Rennie: All Blacks and World Rugby don't share the same 'view' on scrums
SPOTLIGHT: All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie doesn’t want scrums to be a ‘big topic’ in the build-up to the fourth Test against the Springboks in Baltimore.
However, it was still a topic New Zealand’s media pushed in the coach’s first press conference of the week heading into the finale of the Greatest Rivalry series.
The All Blacks struggled in that area once again in last Saturday’s 24-29 defeat at the FNB Stadium in Soweto.
The visitors were absolutely obliterated in one set-piece just before half-time, which resulted in a penalty try for the Boks to level the scores.
While Rennie conceded that his team will have to be better in the scrums, it seems he still has an issue with officiating around it.
The All Blacks made headlines on tour by pointing to the Springboks’ approach in that area of the game, and Rennie was pushed for his thoughts again.
“We can talk about scrums, but clearly our view and the view of World Rugby and the officials is different, so you just have to deal with that,” said Rennie.
“They don’t see it the way we do and they’re the ones that matter on game day, so we will have to be better.
“I think on our ball the scrum was reasonably solid. We got it badly wrong on one and got punished with one of their feeds.
“It’s a weapon for them and that’s the challenge. We want high continuity. If you make an error, they get to go to a set-piece, they get a penalty off that and then they march up the field.
“It’s still an area we are going to have to be better in.”
When asked to elaborate on the difference of opinion with World Rugby around scrums, Rennie added: “I just don’t want it to be the big topic. We’ve got to be better. We’ve got to be more accurate and limit the number of scrums they have.
“We’ve said a few things and we have spoken to World Rugby about it. They agree in some parts, but not necessarily on everything.
“To be honest, the sole focus at the moment seems to be the [hooker’s] brake foot. I reckon if referees are looking for the brake foot, they don’t see all the other things you are supposed to be looking at.
“I don’t think we are helping the referees by making their job any easier.
“I don’t really want to talk about the scrum because in the end that was not the deciding factor in the game.
“South Africa are very good at creating opportunities and taking their chances. That maul where they scored under the posts – that was a big moment in the game.”
@rugby365com
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— Rugby365 (@rugby365com) September 7, 2026
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