Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says the Barbarians’ unpredictability is just what the world champions need in preparation for what they’ll face later this season, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
The Baa Baas side boasts global stars including All Blacks Mark Telea and Hoskins Sotutu, alongside Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden, creating exactly the uncertainty Stick wants the Boks to steel themselves this year.
“If you look at the X-factor around the team, they’ve got brilliant individuals playing… a guy like Telea and what they’re going to bring with Sotutu. You’ve also got Ruben from South Africa, who really understands how we operate,” Stick said during Friday’s media conference in Cape Town.
The mystique of the Baa Baas excites Stick, as the Boks gear up for back-to-back home Tests against Italy from next week, a Rugby Championship title defence starting against Australia in August, and September’s blockbuster All Blacks Tests in Auckland and Wellington.
“If I look at the Barbarians and their squad, it’s actually what we need,” he said. “If you want to test your systems, it’s always easy for us to analyse [familiar opponents], because you know what you’re going to be facing against New Zealand, Australia…
“But we don’t know what to expect from these guys. They’re going to give us a tough challenge because we don’t want to coach, if I can put it this way, donkeys. When you operate with donkeys, you put on blinkers and that’s how they operate.
“When it comes to the Baa Baas, you’re going to be playing with guys that you don’t know what to expect, so our players will have to make sure that they make good decisions on the field, and they’ll be wise and scan around the field.”
