Stick, Kolisi explain why Rassie is keen to appoint referee coach for Boks

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi are in favour of a referee coach joining the team at this year's Rugby World Cup in France.

This comes after a weekend report indicated that the Boks were eager to bring legendary Welsh referee Nigel Owens on board for the showpiece event in France.

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Kolisi and Stick were probed on the news during a press conference at the Cullinan Hotel in Cape Town on Tuesday.

They could not confirm Owens' involvement but both men gave positive responses at the possibility of a refereeing expert joining the Boks.

"The director (of rugby, Rassie Erasmus) is behind that," Stick said when probed about the possible appointment of Owens.

"Us as coaches are in the camp at the moment and just focussing on the players. But if we can get someone who is an expert in that business ... it (a referee coach) is something we discussed as coaching staff.

"It helps us as coaches so we can focus on making our team better. We know that the refs are the CEOs [on the field], so if we can get someone on our side that can advise and help us to prepare for the games then the coaches can stay away from those off-field battles with the match officials.

"The game should be about the players and that is something we need to respect at the moment. That's why we are looking for someone who can come inside our camp and be able to assist us.

"I don't think we will be the first team. I think France also has someone (Jerome Garces) in their coaches' box who is assisting them with the reffing stuff."

Kolisi added: "I think it would be great to get somebody that can help us. Someone who works directly with World Rugby and