Stick hits back at Springbok kicking game criticism: 'We don't coach to cause injuries'

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick hit back at All Black criticism of the Springbok kicking game, saying they did not coach players into making dangerous aerial duels.

The Boks outmuscled, out-thought and out-manoeuvred New Zealand in the air in Mbombela to record their most comfortable victory against the All Blacks in recent memory, 26-10, last weekend.

However, the win was blighted by a late Kurt-Lee Arendse red card for a dangerous mid-air clash with Beauden Barrett, who landed on his upper back – a sickening collision that ended with Arendse off on a stretcher for concussion.

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After the game, New Zealanders questioned the legality of South Africa's methods, even calling on World Rugby to clamp down on the aerial contests.

Stick, though, for whom kicking skills fall into his remit, said the Boks won't change a thing for the rematch at Ellis Park on Saturday (17:05).

"It's funny … I thought we're playing boring rugby," said Stick, tongue-in-cheek.

"All of a sudden now aerial skills and the contestable kicking game is a problem in the game. We've always played like this.

"We don't hide how we play the game. It's part of our DNA, the kicking game.

"A lot of people last week questioned Kurt-Lee Arendse's size but you saw how massive he was in how we wanted to play the game.

"Him and Makazole Mapimpi played probably one of the best games when it comes to contestable kicking that I've been involved in.

"We won't change anything."

Arendse received a four-match suspension for the infringement that Barrett admitted in mid-week left him worried while he lay hurt on the floor.

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster said on Thursday there was at