South Africa say they won’t fall into the trap of getting involved with the “mind games” of British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland before the eagerly-awaited opening Test clash.
Head coach Gatland, looking forward to Saturday’s heavyweight battle up front, claimed the Lions had already dented the Springboks’ ego at the set piece despite South Africa A having toppled the tourists 17-13 last week.
The Springboks will host the Lions in Cape Town amid an increasingly tense off-field backdrop with the tourists frustrated by South African Marius Jonker acting as Television Match Official (TMO).
Gatland believes the Lions have already ruffled some feathers in the home forward pack, but Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick delivered a withering assessment of that stance on Friday.
“We were happy as a Springbok team; if you look at the most important stat in the game, which is the final score, we won the game,” said Stick.
“So I’m not too sure what it is that they dented.
“I’m not going to fall into that trick of playing the mind games, I’m not a mind games person. The game is going to be played between four lines.
“If Gatland is talking about the egos, he doesn’t really know much about us as South Africans.
“So I’m not going too deep on that. Let’s wait and see after the game tomorrow.”
(Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
South Africa-born Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe has already been braced for any Springboks’ sledging by the Lions coaching staff.
But South Africa captain Siya Kolisi insisted the Springboks will not be indulging in any such antics.
Asked for his response to suggestions van der Merwe could expect some verbals, Kolisi said: “Well you clearly haven’t had anything from our side.
“We’ve never been that kind of team and will never be that kind of team.
“We’re going about our business, focusing on the game and we’d never focus on one player.”
The Boks’ back line coach Stick insisted that, in different circumstances, the home side would even have been keen to mix with their fellow countryman this week.
Stick added: “You know very well that we are good people as South Africans; if it wasn’t for the pandemic, we’d have surely invited him for a braai.”
South Africa’s rugby director Rassie Erasmus will continue his role as water boy in the weekend’s Test opener.
Lions boss Gatland’s anger has been piqued by Erasmus’ pitch-side duties, hinting that the Boks boss has at times wandered onto the field in breaks of play without any water.
Stick confirmed that Erasmus will continue to water boy this weekend however, in a move that will doubtless frustrate the tourists.
“To keep it short and sweet, Rassie will be running the water tomorrow,” said Stick.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Nah, all Hansen needed to do was “tell the truth” … and that was what played on Cheika’s mind … did it all himself :happy:
wre01
Roar Guru
Not a huge fan of Gatland spouting off or Rassie running water BUT at least the press conferences and coaches comments are interesting and not same old. Also, think people are underestimating this Lions Team massively. Confrontational with Cowan Dickie, Itoje, Laws and Curry with an exceptional bench. Not a fan at all of the Bok selections especially in the front row. They will miss Vermaelen big time too.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
At leat we don't have to live up to the elevated standards you possess.. Must be hard work.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Good conspiracy theory! Not!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
How many other team sports prohibit the head coach from the field of play? .. Under correction but those that do allow it are Gridiron, Baseball, basketball, football, hockey.. That’s just off the top off my head.. Is there any clearly specific or logical reason Rugby does not permit it? Or is it another example of rugby’s guardians looking for another rule to justify another rule?
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
The coach can't do it but the DOR can!! Given the rather particular setup of the Lions I doubt they have a DOR.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
If the 2009 tour is anything to go on then the Bok will be teflon to cards.
