Rassie Erasmus fires first shot in psychological war ahead of opening All Blacks Test
Rassie Erasmus has hit back at New Zealand claims that the Boks slow the game down.
On the Monday before the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, Rassie Erasmus, the Springbok coach, took his turn at the press conference, standing alongside Jaco Peyper, the laws adviser. This marked a unique situation, as assistant coaches and players typically handle media duties during such events.
The new World Rugby directive now prevents one-on-one meetings between Erasmus and the referee, Matthew Carling, before a Test. These meetings are no longer permitted and must be conducted jointly with the other coach. Consequently, Erasmus must now discuss any tactical issues publicly with the media, rather than privately with the referee.
Erasmus addressed the narrative emerging from New Zealand that the Springboks intentionally slow down the game. Over the five Test matches played this season, the Springboks have received no feedback suggesting they intentionally slow down the game. He suggested that the All Blacks might have faced pre-season teams, which could explain any perceived slowness.
Erasmus also expressed difficulty in alerting the referee to certain tactical issues due to the new directive. For instance, he cannot inform the referee about potential midfield mauls or front peels in the lineout, as these discussions are no longer possible in private meetings. He acknowledged that the All Blacks might believe the Springboks intentionally slow down the game, but argued that they do not.
Erasmus is uncertain why the change was introduced, questioning whether it is clear what actions are allowed and prohibited. He identified the breakdown as a crucial area for the upcoming Test, noting that the Springboks' tactics in this area will be "very, very, very focused."
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
