tricks in their match against Georgia. Picture: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images The Springboks will be focusing on the win before unveiling any new tricks, according to assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, when they take on Georgia in their final incoming series match of the season at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 5:10pm). The Boks have enjoyed a solid start to the season, with a 54-7 win over the invitational Barbarians in Cape Town and a 42-24 win over Italy at Loftus, before they unveiled a full bag of tricks in their entertaining 45-0 thrashing of the Italians in the second Test in Gqeberha over the past weekend. The match has become a major talking point in World Rugby, after the Boks unleashed two new trick plays, the short kick-off and the midfield 'fake lineout' maul, which has garnered much attention, mostly positive from in South Africa and mostly negative from outside. With the Boks having a final chance to try out some new moves against Tier 2 Georgia this weekend, Stick admitted that if the chance arises they could do something, but that their full focus was on securing the result first. 'We always try to build our game. We don't want to become a team that is predictable in the way we play. I think creativity in our team is something that we try when we get an opportunity. You can see some of the tricks we used (against Italy),' explained Stick. Springbok DNA 'But we don't want to lose our DNA and what makes us Springboks. We still want to improve our set pieces. We still want to improve how we play the game defence wise when it comes to momentum, and we still want to improve at the breakdown. Against Italy we had a big challenge there. 'So tricks wise we will keep on evolving and trying things. As long as they are by the letter of the law. The nice thing is we have a very experienced (former) ref in Jaco Peyper in our management team. So we always bounce ideas and get approval from him. 'If there is an opportunity for us to try something different we will. But we are also well aware that the Georgians also might try somethings. So we can't get too comfortable and our main focus is to win the game.' Although the Boks are heavy favourites, despite them again rotating their match day squad extensively, Stick said that Georgia would bring a unique physical challenge, especially in the scrums, which they are relishing. 'We are playing against Georgia. This is one of the toughest teams that you will play when it comes to the physical side of the game. Set piece wise, especially when it comes to the scrums, and we know how they take pride in making big contact in the game,' said Stick. 'I also like how passionate they are. I have been to Georgia before and those people are very tough human beings. So it is going to be a tough one, but the more we execute our plan the better it will be.'
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks back Junior Boks to go all the way at World Champs
The Junior Springboks are unbeaten at the World Rugby U20 Champs, and are gunning to go all the way, with them up against Argentina in the semis. The double World Cup winning Springboks are backing the Junior Boks to go all the way and triumph at the World Rugby U20 Championship being battled out in Italy. The Junior Boks are gearing up for a massive semifinal encounter against fellow Southern Hemisphere side, Argentina, at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana on Monday night (kick-off 8.30pm). It has been a fantastic campaign for the Junior Boks so far, with them cruising through the pool phase unbeaten, after hammering Australia 73-17 and Scotland 73-14, while they also dispatched defending champions, England, 32-22, which in the end knocked them out of the semifinal running. They now turn their attention to Argentina, who they beat in the U20 Rugby Championship (TRC) in Gqeberha a few months ago, 36-25, and they will be gunning for a similar, if not better, performance than that. It has in fact been a terrific turnaround since the TRC, where the Junior Boks went down to Australia 29-24 and New Zealand 48-45, with their only win coming against Argentina, to finish third in the competition. They turned that around spectacularly in Italy to thrash the Aussies in their pool encounter, and backed it up with their results against England and Scotland. Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, speaking ahead of their clash against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday, praised the effort of the youngsters and backed them to the hilt. Go all the way 'I remember watching them here against New Zealand (in the TRC) earlier this year. They lost that game and they also lost against Australia (in the same competition),' said Stick. 'So to see them now giving Australia 70 points, and also Scotland 70 points as well. What those young men are doing is great for us as a country and hopefully they can go all the way. 'I have been there (with the Junior Boks) in 2005. To win a Junior World Cup changes a lot of peoples lives, and hopefully those boys can also create those memories. They have already made us proud and we hope they can go all the way and become world champions.' Springbok captain for the match last weekend, Salmaan Moerat, who has represented the Junior Boks himself, was also effusive in his praise for the rising generation of future Springbok stars. 'We are extremely proud of them and the way they have been playing. Especially the step up they made from losing against Australia in the (U20) Rugby Championship, to beating them convincingly at the World Champs really says a lot about them as a team,' said Moerat. 'You can see that there are a number of potential future stars who will become really big players one day, and we wish them all of the very best. We really are supporting them to go all the way.'
