MIND GAMES: Rassie shrugs off All Blacks’ ‘slowing game’ claims as war of words intensifies

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus dismissed the claims by the All Blacks that South Africa's team is slowing down the game ahead of their upcoming Test match at Ellis Park. Erasmus, who is known for his strong stance on the sport, expressed his disbelief at the narrative being pushed by the All Blacks and their assistant coach, Tana Umaga.

Erasmus pointed out that the New Zealand team had played four matches already, and that the focus on their game speed and intensity was merely a technical narrative. He emphasized that both the New Zealand and South African teams had their own perspectives on the game, and that it was essential to respect these differences.

To support his argument, Erasmus referred to the two recent matches between the two teams, one in Auckland and one in Wellington. He questioned whether these matches were indeed slow, citing the All Blacks' victory in Auckland and South Africa's impressive 43-10 victory in Wellington as examples.

The Boks' laws manager, Jaco Peyper, a former Test referee, further explained the situation, drawing attention to the feedback received from World Rugby. According to Peyper, there had been no feedback indicating that the South African team was slowing down the game during their last five matches.

Erasmus also highlighted the importance of adhering to the agreed-upon rules between coaches and referees. Both teams are expected to respect the 30 seconds from the moment the referee puts his foot down to form a set piece, whether it be a scrum or a lineout.

Erasmus then addressed the notion of slowing the game down through infringements at the breakdown or during a maul. He suggested that teams facing pressure might attempt to control the game tempo in this manner.

Lastly, Erasmus pointed out that the new directives from World Rugby, which restrict coaches from meeting with referees before games, did not apply in this instance, as both sets of coaches had to agree to such a restriction. He concluded by acknowledging the sharpness of All Black coach Dave Rennie and expecting the South African team to continue their strategic control when they have the ball.