Mzwandile Stick embraces the 'Hollywood buzz' but insists Springboks will keep their focus

Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick believes the build-up to Saturday’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener against the All Blacks has all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster – but insists the Boks have not allowed the hype to change the way they prepare.

With Ellis Park sold out and the four-Test series generating huge interest in South Africa and New Zealand, Stick said the atmosphere around the contest was exactly what rugby needed.

“If I look at the vibe around the team, talking about the supporters, and if you listen to New Zealanders when they speak about their team and South Africans when they speak about their team, I think it’s a great build-up for a game,” Stick said.

“We probably see this as one of the greatest rugby competitions outside the World Cup, to be able to play against the All Blacks for four games in a row.

“So, yes, if you want to put it that way, that it’s like a Hollywood movie, yes, it is.

“But internally, we always treat every Test match the same. In terms of our preparation, we didn’t add any extra defence session or any extra kicking session. We tried to make sure that we stick with what has been working for us.

“Yes, there is a vibe around, but as a team we’ve tried to make sure that we focus on the things that we always focus on during the week.”

Stick said he had enjoyed the social-media banter surrounding the rivalry and believed it was all part of what made the occasion special.

“I enjoy the vibe. I’m one of the younger coaches, which is why I understand what is happening on social networks,” he said with a smile.

“But the vibe is there, and that’s exactly what the sport needs. People pay for tickets; they pay for entertainment.

“There has been a lot of banter among the supporters for a while, which is good for the game. But for us, the main focus is to make sure we do what is required for tomorrow.

For Stick, there could hardly be a more appropriate venue than Ellis Park for the opening chapter of the rivalry.

“You can’t ask for any better venue than Ellis Park because of what the venue stands for when it comes to games between the All Blacks and South Africa,” he said.

Stick recalled watching some of the great Springbok-All Blacks battles as a youngster and the players who helped inspire a generation of South Africans to fall in love with rugby.