‘It’s not nice for Kurt-Lee’: Stick on late Bok shake-up

 Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick has explained the reasoning behind the late changes to the team ahead of the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Springboks were forced into a late reshuffle on Friday following the withdrawal of two-time World Cup winner Handré Pollard from the starting XV.

Pollard sustained a calf injury and has been replaced by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf, with Manie Libbok moving onto the replacements bench.

There was also a late change on the wing, with Cheslin Kolbe coming into the starting XV in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Both Kolbe and Arendse sustained injuries during the Springboks’ 16-33 defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park last weekend. However, both recovered well and were declared available for selection.

Arendse and Kolbe offer similar attacking threats out wide, but Kolbe also provides the Springboks with an additional goal-kicking option. He kicked one conversion and three penalties in the first Test before leaving the field with hamstring and ankle injuries.

Stick explained that the decision to select Arendse initially was based on the medical information available to the coaching staff on Monday.

“At that time, with the medical report that we had as a coaching staff, I’ll be honest with you, we didn’t have a final report about Cheslin Kolbe. We’ve got a policy in place that if a player can train full out on Monday, there’s no reason not to select him if you want to select him.

“So that’s why we announced Kurt-Lee at that time, but Cheslin Kolbe finished his training session on Monday, so that’s where the change came from.” Sticks stated.

Stick acknowledged that the late change would be difficult for Arendse, who had been named in the starting XV.

“It’s not nice for Kurt-Lee because he probably would have had the opportunity.”

He added: “Kurt-Lee is also ready and fit to play, but it’s just that we decided for this game, I think Cheslin will probably be the best option for us to play.”

Stick also provided insight into Pollard’s injury and praised the veteran flyhalf for putting the team ahead of himself despite the setback.

“I’m not a medical expert, so I can’t really go deep and say how long it’s going to be out for, but it’s a calf injury.

“It’s a sad situation, but for a leader like him, to be honest about how he feels and lose his, how can I put it, his pride, in the sense of, ‘Listen, I’m not feeling well at that moment in the training sessions,’ I could see he was going through tears.

Stick admitted that losing a player of Pollard’s experience is a major blow to the Springboks.

“Sacha is back into the starting line-up, Libbok is on the bench, and I know it’s a sad thing to lose a player like Pollard.

“The way he’s been in good shape, he’s been working very hard. Even when he was not in the national team, he’s been positive and trying to assist the guys.

“So I feel for him and hopefully he can recover quickly.”