VIDEO: Rassie's move taking over the club scene
WATCH as a local South African amateur rugby club executes the Springboks’ ‘controversial’ line-out move.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus dominated the headlines in recent weeks after his team’s 45-0 win over Italy at Gqeberha.
The team was accused of going ‘against the spirit of the game’ as they used a range of innovations.
South Africa began their victory over Italy by intentionally conceding a scrum at the kick-off; flyhalf Mane Libbok kicked the ball less than 10 meters, and André Esterhuizen caught it having been offside three metres in front of him.
The tactic was implemented because the Boks wanted to target the Azzurri’s set-piece, but they conceded a free kick for pushing too early in the scrum.
The Springboks also set up mauls in open play twice during the game, with props lifting a pass receiver in the air as though they were in a line-out or waiting to catch a kick-off. South Africa scored a try from both moves.
While the move has been accompanied by scrutiny, locally it has been emulated.
During a match between local rivals Ashton United RFC and McCregor, the former utilised the line-out move, scoring a perfect try from the tactic.
The video below…
South African amateur club rugby side Ashton United RFC playing the Boland League executing the Springboks Lineout move successfully in open play leading to a try 🏉🔥 #Springboks #SupersportRugby #BolandGrootUitdaag #BolandTop12 pic.twitter.com/Sq505XoBmq
— RugbyVibez (@rugbyvibez) July 23, 2025
Erasmus has revealed they got the idea for their in-play lineout move from a schoolboy side in South Africa.
“We noticed it with Paul Roos U14s,” he said. “You just get all the benefits from what you get in the lineout.”
Erasmus was not sure whether it might become a regular feature of their game, however, suggesting that teams will now try and find ways to stop it.
“It worked for us, but obviously now people will be alert for that. I think we won’t be able to do it for a few games,” he added.
Source: RugbyVibez
