Rassie Erasmus delivered a robust defence of the Springboks' scrummaging after Dave Rennie suggested the world champions had used questionable tactics in their 33-26 victory over the All Blacks at DHL Stadium.
Rennie revealed before the second Test that New Zealand had raised concerns with World Rugby regarding the Springboks' scrum technique, specifically alleging that the pack "walks around" at the set-piece. The All Blacks were dominated in the scrums during the opening Test at Ellis Park, with their front row regularly sent backwards, prompting the visitors to seek clarity from the game's governing body.
Erasmus rejected the accusations outright, pointing to the Springboks' long-standing scrum record and questioning why such claims had only now emerged.
"It's the first time in history that people have been talking about us walking around, so why would we all of a sudden start walking around?" Erasmus said. "In the first six scrums on the New Zealand ball, every single one collapsed and it was reset, reset, reset, so why is it only on their ball that the scrum collapses every single time?"
The Springbok coach went further, accusing Rennie of attempting to influence match officials through public commentary. "Don't come with that nonsense saying we're walking around and trying to put things out in the media," Erasmus added, suggesting the All Blacks were "under pressure" if they needed to resort to such tactics.
Scrum battle remains contentious
Despite Rennie's pre-match intervention, the scrum remained a contested area in Cape Town. Referee Angus Gardner, who replaced the unwell Georgian official Nika Amashukeli at short notice, appeared reluctant to penalise either side, with numerous collapses going unpunished. Rennie acknowledged the scrums were "better" in the second Test but maintained his concerns, particularly after the introduction of Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche just before half-time.
"When the Springboks moved across further left, then he stopped them," Rennie said of Gardner's management. "The Springboks were able to walk around and go straight through our tighthead, so there are a couple of technical things that we'll share again."
The Springboks altered their front-row selection for Cape Town, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit starting, while Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw provided impact from the bench. Nche and Marx entered shortly before the interval to bolster the set-piece, with Louw's arrival in the second half helping the hosts gain ascendancy.
While the scrum did not prove decisive in the final outcome—the Springboks secured victory through a more clinical performance overall, with Cheslin Kolbe contributing 18 points—the war of words ensures the set-piece will remain under scrutiny heading into the decisive third Test at FNB Stadium. Erasmus made clear the Springboks would not remain silent if the complaints continued, setting the stage for further tension in what has become a fiercely contested series.