CPM
Roar Rookie
He should have been on a plane at least two weeks ago to enter the bubble. World Rugby messed up here and now Jonker gets the blame.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Of course he can’t do anything about which backplay the tmo decides to bring to his attention. This my biggest worry. I have this sneaky feeling that Jonkers will present some questionable foul play from the Boks pretty early in the game (that probably will lead to a reversed penalty at most) to "show" that he is impartial, but then turn the blind eye to any foul play by the Boks for rest of the game. And any try by the Lions will be locked at from every single camera angle, while the any tries for the Boks will be "all cleared" within seconds.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Shag Hansen played mind games with Cheika non-stop. Worked like a dream.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I really dislike the look of chasing defenders bumping into celebrating reserves who happen to be loitering in the in-goal. By the terminology given in "The Laws" the in-goal area is not part of the "field of play" but it is part of the "playing area." My view is if you're not actually playing you shouldn't be anywhere where the ball is "in play" and that includes the in-goal. Law 1 - 3(e) states: "The perimeter area should not be less than five metres wide where practicable." This perimeter area runs along each side of the ground and behind the in-goal area at each end. Of course by stating that is should be at least 5m wide "where practicable" means that it's not really a Law, but is instead a preference. And why would it be preferred? Because it allows reserve players enough room to warm up without encroaching on the "playing area." I suspect the tolerance for reserve players warming up in the in-goal areas is because many stadiums where pro rugby is played just don't have that perimeter space available. So, I just looked up the size of the grassed area at Suncorp Stadium. It's 136m x 82m. https://suncorpstadium.com.au/about-us/about-the-stadium.aspx The "field of play" should be 100m x 70m with in-goals between 6m & 22m. So, at Suncorp Stadium, their should be 6m along each sideline. Of course, a lot of this area gets cluttered up with people and gear for broadcast of the match along with security staff too, which is exactly why the reserves end up at the ends of grounds for their warm-ups in matches that get broadcast. At 136m, there should be 18m beyond the "field of play" at each end. The in-goal has to be at least 6m, but can be more. Somebody somewhere is making a choice about the in-goal size, and however much room is taken up with security staff and even more gear associated with broadcasting, and how much "perimeter area" reserves have for warm-ups. At Suncorp Stadium, a 5m wide perimeter area (outside the in-goal) at each end for reserves to warm up could be accommodated. It would leave 13m for the in-goal and whatever else needs to go at each end. I'm sure it can be done. And then, if such a warm-up area is available, it should be fair enough to tell reserve players that they must stay out of the in-goal. I'm struggling to think of another sport where reserves (or even starting players not currently involved) routinely encroach on the playing area while warming up while the match is in progress. I honestly can't think of any just now. And there's probably a good reason why it's not a common practice. What to do with grounds that just don't have the space for a designated warm-up area? Perhaps reserves should be allowed to use the in-goal on the proviso that if their team scores while they are in the in-goal, those points will be disallowed. That way, they can have their warm-up but they'll also quickly learn to get outside the in-goal as soon as their team looks like scoring, which would then leave the in-goal clear for the players who are actually playing. (Right. I feel better for having got that out.)
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Covid flight restrictions reportedly. Alternatively, if he's smart, he wouldn't leave NZ right now anyway.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Sounds to me as if Gatland's living in Stick's head. The A game for Lions was for continued assessments, a win was more important to SA morale. People forget they lost several club games in NZ. 10 Lions from the A game have been dropped. This is a different beast.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Gatland and Dave Rennie are ill equipped for mind games. Leave it to Eddie and Rassie fellas’.
Wayne
Roar Rookie
Educated guess? You know we are just a bunch of dumb Japies right?
Wayne
Roar Rookie
Better to ask why the TMO did not pitch up in the first place. Maybe our Kiwi friends have an answer for us?
Wayne
Roar Rookie
So what you are saying is the only way for Lions to win is if Boks get cards? Very confident in the Lions ability I see.
Wayne
Roar Rookie
Agree with you there Vman. Somebody needs to explain to Gatland that us Saffas are all just a bunch of dumb Japies. All this mind games stuff is way over our heads & we have no clue what he's saying. Just to give some more insight, we need translators just to understand the Scottish assistants :laughing:
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Only reason Gats isnt doing it because Rassie had the idea first???? Then again, dont think Gats could cover many metres…..
Jak
Guest
Is the South African ability to not let mind games affect them, in proportion to the astuteness of the mind they possess?