Don't expect changes to Boks' formula
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi says there won’t be changes to the Boks’ winning formula as they get the Test season underway against Georgia.
Friday’s match will be Jacques Nienaber’s first as head coach, after he officially took over from Rassie Erasmus in January 2020.
Even though it is a new chapter for the Boks, they will be building on that 2019 World Cup success with much of the same personnel
“Our game plan has not changed,” said Kolisi.
“There are a few tweaks here and there, but our physicality and workrate will be the same.
“It’s all the stuff that you don’t need talent for.
“We are looking for warriors in the team.
“We want to make sure that we do everything we can within the system.
“The coaches still want players to express themselves, but we still have to focus on what we want to do [as a team].”
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Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said it will be silly to move away from their strengths.
“There are certain things as South Africans we can’t neglect when it comes to the physical side of the game.” said Stick.
“It is part of our DNA.
“If you go back to 1995 and if you back to 2007, we had big physical forwards and guys that can really dominate the collisions.
“That is one of our strengths.
“I don’t think we are going to go away from that.”
Another advantage for the Boks is the close relationship between Nienaber and [Director of Rugby] Erasmus.
Stick said the duo will share responsibilities when it comes to team selection.
“They got a good working relationship. They are a good team as a head coach and a Director.
“When it comes to who has the final say, both of them have power to select whoever they want. And it is not only the two of them.
“We discuss the selection of the team as a coaching staff.
“Those two coaches respect everyone in our system, but at the end of the day we will leave it to them and the selectors to make a final decision,” Stick added.
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