VIDEO: 'A dog doesn't bark at the car that is standing still'
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has hit back at critics in spectacular fashion.
The Springboks have received loads of criticism for their game plan following their intense series win over the British and Irish Lions.
Not only have the Northern Hemisphere blamed the Boks for the dour nature of the three-Test matches, but New Zealand critics also joined the campaign.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has also been vocal about his dislike for the Boks’ game plan, stating the style of play “put me to sleep” – a remark he made after the Boks’ 27-9 win in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Many Kiwi pundits said the Boks lacked creativity and has called on the All Blacks to ‘save’ rugby from the Springboks’ intimidating and rugged approach.
Two months later, and this narrative is set to continue during the upcoming Rugby Championship.
Speaking in a virtual media briefing, Springboks backline coach Stick was again fronted with this aged-old question of the Springboks’ lack of creativity on the attack.
However, Stick was having none of it and dismissed it as irrelevant.
He stated the criticism comes with being No.1 in the world.
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“It doesn’t bother us. It is what it is,” Stick said, adding: “If people have a problem with how we play, unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about it.
“We won’t change who we are. We will stick to our DNA. We will stick to what we do best.
“We won’t be influenced by the noises out there. We are on the right track winning games.
“We are the No.1 team in the world currently and the current World champions so people will always talk about us whether it is positive or negative.
“Unfortunately it is the nature of the position in which we are.
“It goes back to a saying I believe in: ‘A dog doesn’t bark at the car that is standing still’. A dog only barks at a car that is moving. In the past, when the Springboks perhaps weren’t winning games, people weren’t paying that much attention. People didn’t care at that time about what we do and how we play. Now we are winning and people are talking and we have made peace with it,”
Winning rugby
Stick said he is confused about how the ‘pundits’ can’t see the effectiveness of the game plan especially when it comes to Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi’s try-scoring rate.
“I’m still confused about the criticism. I don’t understand. People keep criticising how we are playing the game.
“If you look at our wings, Makazole Mapimpi is scoring a lot of tries. Cheslin Kolbe is scoring brilliant tries, Lukhanyo Am is playing great rugby, Willie le Roux at the back has been one of the best guys seeing space around the field.”
“We are scoring more points than the teams we are playing against,”
He reiterated: “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.”
The Springboks are currently in Brisbane preparing for back-to-back matches against the Wallabies and All Black.
Jacques Nienaber’s squad kick off the away leg of the competition against Australia on Sunday, September 12.
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