Rassie hits back at Matt Williams' 'compliment'
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus gave a chirpy response to former Scotland coach Matt Williams’ latest comments.
Williams, since the 2023 World Cup, has been vocal about the Boks’ bench tactics of using a 7/1 bench split in favour of the forwards.
“What South Africa did the other day, I think, is totally against the spirit of the game, and certainly totally against player safety,” Williams said after the Boks demolished New Zealand by 35-7 at Twickenham ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
The Boks rolled the dice once more in the World Cup Final later that year to pip the All Blacks 12-11 and claim their fourth title.
During the Rugby Championship, Erasmus selected a 6/2 bench split just once against the Wallabies in Cape Town and played both Tests against New Zealand with the traditional 5/3 split.
The team to face Argentina at Kings Park also consists of the traditional 5/3 bench split.
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Williams recently complimented the Boks for deviating from their controversial 7/1 forward-heavy bench split on a New Zealand-based podcast.
“The 7-1 bench has quietly died,” Williams said.
“The Boks played some absolutely extraordinary rugby and unleashed the talent and athleticism that we all know is in these South African players.”
Rassie’s response to the compliment was less flattering.
The Bok boss gave a cheeky response to Williams’ comments on Tuesday following the Boks’ team announcement to play Argentina.
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“Ag…you know. He doesn’t really know our team,” Erasmus said.
“I don’t think any of our players or management takes him seriously, with all due respect.
“I mean, he’s an elderly person who has been around the block.
“I’m sure a lot of people have a lot of respect for him, but it’s all clickbait.
“We don’t comment on other teams on their selections, how they play and how they combine their side.
“I know he’s in Ireland, but he’s an Australian.
“So does he represent the way Australia thinks or Ireland thinks?
“We hear it, but we laugh at it.”
