Stick: We Don’t Believe In Peaking Too Soon

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick sat alongside captain Siya Kolisi as preparation began to wind down for their final match of a long, demanding tour, reflecting on the squad’s setup, tactical flexibility, and mindset heading into their clash with 11th-ranked Wales. 

For years, the Springboks have tinkered with the idea of flexibility with player positioning – giving rise to the birth of the hybrid player – someone who can be utilised effectively among the forwards and backs. With the squad stretched, this week’s matchday squad in particular sees forwards offering cover to the backline. 

Stick confirmed emphatically that this approach is neither new nor unplanned, forming every part of the forward-thinking approach adopted in the camp. 

“In the past few years, when we went with a 7-1 split, Grant (Williams) or Cobus (Reinach) would give us backline cover with their pace,” Stick explained. 

“Cobus can cover the wing, and we’ve always been vocal about Kwagga’s ability to slot into the backline because of his skill set from his sevens background. As Siya mentioned earlier, we’ve adapted throughout this tour. If we need to do it again, we will.”

Stokke, as he is affectionately known, reflected positively on the team’s trajectory since beginning the new cycle in 2024.

“If I look back at when we started after the World Cup, it’s a case of ‘so far, so good.’ Building squad depth is crucial, and over the past two years, many players have really taken their opportunities,” he said.

Rising talents such as Ethan Hooker and Morne (van den Berg) have impressed, while young prospect Zach (Porthen) stands out as a future cornerstone of the squad.

“Zach is a youngster who will play a lot of games for South Africa,” said Stick with great enthusiasm.

“He’s very talented and very big for his age. What I like most is his rugby brain – you don’t lead a Junior Bok side without that. He definitely has a bright future in our system.”

Despite some observers suggesting the Springboks may be peaking early in the World Cup cycle, Stokke dismissed that narrative. 

“For us, it’s never about that – it’s about representing our country and making our people proud. We always want to win. We’ll never say we want to lose because we don’t want to peak too soon.”

“It’s been a long tour, but we need to finish strong and end on a high note,” he added.

As has been the case throughout the tour, the Springbok duo maintained a high level of respect and humility towards their opposition. 

Despite reinforcing their world number one ranking, they remained assertive, insisting that they cannot deviate from their usual high standards depending on who they play.

“We treat every team the same and prepare the same way,” Kolisi added. “We don’t have a great record against Wales in Cardiff, so we can’t be arrogant.”

Wales’ impressive showing against the All Blacks the previous week was a reminder of their threat – something not lost on Stokke and Kolisi. 

“Wales showed last week how well they can perform. We’ll need to start with intensity and play to our standards.”