After the 66–7 demolition of Italy, Erasmus pointed to deliberate, behind-the-scenes work with Jaco Peyper as the reason the Boks conceded only five penalties. The focus has been on staying within World Rugby's evolving laws around tackle height and breakdown behaviour — cutting out the 'stupid, avoidable' penalties that frustrate coaches most. Erasmus was largely satisfied with how that translated on the field, noting that the second-half uptick in penalties owed more to Italy keeping ball in hand and pressing harder than to any Bok lapse. He also flagged Italy's scrummaging as a consistent challenge, pushing back on the idea the Boks simply eased off after building a commanding lead.
AnalysisSpringboksRugby365
Erasmus unpacks the discipline work keeping Bok penalty counts down
Erasmus credits targeted work with Jaco Peyper for the Boks' low penalty count against Italy, distinguishing between unavoidable contest-driven infringements and the needless breakdown penalties that coaches find most damaging.
- Springboks
- Italy
- Rassie Erasmus
Related stories
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
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.
Rassie on Alles Ep 1 | The Barbarians in the Bay
The #Springboks kick off their season against the Barbarians in Gqeberha, a place close to the hearts of Rassie Erasmus, Mzwandile Stick, and Deon Davids. The three Bok coaches discuss why it's special to return to the Eastern Cape and what