VIDEO: Boks changing their tackling style
A video has emerged of a Springbok practice in which coach Rassie Erasmus is apparently following through on a ‘promise’ to change his team’s tackling style.
The video follows the controversy in the wake of England’s fortuitous 12-11 win over South Africa in London this past weekend.
England flyhalf Owen Farrell escaped sanction for a controversial tackle in the closing seconds of a tense encounter at Twickenham.
Farrell had kicked an England into a one-point lead with his third successful penalty, seven minutes from time.
But there was drama right at the end when, with 80 minutes on the clock, referee Angus Gardner consulted the television match official to see if flyhalf Farrell had committed an illegal ‘no-arms’ tackle on Springbok replacement Andre Esterhuizen.
The Australian official could have awarded South Africa a penalty which, had it gone over, would have seen the visitors snatch victory in the opening match of their European tour.
But Gardner, despite World Rugby’s current crackdown on dangerous play, eventually decided against penalising Farrell’s challenge, even though it appeared the England co-captain was leading with his shoulder.
Citing commissioner Keith Brown had 24 hours from Saturday’s final whistle to decide if the challenge had warranted a red card, a move that would have led to a disciplinary hearing.
However, World Rugby confirmed at the weekend that England co-captain Farrell would not face disciplinary action.
Most pundits agreed that Farrell’s challenge was a yellow-card offence at worst, although plenty of observers felt Gardner should have awarded the Springboks a penalty at the very least.
Frustrated Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was left to bemoan Farrell’s challenge, saying acidly: “If it was all legal, we should start tackling like that.”
The latest video – from a practice in the build-up to their Test against France in Paris this coming Saturday – may well be a subtle dig at the inaction of World Rugby and the inconsistency at match officials.
In the clip, Erasmus and defence coach Jacques Nienaber are seen instruct Esterhuizen to ‘tackle’ higher and use his ‘shoulder’ with a bit more venom.
* You may also want to read the law discussion by @rugby365com law guru Paul Dobson, who explains why the refereed may have erred in not awarding the Boks a penalty:
Law discussion: That Farrell tackle
Below, the Farrell tackle…
