With 54 tries scored across the opening Nations Championship weekend, the obvious narrative was that teams were chasing bonus points under the new format. Erasmus pushes back on that, pointing instead to the Law Application Guideline introduced on 1 June — specifically the crackdown on defenders illegally dragging mauls down or hanging on without actively contesting. His argument: teams now have to commit more bodies to stop mauls, those defenders then have to scramble back into the defensive line, and the resulting fatigue and disorganisation is what's creating space and tries. He claims more maul tries were scored in this one weekend than across the entire Six Nations. On the bonus-point question, Erasmus draws a clear line — the Boks play to win Test matches, and chasing tries at the expense of that objective is a trap. He concedes the format creates some late-game tactical nuance once four tries are secured, but the warning is firm: disrespect a Test match and you'll lose it.
Erasmus backs law changes as the real driver behind Nations Championship try bonanza
Erasmus attributes the Nations Championship's opening-weekend try explosion to the new maul law rather than bonus-point chasing — and explains exactly why the mechanics of that law change are unlocking space across the park.
- Rassie Erasmus
- Springboks
- Nations Championship
- Six Nations Championship
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Contepomi: Boks have cracked the balance — and that's what makes them dangerous
Contepomi argues the Boks' real danger lies in their evolving balance between forward dominance and expansive attack — and flags sustained possession as the best way to exploit their defence.
So how deep is the Springbok squad?
Lekker! Hola! Head to https://squarespace.com/squidgerugby to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code SQUIDGERUGBY
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.