Boks hit back at Jake White's column: 'It shows arrogance to suggest we can't learn at Test level'

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick almost seemed to let off a heavy sigh when questioned about Jake White's hard-hitting column for RugbyPass on Thursday.

In it, the former Bok mentor White let out a broadside on the current coaching group following their narrow loss to Wales in Bloemfontein last weekend.

Current Bok head coach Jacques Nienaber and co made a whooping 19 changes to the side last week before bringing back their A-listers, with a few alterations, for this weekend.

"I'm told his rationale for picking that second Test team was because he wanted that group of players to know what it was like to win a series, he didn't want them just to be playing a dead rubber in the Third Test," White wrote in that eyebrow-raising column.

"To answer that, I'd say I don't think there should ever be a dead rubber test when you're playing at home."

He went on: "The job of a national coach is to win Test matches. National coaches shouldn't use Tests to see if players are good enough; that's what A-sides or training is for."

Ai tog guys please remember that we all want the best for ???? Remember this in 2007 guys????‍?? https://t.co/ZEOOwCN80P pic.twitter.com/czLUEd9vwC

Facing the media on Friday, Stick decried White's comments, starting off measured in his reply.

"I'm not one to concern myself about what other people are saying about the team," Stick began. 

"I understand though, that as South Africans, we are passionate people about rugby and the Springboks. What Jake said, that's his own airtime and we won't pay too much mind to it."

Stick then shifted his thoughts, saying he was disappointed that White went to the lengths he did in his column.

"I become disappointed when people who were in the position that we [coaches] find