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
It's special to be back home with the Springboks — Mzwandile Stick
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick is happy that the Springboks are playing in front of fans in his home town once again. Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, was emtional when describing his happiness about the Boks playing in front of fans in Gqeberha once again. Picture: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick was emotional at the pre-match press briefing on Friday afternoon when explaining how special it is for the city of Gqeberha to host the Springboks once again, when they take on Italy at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The last time the Boks were in the city was in 2021 when they battled it out in two matches against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, but due to it still being during the Covid pandemic, those games were played behind closed doors. Thus, the last time the Boks played in front of their fans in Gqeberha was all the way back in 2018 when they took on Australia in the Rugby Championship, and Stick said that it will be a very special moment to see the crowd once again this weekend. 'It is very special for me. I am who I am because of the opportunities I was given here. There have been many tough times for rugby in this region (Eastern Cape) and they have no franchise representing them, but the people are hungry for rugby,' said Stick. 'I know just how passionate about rugby the people of the Eastern Cape are, so it is very special for us to be playing here. 'I remember what it was like when we were last here in 2021. We played against Argentina and because of Covid the stands were empty. But there will be a big and appreciative crowd on Saturday and it will be a great vibe.' Up their game After a comfortable but underwhelming 42-24 win over the Italians in the opening Test at Loftus last week, Stick explained that the Boks would be looking to up their game against a young and passionate Italian side that will be hunting an upset. 'Last week was our second game, but our first test match. In the first half, the intensity was good and that was one of our main focuses, but we were disappointed in the second half, we didn't follow up nicely,' said Stick. 'In the second half, the Italians played well and I think a lot of people have now seen how much they have grown under their new coaching staff. Like in the Six Nations, they are now pushing teams like Ireland for the full 80 minutes and they are a very physical team with a well-organized kicking game.' The Boks have made a slew of changes for this weekend's clash, with just four players surviving from last weekend's starting 15, while three debutants have been named on the bench, but Stick believes that the side named is strong enough to win. 'We trust all the players in our squad, and every player in the team deserves their spot,' explained Stick. 'We have also always emphasised the importance of building squad depth, and while some of the players had a chance against the Barbarians and are getting another chance this week, others are receiving their first opportunity. 'Every player knows what our focus is and what needs to be done, so hopefully we can go out there and do the job.'
IOL News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Springboks focus on key improvements ahead of Italy decider
Bok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says they want to see improvement in certain areas in the second clash with Italy on Saturday in Gqeberha. | BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Improvement in certain areas of their game plan is what the Springboks are chasing on Saturday when they take on Italy in the second and final Test match in Gqeberha. They've identified a few key aspects, like the breakdown and set piece, where they want to do better in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (5.10 pm start) as they look to seal the series. Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus made several changes for Saturday's clash and while it could cost the team some continuity, they want to see other players get some needed game time ahead of a jam-packed season. 'We always want to build strong squad depth, and I am happy for the guys who are getting an opportunity in this game,' Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said on Friday. 'They didn't get a chance against the Barbarians or in the first Test, but they are getting that opportunity now in the second game. This will be a tough clash. Last week was our first official Test match for the year. If I look at the first half and the intensity we started with, that is exactly what we wanted. 'However, we didn't follow that up in the second half. We started up 28-3 and in the second half, we saw how they played. I said that not a lot of people have seen the growth in the Italian side under their new coaching staff. They had good results in the Six Nations.' Stick highlighted the Italian kicking game and their dangerous outside backs as two of their main weapons. The key thing is for the Springboks is to improve their play as they head into the second Test of the season. On the potential debuts of tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, utility forward Cobus Wiese and utility back Ethan Hooker, Stick is excited. 'Ethan has a lot of potential, the way he is playing for the Sharks. The debut of Asenathi will also be special. Ethan is a brilliant player. If you put him on the wing, he performs. You put him at centre, he performs. Hopefully, he will get an opportunity, and we make it special for them (the debutants) as well. 'If we don't give these guys a chance, why are they at the camps? A lot of these guys deserve this. We are not too worried that it will be a 'new' team. They have been part of our training sessions, and they know what the main focus point is. 'They are experienced and mature enough to understand what needs to be done. This wake-up call (in the first Test), I am glad we got it at the start of the season. There are a lot of things that needed to be fixed. But we trust the guys selected and whatever needs to be done, they will get it done.'
