NON-ENGAGEMENT PACT: Rassie seethes at Rennie’s accusations as All Blacks get away with negative scrum tactics

Rassie Erasmus, the Bok coach, expressed fury after hearing that All Blacks coach Dave Rennie was unhappy with the Springboks' scrumming. The Boks secured one scrum penalty against the All Blacks during their 33-26 victory at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, which was five fewer than a week earlier. Erasmus' mood shifted from content to infuriated when a reporter mentioned Rennie's discontent soon after the Boks' triumph.

Dave Rennie has been vocal about the Springboks' scrum technique, questioning whether they "walk around" to gain an advantage. After the defeat, in which scrums were not a factor thanks to the All Blacks' self-declared non-engagement pact and referee Angus Gardner's reluctance to penalize them, Rennie repeated his accusations.

Rennie stated that the scrums were better in the second Test, citing the referee’s efforts to maintain spacing and prevent the Springboks from moving across. However, Rennie suggested that the scrum remained an issue due to the All Blacks' ability to "walk around" and "go straight through" the tighthead.

The disparity in scrum performance has been a topic of discussion, with some arguing that the Boks' dominance over the past seven years has been compromised. During the first Test at Ellis Park, the Boks dismantled the All Blacks, earning six penalties as New Zealand's scrum disintegrated. Despite this, the All Blacks managed to secure the win.

Erasmus dismissed Rennie's comments, asserting that the Springboks have never walked around in the scrum. He criticized the media for spreading such narratives and accused Rennie of attempting to influence public opinion. Erasmus admitted to making late changes to the starting lineup due to forecasted weather conditions but defended the decision, emphasizing that the Boks had always intended to adjust their front row based on the expected weather.