'We scrum straight': Erasmus hits back at All Blacks scrum claims
Rassie Erasmus has hit back strongly at suggestions that the Springboks used illegal scrum tactics during their 33-26 victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town.
The narrative did not sit well with the Springbok head coach.
And with good reason.
South Africa produced a vastly improved performance in the second Test of the Rugby Greatest Rivalry, responding to their 33-16 defeat to New Zealand at Ellis Park with a must-win display at DHL Stadium.
While they had not played badly in the opening Test, getting more reward at scrum time, they failed to convert their opportunities and lacked the clinical edge required against the All Blacks.
This time, however, the World Champions were more ruthless.
Although the All Blacks scored four tries to South Africa’s three, the Springboks produced the more composed and clinical performance when it mattered most.
The Springboks were impressive at set-piece, using they scrums and line-out to dominate the All Blacks.
After the match, the scrum battle had become one of the major talking points with New Zealand coach Dave Rennie revealing that he is going to flag it with World Rugby.
Rennie claimed the Springbok pack ‘walks around’ and questioned the technique of the world champions at the scrum.
Erasmus was having none of it.
Asked about the comments after the match, the Springbok coach did not mince his words.
“We’ve been playing with this pack of guys together for years and it’s the first time in history that people are talking about us walking around.
“So why would we all of a sudden start walking around now?” Erasmus told reporters in the wake of the win in Cape Town.
“The first six scrums in New Zealand’s half, they had every single one collapsed. And it was reset, reset, reset, reset. So why is it only on their ball that the scrums collapse every single time?
“So don’t come with that nonsense and say we’re walking around and try and put things out in the media.”
The Springbok boss then turned his attention to what he viewed as selective criticism.
“If I start putting things out … like their last line-out was skew – but I’m not going to moan my a*** off about that.
“So, if you just want to start moaning about stuff like that, then they’re under pressure.”
Erasmus also raised concerns about head-contact incidents during the match.
“Last week we didn’t moan after there was clear head contact a lot of the time.
“And today, in the first 40 minutes, there were four head contacts, and nothing was done about it, and then Lood de Jager gets the first one [yellow card].”
Erasmus added: “So the moment we start moaning, and if you’re taking a clip of what I said at the end, it’s going to be a sensational headline. But please don’t do it. Put the whole thing where I’m answering it.
“Don’t try and convince the people through the media, because that was what happened in the last week.
“They [All Blacks] tried to convince the people in the media, and we’re not going to take it.”
‘We’re not f-cking walking around’
Erasmus was adamant that the world champions would not be drawn into a public back-and-forth over officiating or scrummaging.
“So if the referees get caught up by that, then there’s obviously a plan to get that message out. And then we don’t want to stay quiet and just say, ‘Oh, you’re right, we’re walking around’.”
“We’re not f–ing walking around. We scrum straight. So, you know, we’ve never, ever, ever been accused of walking around. So I don’t understand.”
The win certainly sets up an enticing encounter at the FNB Stadium next week.
