Stokke excited for Giant surprise

Mzwandile Stick can’t wait for the impact of André Esterhuizen against England on Saturday, while downplaying the Springboks’ lack of recognised lock cover on the bench.

Rassie Erasmus has moved away from his famous 6-2 and 7-1 splits for the Nations Championship clash at Ellis Park, opting for a more regulation 5-3 composition, with the powerful and versatile Esterhuizen among those named in reserve.

Erasmus has loaded up on front- and back-row replacements. Stick, though, is not worried given the inclusion of Esterhuizen and Pieter-Steph du Toit in the match 23.

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Du Toit muscled his way over the tryline in the Boks’ demolition of the Barbarians two weeks ago, before Esterhuizen barged through to add his own score.

Speaking in a Bok conference on Friday, Stick told reporters: “It’s actually nice now where we don’t get asked about the 7-1 or 6-2 split – I think now even you guys as media, you probably also got confused with André being around, because that’s what he does.

“It’s difficult for other teams to know or understand where André is going to make an impact on the field. We as coaches also get excited – we don’t know even tomorrow which position he is going to play.

“If something happens, he can step up as a 12, he is one of the best 12s in the world. You saw the try he scored against the Baa-Baas.

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“And then on the other side, there’s the impact that he had last year when he was playing as a six [flanker] and as a four lock. I’ve seen players sometimes in the past, where they get frustrated with coaches moving them around,”  the assistant coach added.

“The thing about André that is making that move so successful is because he enjoys it.”

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Stick, too, championed Du Toit’s adaptability in the second row: “Pieter-Steph understands very well that if we need him to step up at lock, he will assist us there. We’re not worried at all.

“He has done the job for us in the past so I don’t think there’s a risk at all when it comes to that.

“Later on in the game, we’ll start to see it open up and having Pieter-Steph, with his pace, can even bring a massive positive impact in our system.”

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Stick also touched on the threat England posed, highlighting Fin Smith’s energy at flyhalf along with the pace and X factor in the visitors’ backline.

He noted England’s pride in their forward play and their strong kicking game, adding that the Boks have prepared for a tough physical and tactical battle up front.

Photo: @Springboks/X