Former All Blacks wing John Kirwan has accused Rassie Erasmus of orchestrating a deliberate tactical ploy during New Zealand's tour of South Africa, claiming the Springbok head coach instructed provincial sides to avoid playing in the style of the national team.
Speaking on the Rivals podcast, Kirwan suggested the All Blacks' three warm-up fixtures against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls failed to provide adequate preparation for the Test series. "I think Rassie's told those provincial sides to play nothing like the Springboks, we haven't even seen high kicks," Kirwan said. "We haven't seen kicking to the corner and a lot of mauling, there's been no resemblance to what we're expecting."
The All Blacks secured three successive victories during the tour, though Kirwan argued they had not been tested in the fundamentals typically associated with South African rugby. Erasmus kept the majority of his Test squad in camp, releasing only a handful of players to the franchises for the tour matches.
Kirwan acknowledged the strategic logic behind the approach whilst expressing disappointment for supporters. "I get it, I would do exactly the same if I was Rassie and not release the players, but it is a bit disappointing for the South African public I believe because they're not turning up to watch," he said.
Former Springbok lock Victor Matfield, appearing alongside Kirwan on the podcast, disputed the assessment. "I thought the Bulls game was a spectacle, the people enjoyed it," Matfield said, citing the atmosphere at the newly refurbished Loftus Versfeld. Matfield also pointed to high ticket prices and the volume of Test matches as factors influencing attendance at provincial fixtures.