Erasmus has offered a nuanced take on the long-running debate around crooked scrum feeds, drawn from his attendance at World Rugby's 'Shape of the Game' conference. His view isn't that referees have been negligent — it's that marginal infringements in high-pressure moments create genuine judgment calls that aren't as straightforward as armchair critics assume. The piece clarifies the law as it actually stands: a scrumhalf is permitted to align their left shoulder on the middle line, which already shifts the legal feed line by a shoulder-width toward their own front row. What Erasmus says referees will crack down on are the egregious cases — feeds so deep the hooker makes no attempt to strike. The same stricter lens, he notes, is being applied to maul obstruction and illegal dragging. Worth reading for any fan who wants a clearer picture of where World Rugby's enforcement focus is actually headed.
Rassie on scrum feeds: better enforcement coming, but context will still matter
Erasmus draws on World Rugby's 'Shape of the Game' conference to explain why scrum-feed policing is nuanced rather than negligent — and what will actually be clamped down on.
- Rassie Erasmus
One loss lingers long when you almost never lose
Rich unpacks the psychology of following an era-dominant Bok team — where a single loss haunts the press box even during a comfortable win — and argues Erasmus's mass rotation for Scotland was always the plan, not a gamble. He also flags the All Blacks' tactical shift and makes a sharp point about getting Ellis Park ticket prices right from the outset.
Rassie warns against Bok complacency ahead of England test
Erasmus, Davids, and Stick use their video platform to call out the risk of complacency ahead of the Ellis Park test, warning that treating England as a pushover would be a costly mistake.
The fear that keeps Rassie going — and greying
Nel profiles the psychological engine behind Erasmus's coaching drive — not fear of defeat itself, but fear of extinguishing the national togetherness Springbok success has built. Mallett adds historical perspective on the toll the job takes, while Erasmus reflects candidly on the off-season void and what camp genuinely means to him.
Paulse: Rassie's youth fast-track is unprecedented — and Paul de Villiers is the next Deon Fourie
Paulse argues Erasmus's youth fast-track reflects a real cultural shift in Bok selection, singles out Paul de Villiers as a Deon Fourie-type find, and suggests more squad surprises are coming through the Nations Championship.
Erasmus confirms squad rotation plans as De Jager and Mostert race fitness clocks
Erasmus confirms the 46-man squad is not his only selection pool for July, with De Jager a fitness doubt for the England Test and Mostert set to miss the first game at minimum.